Meet Michelle Pratt, she is a writer for AuPair.org. She is appearing on the mom blog in order to share tips on choosing the right babysitter for your child.
Choosing a babysitter for your child is an issue that is not to be taken lightly. To protect you and to ensure your child’s safety, you must take the time and do proper research. There are a variety of ways to do this, such as word-of-mouth or online sites like https://sosgarde.ca. Taking the time to gather information, analyze and discuss the information with friends and family before making a final decision can ease your mind.
1. Referrals
Word-of-mouth referrals can be the best way to choose a babysitter for your child. Ask your friends, neighbors and business associates about who they would recommend. Many times, the same babysitter will be mentioned in your circles. This is a good sign that the person has developed a positive reputation for placing babysitting duties at the top of the list. Ask parents why this person is recommended and what holds the person out from other babysitters. You may also want to check with your high school to see if they know of any students that do babysitting.
2. Informal Meetings
First impressions can be lasting impressions. When choosing a babysitter for your child, schedule a meeting so that everyone can meet each other. Notice how well the two interact. Is there a natural rapport between the potential babysitter and your child? Do they seem to enjoy each other’s company? Also look for how well your candidate takes a firm stance. Does the babysitter make it known that certain actions are not acceptable, but in a kind way? Does your child understand and respect the boundaries? Choose the babysitter that gets along well with your child, but still is in an authority position.
3. Understanding Rules
One factor you need to consider when choosing a babysitter for your child is the potential babysitter’s capabilities of understanding your house rules. When interviewing babysitters, take some time to discuss your family rules. Rules include such things as bedtime, eating prior to bedtime and any special needs your child has. Make a list of your rules and write them down on a piece of paper. Give a copy to any candidate you feel is interested in your babysitting gig. Ask the person if there are any questions about your rules. Base your decision upon the quality of questions answered. If no questions, choose an item to begin a discussion. You want to be sure your candidate understands your rules. If the person does not ask any questions, it may mean they do not care about your rules. Intelligent questions signify there are thought processes in place, if you get my drift. Listen to your gut reaction, your intuition, about how your potential babysitter deals with your list of rules. Choose only the babysitter that respects your family rules and agrees to abide by them, obviously.
4. Background Checks
If you are new to the area and do not know other parents that you can get referrals from, it may be a good idea to do a background check on your potential babysitter. Background checks provide information about criminal history and other areas that attest to your candidate’s reliability, trustworthiness and respectability. Check with your local police department to see if there is any negative information about your candidate. The time spent is well worth it. You can also do online background searches or pay to have someone do it.
Choosing a babysitter for your child is not an easy task, but can be done successfully. Treat this endeavor as any job, and perform a thorough job interview. You will be glad you did.
