Interviewing Babysitters
 

Interviews with older or more experienced caregivers are likely to be more detailed, as these candidates will typically have a greater amount of information to share than teenage babysitters regarding their education and employment history. Be sure to obtain a list of references and other basic information about the candidate prior to or during the interview, including information you may need to perform a background check, such as: previous names and addresses, date of birth, driver's license and/or social security number, and anything else you want to know. You will already have most of this information if you found the babysitter on Helpformommy.com.

The following are questions you may want to ask in an interview:

 Describe your babysitting and childcare experience. What are the ages of children you have cared for?

 Do you still baby sit for any of your prior clients?

 Do you have any children of your own? If so, how old are they?

 Do you have any special training or certification? Are you trained in first aid or infant/child CPR?

 What do you like most about babysitting and being with children? What do you like least?

 Which ages are you most comfortable with? Least comfortable?

 What is your approach to discipline?

 How would you handle an emergency situation?

 What is the most difficult situation you have encountered while babysitting? How did you handle it?

 What kinds of activities do you enjoy doing with children?

 What are your personal and career goals? How long do you intend to continue babysitting?

 What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies or other jobs?

 How much do you charge and what hours are you available?

Closing Thoughts

Following your interview with any prospective babysitter, you'll probably want to arrange for him or her to meet and interact with your children. This will help you see how he or she relates to them and how the children react to the sitter. Many parents like to try out a new babysitter by having the person baby sit once or a few times while they are home, in order to help a new sitter get acclimated to the family and the rules of the house.

Once you've chosen a great babysitter, be sure to check on how things are going over time. Discuss with your children how they feel about the babysitter, and check in frequently with the sitter in order to address any questions or difficulties.