One of the most common worries that we as parents have is finding a babysitter for our little one(s). If you are anything like me you find it hard leaving your child alone in the first place, even if it is with a completely trustworthy family member. No matter who you leave your child with you are going to think that they will probably not do things the way that you would.
You ponder the possibilities of your child feeling sad or miserable without you and not being able to do the things that you and your child usually do together. Are they feeding my child correctly? Are they making sure he/she takes a nap? Are they going to read their favorite story book? Questions like these flow through a parents brain on a daily basis, at times it even makes us as parents not want to go to work or go out to dinner like we had planned.
Table of Contents
Use your best judgement
There are several things we as parents need to consider in these instances. Do I know/trust the person I am leaving my child with. If you have doubts or worries about the person you are leaving your child with, consider asking the potential babysitter questions that will give you a better idea of what kind of person they are.
For instance,
How long have you been a babysitter?
What are some of your qualifications?
..And a question I find very important, especially if the person you are considering is someone you have never met before. I would ask them what references if any do they have from prior babysitting experiences?
There is no doubt that most parents would feel more comfortable leaving their child with the other parent, grandparents, or any of the child’s immediate family. However, this is not always an option for everyone. Some people either live far away from immediate or closely knit family or have no other family members. Others are single mothers with no one to depend on. Also, having to find a babysitter in a newspaper ad or online can be scary. You don’t want to mistakenly let the wrong type of person have access to your child. So how do I find a babysitter?
Where to start
First of all, start with closest friends and family. People you obviously trust and know on a personal level. Then, branch out from there. You’d be surprised to find that many of your friends on Facebook that you know would be willing to babysit for you if needed. You don’t know until you ask. If this route does not work for you, there are several websites that a lot of people deem trustworthy for finding a good babysitter.
Some questions to ask your potentially new babysitter’s previous employers – How long did you employ him/her? Why did they leave? How much were they compensated? What were some of his/her strengths? What were some of his/her weaknesses? How did he/she handle stressful situations?
All of these are good questions to ask. Doing your research is the key to finding the best sitter for your little ones. If you are leaving your child alone in your home with a babysitter it may be wise to invest in a home surveillance system. In my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your children. It may be wise to disclose to the sitter that you keep your home under surveillance for legal purposes in some states, but I would check on this for your area.
Cost
If cost is more of your issue be sure to specify your budget to you potential sitter. Various websites and apps often require a recurring payment or for you to select a budget which is helpful. According to MyMajors.com the median hourly wage for a babysitter is $11.02. But, if you still are not ready to settle on a babysitter, then perhaps finding a daycare is your best bet. There are many reputable daycares out there for you to choose from.
To find a good daycare simply perform a search on google, browse through reviews, again research is key. Speak with the director of the daycare and devise a scheduling plan that works for you. You would be surprised to find that there are daycares out there that work at all hours of the day for your convenience. Using Google Maps is helpful as when you search for daycares near you it will automatically list all surrounding daycares and their rating out of 5 stars. Also ask around again to people who hold the same values as you, ask them about places they recommend. Look for a daycare with a clear and structured plan for children.
Who is qualified?
Finding good care can seem like hard work, doing research, checking references, asking questions, but stop and think for a moment as you go through the process. The well-being of your child is at stake, isn’t it worth going the extra mile to find the best possible candidate leave your child in the care of? I think we as parents know the answer, nothing is more valuable than our children. Do not feel bad if you can’t find someone right away, keep searching and taking notes. Writing important information down in a notepad is always a good idea. Keep track of what you’ve learned and refer back to it. So let’s review one more time what you are looking for in an ideal babysitter.
-
Someone who has been babysitting for a while and has experience.
-
Someone who is qualified with certification, degrees, or credentials. (Not always important, but helps.)
-
Someone who has good references.
-
Someone who works well under pressure.
-
Someone that has a well structured plan.
When finding a babysitter, these are some of the most important requirements. But, ultimately go with your gut. As parents we have instincts that we follow often to protect our children, this is no different. If your gut tells you that you feel comfortable letting a certain person take care of your child then you probably are right. And if you immediately get the feeling that this is the wrong sitter for you then move on to the next candidate.
I hope you find what you are looking for!
Do You Need Assistance To Help Pay For A Baby Sitter?
You can find financial help information by visiting: www.childcare.gov
– Sincere Mommy
If you liked this post, you may like my post about Kids and screen time.
Also, follow me on Pinterest if you’d like!
