Hiring a babysitter is a rampant issue that bothers most working parents anywhere in the world. You would hardly leave the care of your baby to just anyone especially with the horrible nanny stories you see on the news. Many moms admit having visions of nannies hitting their babies, babysitters stealing your valuables and leaving your toddlers to fend for themselves. These are almost enough for parents to not want to hire a babysitter at all.
But the current state of your finances cannot allow one of you to stop working. Don’t fret, there are great sitters out there, and if you will just do proper research and checking, you can find a qualified sitter for either part-time or full-time need. Here are some pointers to keep in mind when hiring a babysitter:
1. Consider your needs. Check appropriate pay based on need, locality, number of kids and the sitters’ experience.
2. Advertise your hiring, ask friends, relatives, schools and churches for recommendations.
3. Interview qualified sitters personally. Verify their experience from at least 3 of their most recent employers to confirm the accuracy of the information given to you and for you to assess their character. Check and ask plenty of questions from the child-care references of some families they have previously worked with.
4. You can also utilize the services of a licensed investigator to thoroughly screen the personal, criminal and civil and credit history records of an applicant. Look into social media accounts to see whether they are a good pick for your family.
5. Whether you will need a sitter sporadically or on a regular basis, check with your chosen babysitter their availability and their schedule to ensure that they can meet with your needs.
6. Keep a list of qualified babysitters regularly so that you can contact someone when your sitter’s schedule change and you need another one to take her place.
7. Don’t forget to check appropriate payment methods, tax returns, social security and other paperwork required for household employees.
Hiring a babysitter need not be a daunting task for parents. With a little effort and diligence, you can find a great babysitter to help you care for your family’s needs. Alternatively, you can also seek a nanny referral service when you are very busy and cannot find time to interview candidates.
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