Hiring a Babysitter
This can be one of the most challenging parts of being a parent. The thought of leaving your baby behind with a stranger can be stressful, but it also can be terrifying to know that you will have to trust this individual with your new baby. There are so many different ways that you can go about hiring childcare or getting a babysitter. Many new parents have a friend or family member take care of their baby. However, if you are in a situation where you do not have this option – there are a few important tips that will help you hire the right babysitter.
Obviously, you want to pay close attention to the person that you plan on hiring. You want to do a background check and you also want to know about certificates or training involving children. Most of the time, a person that is looking for a babysitting job or even a nannying position solely focus their career around children. Occasionally, you will find a college student that is looking for supplemental income, but most of the time it is going to be a person that truly enjoys dedicating their time to children. There are a few websites that these type of childcare providers will create a profile with and the website will do all of the relevant checks. This can cost more, but the background of the babysitter has been completed and approved. If, you do not want to go with a website, but instead post an ad looking for a babysitter – you need to have specific questions ready to go during the interviewing process.
Interviewing a new potential babysitter needs to be taken seriously. The first thing you want to do is have anyone interviewing do a prescreening. You want to check on the background of this individual, but you also want to inquire about drug usage. If you feel that you want your babysitter to have a drug test, always be up front about your requirements. Any time you feel resistance from any potential candidates – this is an immediate red flag. You want to navigate towards individuals that are more than accommodating, but people that ask questions about your baby. You want to find a person that has a compassionate side. Also, after any potential interviewees have passed the prescreening process and you have gone through the background and drug test – this is a perfect opportunity for you and your partner to have a conversation with all of the potential candidates. You want to let them know what kind of environment you would like your child to be raised in and see if both you and the potential babysitter are on the same page. A conversation like this helps you determine what kind of person will be babysitting your baby.
One of the most important parts about interviewing babysitters is taking your time. Under no circumstances should you ever rush through such an important task. You need to be sure that the babysitter you hire is solid and ready to treat your baby with the best care imaginable.
