Finding A Sitter You Can Trust
Posted on November 9, 2007
Filed Under Finding Professionals |
With the holidays approaching, you’ll begin to be invited to the homes of the usual suspects who live for holiday parties. Whether you want to go, or you’re obligated to attend, you will need to find a babysitter. For those of you who don’t paint the town red on a regular basis, you might need a few tips on hiring a trusted babysitter that’s right for you and your family.
The best place to begin is within your own community, places such as church, local schools, or even your own workplace. Once you have collected a few names, it’s important to check references, which may come from teachers, youth leaders, or other families who have employed the sitter. If you decide to contact prior families, you should inquire as to how many children they have, and if they ever encountered any problems.
The next step is to invite the potential sitter over to ask questions and observe how he or she interacts with your children. Equally important is to see if your children like the sitter as well. This should give you an idea if the sitter enjoys being with children, and if they are open to your methods of parenting. It is imperative for you to ask the sitter about the extent of their training in first aid and/or CPR. It’s not unreasonable to discuss what they would do in certain emergency situations. If the sitter is competent, they will have no problem answering the questions with confidence.
If you don’t live in a community where finding a sitter is a possibility, you can definitely find one online. There are many sites that act as interactive babysitting agencies. SitterCity is one example of a babysitting site, which also offers a petsitting service! The site is loaded with advice via blogs and message boards, all of which can help you find the right sitter for you. It can be a little scary searching for babysitters on the Net, but rest easy as SitterCity is part of the International Nanny Association (established in 1985, the INA is a non-profit, educational association for nannies and those who educate, place, employ, and support professional in-home child care providers).
If you don’t find what you are looking for at SitterCity, then check out BabySitters.com, where every sitter is reviewed by an all-Mom editorial team. Like SitterCity, BabySitters.com allows sitters to post a profile and parents to post jobs. The site is really easy to navigate and offers a section for you to enter in your zip code to quickly find qualified sitters in your area. All approved sitters have references, report cards and feedback, and have had background checks.
So this season, be worry free as you slip on your holiday best and head out to your equally (potentially mandated) festive party. Your kids are home safe with a sitter you can trust.
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check out care.com for reliable childcare givers in your neighborhood.