As a parent, you obviously want to ensure that your child is always protected and safe. You also want to spend as much time as possible with them. However, there are instances where you will not be able to look after your child – perhaps due to work commitments or a special event you are attending. In this case, you may need to hire the services of a babysitter.
The one key worry for all parents is whether the babysitter is a safe bet. If you already know the person or it is a family member, you are fine. However, if you are hiring from outside, you need to know that the person will look after your child properly and that he or she is reputable and fit for the job. You will find a range of agencies that can provide the services of a babysitter and even online sitter services like Sittercity. This helps to make the process of finding a babysitter a little easier.
Asking the right questions
In order to enjoy real peace of mind when hiring a babysitter, you should make sure that you ask the right questions. This will help you to learn more about the candidate and enable you to get a feel for their abilities and skills when it comes to looking after your child. Some of the key questions you should ask include:
· What is your experience? You need to ensure that the sitter has past experience in looking after kids, particularly children that are in the same age range as yours. This will put your mind at rest and demonstrate that they have the skills required to carry out the job effectively.
· Who was your last employer? This is another important question. It will show whether the sitter worked locally previously or has moved into the area recently. You will also be able to use this question to ask about getting references from the past employer so that you have that additional reassurance.
· What makes you want to be a babysitter? By asking this question, you will get a better idea of whether the sitter has a real passion for looking after and nurturing children or whether they are just in it for the money. Of course, some very good sitters do offer services purely for the income but you may feel better hiring one that loves looking after children.
· Do you have children? It may seem like a personal question, but finding out whether the sitter has children of their own can provide you with a deeper insight with regards to experience around kids. You also have the reassurance that the sitter will know what to expect, especially if his or her own kids are a similar age to yours.
· Do you have any questions? Always ask whether the sitter has anything to ask you, as this can be quite telling. Just listening to the types of questions the sitter asks can give you an even better idea of their suitability.
By asking these questions, you can benefit from greater peace of mind when you are taking on a babysitter.
