First Time Hiring a Sitter, What Questions Do I Need to Ask?

I do a lot of babysitting from my home, and I make sure that parents understand that there will be times of "indirect" supervision. This means I am not in the same room as the children, watching everything they do. I treat them as I do my own kids, not hovering, but keeping an ear on them. The kids might be playing in another room, or the yard, while I go about my usual routine, such as laundry or cooking. (That of course doesn't apply to toddlers.)You may want to ask about it if that would concern you.

Are you looking for daily babysitting or date night? When we looked for a babysitter - to babysit for date night, for example - we inquired in the neighborhood where we lived and asked other moms for recommendations. When I needed a temporary day care situation I asked for a recommendation by a friend. I certainly didn't do a background check.

I have never lived near family so I have never had family babysitters. When my daughters were young my husband was gone for months at a time and I rarely used a sitter. However, my kids were usually in preschool by age 3, which was a great. I would look into a preschool in the area that you are moving and get some recommendations from the people at the school. All of this depends on the ages of your kids - if they are infants it is a different ball game, I suppose.

You could also start with short stays with the new person until you get comfortable with it. Now that I think about it, when my daughters were toddlers there were various morning programs at our local park and rec dept. that enabled you to leave your child for a couple hours.

Good-luck.

It sounds like you are asking ALL the right questions. Make sure you make a contract in writing, if the sitter doesn't have one she/he uses make one & have both of you sign it as to payment arrangements, rules while sitting, etc.. there is an online service for checking backgrounds I simply can't think of the name just now, someone else should come up with it I am sure! ;)

I am wondering if you are looking for full time or part time? If full time then @ there residence/place of business is usually fine but, if you are looking @ part time as you get your 'mommy time' I would want someone who would come into my home VS theirs, just a thought.

Make sure the person/s you choose know about your child's normal routine, food, fears, bathroom habits, meal time prayers or not, do they nap or not, etc..

Good Luck to you on your move!

1. References -- at least 3. Did they work long term for anyone? If not, why?

2. do a trial time -- that is, the first time -- 2 hours with you at home. 2nd time -- you outside for 1 hour...

Are they CPR/First Aid certified?
Will your child ever be transported in a car?
Do they have reliable transportation and acceptable child safety restraints?
Where will your child take naps?

I would just have them come to my home to babysit. If you take them to someone's home then they are in fact running an unlicensed child care business out of their home. That is not legal in some states. Some states do allow a person to watch one family's children without a license but I would still not want to do that.

Having this person come to your home gives you total control of the situation. You know there are no animals, you know what they are doing because they are doing it in your home.

I would have them watch the child while I was home a few times to see how it goes, how they interact, how they discipline them if they do something against your rules...you know, do they say NO loudly, do they say come over here sweetie, let's do this instead, do they just pick them up and move them away....

Either that of find a Mother's Day Out program that is open a few hours per day a few days per week. They usually have you sign up for at least one regular day per week where your child comes. You don't have to sign them up for the entire time. If you miss you should not have to pay anything either.

Doing this would allow you to also get to know other moms in your new town. They use this program too and your little one will be forming future friends and play date companions.

The teachers at most MDO programs are experienced mom's themselves and might be your future babysitters. That was always a great thing for me since I knew them and my grand kids knew them and were comfortable with them.

knowing in advance that my grand kids would be watched that one day per week was a great way for me to arrange those wonderful doc appointments that I really didn't want the kiddo's to attend. When making a doc's appointment you can always tell them you are available between the hours of Xam and Xpm on Xday of the week.