I have 3 childern i would sometimes like to go out with my husband but never have a babysitter when i need one. Our families would usually do it but have social lives themselves. I don’t know anyone around where i live don’t know what the legal age is for babysitters. What should i ask them look out for?
By: Bignips
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By: Bignips
About the Author:
12 comments
Comment by brandy l23 on August 12, 2009 at 10:33 pm
find someone you think you would like to babysit for you. First ask a lot of questions and ask for references for people they have already babysat for. Make a couple of appointnments before you chose the one you want dont just chose the first one . Because it is your childs safety you are looking out for
Comment by kma22263 on August 15, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Talk to your neighbors. They may be able to give some good recs.
Comment by babygyrl11 on August 18, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I would go through an agency and if the kids go to daycare I would ask someone who works there. Thats tough trying to bring a stranger in i’m not sure if I would trust that. If you go to church ask people around the church, your co workers, his co workers if they know someone. But I would go through an agency defintely
Comment by **brainy licious**J;-D on August 22, 2009 at 6:20 am
Usually people go with word of mouth from other couples who use a babysitter. You can always try to use a service but i bet that they are more expensive.
Comment by Adrian Wapkaplett on August 24, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Call your local high school and ask for the girls basketball or track coach, and ask them for recommendations. OR ask your neighbors or the pastor at church. Then when you have names, get references from the girls then call the references and talk to them. Hard and Fast Rule: No bringing boyfriends over!!!
Comment by ticklemeblue on August 27, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I would not have kids from todays generation to babysit period….sorry. I would try and work it out with another couple to trade nights watching eachother kids…
Comment by blackmamba81 on August 30, 2009 at 2:19 pm
What I usually do is i ask other parents in the neighborhood if they know about a babysitter. some volunteer to babysit themselves. when you find one, speak to her and ask alot of questions go with your instincts. if you do leave them with the sitter, ask the kids if they like her, if they do, just set the rules and you’re good to go.
Comment by peachy1660 on September 1, 2009 at 3:06 am
Ask around your neighborhood and at the kids school, make sure to interview girls between the ages of 14 and 20, ask for references and do call other people whom she has babysat for. If they are good and dependable you and your husband may have to make plans a couple weeks in advance to make sure you have the sitter booked, maybe you could consider having a set date night once or twice a month and telling your sitter the dates so that this is set in stone. You might also consider getting to know other mothers that might trade with you every so often, you know you watch her kids while her and her husband go out and then she will return the favor. The only other thing I might suggest is taking a whole day together once in a while, if the kids are in school great, take a vacation day without the kids, if they are not in school find a in home daycare that takes drop ins once a month a spend the whole day pampering each other. This is a wonderful way to recharge your batteries once and a while.
Comment by fairygal on September 1, 2009 at 8:00 am
if u have no luck finding a babysitter u can try the neiborhood babysitter. if u don’t have one u may have 2 look in the yellow pages. if u find a good 1 stick with her. don’t keep switching or they will HATE it when u leave.(i no from experience) ask ur kids how they liked the babysitter. babysitters can be as young as 12-depending on how old ur children R. u might want 2 try something like ABC Miller family day care.in lancaster @ 661-723-7145 or God’s little children family day care in lancaster @ 661-948-7941. i hope this helps. it was really hard 4 me 2 find 1 but i found out that these 12-yaer-old girls were doing it 4 only $2.00 a hour summer’s super sweet sitter service i swhat it is called. they helped em alot.
Comment by O Wise One on September 4, 2009 at 7:19 am
Oh, how I share your concern. I raised my twins alone and it was always a problem. Word of mouth is usually a good way. One thing you might try is to call your local high school and ask to speak to one of the school counselors. They will usually have a recommendation or know plenty of parents who will give you one. Then get some phone numbers and make some introductory appointments. Make sure the kids are there with you to get their reactions to the potential sitter. I have found that younger children seem to gravitate to someone with good energy. Please make sure that they have life saving skills…CPR etc. applicable to your own children’s age. (babies require a different approach to CPR) Always check references.
Having a babysitter that you truly trust is more valuable than most people imagine. It gives you total peace of mind. And knowing that your children are happy and taken care of is the one thing that will allow you to really relax and enjoy your night out. My daughter has been babysitting for two children for the last 4 years…a returning mother she went to college with. The children absolutely love her…so much so that they now drive for an hour just to pick her up if they are going to be gone overnight. As with any good babysitter you will begin to think of them as a part of the family and you will know if the children are happy. They will tell you.
Comment by iritadragon on September 7, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Your children must be going to school. Get in touch with other parents of kids in their classes, and see who they use. Then check up on anyone they recommend. Do your homework on anyone you consider bringing into your home to have charge of your children. It is much better to be safe now, than sorry later.
Comment by Pom Fan on September 10, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I am so happy you are a concerned parent! I am a father of five grown children… here is what we did:
1) All babysitters were Red Cross Trained (www.redcross.org)
That way, we didn’t worry about how a sitter would handle emergencies and knew they were responible enough to go through this certification process.
2) Each came over for a daytime get acquainted session. Also, an evening bedtime session. Each had to change a diaper while one of us observed. We paid them to come over and spend time with our kids while we were home so we could observe and they could become comfortable with our routines.
3) We interviewed their parent / parents. Did they have siblings?
Were they experienced in household responsibilities? How do they interact with other kids, etc.
4) Our babysitters were all girls or women. Not that guys can’t, just never had one apply. That would have been different. Don’t know how we would have reacted, but we would have been extra cautious.
5) Asked for and checked references. Not a sure thing but wouldn’t dream of not checking at least a couple of them.
6) Made sure the sitter knew where all emergency supplies are. For instance, candles and matches, flashlight, phone… in case of power outage. First aid in case of an owie. Medical emergency numbers and a signed letter identifying our sitter.
7) Names and numbers of local family members or trusted friends.
Of course, our cell number, where we will be, time to expect us back, etc.
9) Well understood list of rules… a short one, i.e., no personal phone calls, no visitors (male or female), clear instructions on household issues (no running in house, etc.). Your kids may try to take advantage of you being gone to see how far they can push. That’s part of the reason for pre need visits.
You are entrusting your children to strangers. Make it as smooth a transition as possible by having these assurances. And enjoy your time together… not too long, and not too often. Have fun with hubby! I know I and many others can share good and bad experiences we have had with sitters. So be careful as it sounds you are!
Proud Daddy