Whether or not you need full-time childcare while you are at work, or you are just looking for an occasional one, finding a reliable babysitter can be a difficult job. You will always be anxious about leaving your child with someone else, so here are a few guidelines that can make it less stressful.

Ask around

One way to find a babysitter is to ask your friends whose judgements you trust. If you have a friend who loves a nanny, and you need an occasional one, then it is a perfect choice. You can also consult your child’s preschool. You can also take advice from your paediatrician’s staff. You can also use the website Crae.com if you want someone for longer hours.

Consider your needs

Your criteria for needing a babysitter will depend on how long you need, whether you need it for 1 or 2 weekends a month, or every weekday until you are home from your work. Once you are clear with your requirements, you will be easily able to look out for a babysitter.

Conduct an interview

Once you have got some leads, you can ask them questions about their experience with babysitting. If you have energetic kids, then you may need someone who can run after them for the entire day, so you can ask them whether they will be able to manage it. you can also ask some other questions like: what will you do if the baby cries when I’m gone? what will you do if someone rings the doorbell? etc.

Give clear instructions

Before you leave your house, discuss all the rules and routines with your babysitter and tell them about your expectations for things like electronics, food, playing outside, cleanliness, etc. Make sure that your sitter is aware of where you’ll be and how to reach you, where to contact if you are unreachable, the location of emergency exits and fire extinguishers, where are the keys for the house, etc.

Check references

No matter how nice they appear in the interview, you should look for their references for your safety. Ideally, you should ask about how reliable they were, how they handled communication, and how they dealt with stress. You can also get their background checked through your local police department.

Other safety considerations

While it may look good that an older sibling or a cousin is taking care of your baby, you should reconsider your choice. There was a survey conducted among young babysitters aged between 11 to 13 in which it was found that 40% had left younger children unattended, and 20% had opened the door to strangers. If you have a preteen babysitter, be sure that have safety training and the required education to handle emergencies.

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