Babysitters

All parents need a few good babysitters. Whether it’s a regular weekly engagement or just the occasional night out with your spouse, everyone needs to have a few reliable and trustworthy people with whom to leave your children. Following are some tips to help you find a few babysitters to help you out when you need a hand, and ensure that they’re not only trustworthy, but that your children will enjoy their company.

• Ask Your Friends – Friends are one of the best ways to find sitters. In particular, ask any friends you have who live in the neighborhood. They’re more likely to know sitters who live close by, as well.

• Have Them Come Over And Spend Time With Your Child While You’re Home –Invite new sitters over before you leave them alone with your child. Your child and the sitter can get to know each other, and you can observe how they interact.
• Ask if they have emergency training – A sitter trained in CPR and other basic emergency techniques can make you feel more comfortable about leaving your child.
• Make Sure Your Child Likes Them – If your child truly doesn’t like a particular sitter, find another one. You’ll enjoy your time out more if you know that your child is enjoying the time as well.
• Check References – If you’re considering a babysitter who has not worked for someone you know, be sure to ask for references and then check them out.
• Have A Backup – You should always have more than one babysitter that your child likes and you’re accustomed to using. This prevents you from being caught in a bind if your babysitter has other plans.
• Consider Adults As Well As Teens – Some of the best babysitters are mature adults. Retired senior citizens in your neighborhood might be happy to watch your children for you. They make a little extra money and have a ball with the children.
• Swap With Friends – If you have difficulty finding babysitters, consider swapping sitting services with your friends who have children. This is also a great way to save money!
• Use An Agency – Today there are many babysitting agencies that can help you find a sitter in your area. This will cost you a bit more, because the agency will charge a fee, however, these agencies have typically done background checks on sitters before employing them.