By Amy Blakeslee
May 6, 2010
We hear it on the news all the time: accounts of abuse suffered by children at the hands of their babysitters. Many parents are going as far as to install “nanny cams” in their homes, so they can keep an eye on what their babysitters are doing. But do you really have the peace of mind that you need when you are so untrusting that you feel the need to use tools such as video cameras and tape recorders? Wouldn’t it be better if you knew in the first place that you have hired someone that you can trust to take the best care of your children?
There are many things you can do before hiring a babysitter to make sure that he or she is the person you want looking after your kids, and that you can trust them with these precious little lives. If you really feel the need to have a camera hooked up, you can still do so, but it you have followed all of the proper steps to screening a potential babysitter, you should not need to have one.
Tips to Follow When Screening a Potential Babysitter
If you are hiring a local teenager to care for your children for short periods of time, talk to other parents who have had the teen work for them. Find out if the teenager is reliable, and how well he or she got along with the children. This is essential, because there is no sense in leaving your kids with someone they do not like, or who will not play and interact with them.
Whether you are looking for a full-time babysitter, or someone to come in occasionally when you need them, you need to conduct an interview. There are many things you need to know before hiring someone, and you can ask all of your questions during the interview. This is also a good time to closely watch the prospective babysitter, to see if he or she seems uncomfortable with any of your questions, which may be a warning sign about this particular person. Some of the questions you will want to ask include:
- Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony?
- Why do you want to babysit?
- How long have you been babysitting?
- Do you have any references I can contact?
- How much do you charge per hour/day?
- Do you charge extra if I am later coming home than expected?
- What is your method of disciplining an unruly child?
- Do you have your own transportation?
Unless you really know the person who will be babysitting your children (such as a family member, a friend, a friend’s daughter/son, etc.), you should always have a criminal background check done on the person. If you discover that this person has a record, especially for such crimes as child abuse and theft, obviously, you are not going to hire her or him. There are many online resources where you can obtain a background check.
Ask the potential babysitter for references. You definitely want to speak with other parents who have used this babysitter before hiring them yourself. This way, you can find out if the person is reliable and good with the children, or if there were any problems while this babysitter was in their hire.
When you properly screen a potential babysitter, you are providing yourself with the peace of mind of knowing that when you are away from the home, your children are being properly taken care of. There are great babysitters out there who love children, and if you take your time and be selective, you are sure to find a babysitter that you and your children will love.
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