Five things to ask every babysitter

Choosing a babysitter is no mean feat. Whoever you employ will be entrusted with the most precious thing in the world to you, so you want to make sure that they are capable of dealing with the challenges of the position.
The first step to take is to ask friends and family if there is anyone they use who is trustworthy and reliable. Even if the babysitter comes highly recommended, you should always check their references and have a set of questions to ask them in an interview. Here are five of the most important:

1) Do you know how to do basic first aid and CPR?

This is so that if your child were to choke, for example, the babysitter would be able to help. It might seem paranoid of you to mention it and hopefully your babysitter will never have to use it, but it’s definitely worth them knowing basic first aid.

2) Do you have previous babysitting experience?

Although everyone has to start somewhere, you will probably feel far more reassured leaving your child in the hands of someone who has experience of being left alone with children. Ask for contact information for previous employers and make sure to follow up after your meeting.

3) Why do you want to work with children?

Obviously you want a babysitter who knows what they are doing, but ideally she/he will also be good with children and able to relate to them; they should feel comfortable and happy in his/her presence. We all know that younger babysitters do so to earn extra money, which is understandable, but making sure they are comfortable with children and know how to react in a stressful situation is important. Also, do they have ideas about games and activities that the children can partake in? Having an enthusiastic and creative caretaker will help bolster a stronger relationship between the babysitter and your children.

4) Have you dealt with emergencies or kids being ill?

It doesn’t matter if they haven’t dealt with emergencies, especially if this is one of the first babysitting jobs they’ve had, but it’s good to know if they have ever had to deal with a high-stress situation and how they coped with it. If they haven’t had much experience, perhaps this is a good chance to give them some test scenarios to see how they would react, e.g. what would you do if my child woke up with a fever or was being sick?

5) Do you have experience with a child the same age as mine?

Depending on the age of your child/children, ask some relevant questions, e.g. if you have a baby, ask the babysitter whether they have experience with nappies, or if you have a feisty toddler, ask them how adept they are at dealing with tantrums!
For you: Remember to leave your babysitter with a number of where you are and someone close by who can help out if you can’t get home in case of emergency.