One of the first questions parents ask me when I’m traveling across the country, meeting families is, “How do I find a great sitter?”
Before we became parents we never thought about finding sitters, but once the little ones arrive, hiring a great caregiver becomes a top priority. As soon as you start looking, you realize that it’s incredibly difficult to find a good one. You get references from your friends, talk to a dozen different ones before trying one out, and then (more than likely) worry about your kids the whole time you're away.
If you’re one of the thousands of parents trying to find the right babysitter, here are a few pointers to help you out. And, in case you missed it, I was thrilled to share some of these cost-cutting ideas on
Good Morning America this past weekend!
How Much Should You Pay?
Babysitter salaries can vary greatly based on their experience, what you're asking them to do, how many children you have, and where you live. For example, you should pay a sitter with CPR and First Aid training more than you would a 17-year-old first-timer. If you're looking for a good starting point, our
Babysitter Pay Calculator should help you out—it’ll show you the going rate for sitters in your ZIP code.
Let’s debunk one myth: if you have two children, you don't have to pay two times as much. Some of the salary depends on their ages, but if you have a second child, you should only pay about 30-50 percent more.
What Kind of Babysitter Do You Need?
Before you start looking for care, jot down the answers to these questions:
What do you need a babysitter to do (i.e. just child supervision or will she cook and play chauffer, too)?
How often will she work?
How long are the shifts?
Will you ask her to do any non-child care related chores, like housekeeping?
List out the potential sitter responsibilities, keeping mind the more you’d like your sitter to do, the more you should pay.
Interviewing a Potential Sitter
I think interviews for babysitters should be mandatory, even if it’s someone a friend has recommended. Treat it like a job interview and do your homework before hiring. Ask them what experience they have, when they're available, and how much they charge—the basic stuff.
I also like to ask open-ended questions, too, to see if they’ve thought about how to handle emergencies, their strengths, and weaknesses. And I like to find out about their hobbies and interests, too, to see how they’ll gel with my boys.
I’ve Found One I Like, Now What?
It’s always a good idea to check with a babysitter’s references and request a background check (which you can do for free as a Care.com Premium Member). Talk with families who have hired them before or ask for character references.
The First Time
I’m a big fan of having your sitter come over for the first job while you're still around the house. This way, she can ask you questions, and you can check in periodically just to make sure things are running smoothly.
But if you have to be away from home, have your new babysitter come early. That way, you can introduce her to your kids, fill out the
Emergency Checklist, and show her around the house. Not only will having her over while you're there help your children adjust to this new stranger, your sitter will also have time to acclimate herself.
Drop by Unannounced
During your "trial period,” try coming home early or stop by unannounced while she's watching your children. These small "surprises" will give you a sense of what she's like in the moment as a caregiver. And it gives you great insight to how your children are doing.
If you're a parent you know great babysitters can be hard to come by. I hope these tips will help you out if you're in the market for a new one. And when you’ve found a great one and it's time to say goodbye and head out the door, you can be off to a fun evening with your special someone (or just run a few errands by yourself), knowing that your precious little ones are in good hands.
