You will no doubt have the need for a babysitter at some time or another. It is critical to know that the sitter you choose is someone you can trust. If the babysitter is only for a few hours you maybe able to rely on references, but if the sitter is long term a more detailed investigation is in order.



Do a thorough background check on all permanent babysitting candidates.

Before you even consider hiring someone to sit with your child, conduct a thorough background check on them. There are numerous agencies who will do this at a small price. Choose a reputable one. Make it known to all candidates that a background check will be conducted. If they are serious they will understand. Be aware of those who object.

Ask for references and contact each of them.

Along with the background check, ask for references. Contact every reference of the candidates who pass the background check. You can do this by phone or by mail or other. This may slow the process, but it is of the utmost importance. The time you take now can mean the difference between life, possibly serious injury or even death. References will be only glad to tell you if something is wrong with your candidates.

Ask the candidate questions that give you insight.

Ask many questions. Make them as in depth as necessary. Make sure they are the right questions. The kind that spark emotion are best. Questions should shed light on whether you can trust your child with the potential sitter. For example, You might ask; If my child is crying and will not stop even after you have tried everything, what will you do? The answer and the way it is given is most important. Pay attention to subtle clues.

Observe reactions during the interview.

Nonverbal clues are more important than verbal clues when interviewing a sitter. When you ask questions, be aware of actions that do not match the answers. Long pauses or quick answers can signify a problem.

Long pauses may mean a search for the right answer is taking place inside the candidates mind. Quick answers maybe canned statements with no substance. A few selective test questions may help you gauge the candidates nonverbal clues before proceeding through the interview.

Observe how they dress.

The way a person dresses can give you an indication of how they view their work. Sloppy unprofessional dressers may work the way they dress. Be careful not to assume that a one time good dresser is an all time great worker. You can be sure that a sloppy dressers habits will not improve if they come to work for you. Meet the person on several occasions in order to gauge a medium.

Do they have bad habits?

Its important that you know if the candidate is prone to bad habits. Bad habits may interfere with the individuals work. For example, smoking is addictive. In addition to the health risks it may become more important than the care of your child.

By the same token a drinker may become consumed with taking a drink. Drinkers have been known to raid the employers liquor cabinet. They have also been known to fall asleep and leave children unattended. Its your right to ask. Any defensive acts toward the questions maybe a signal.

Hire a private investigator.

It may seem like lots of trouble, but hiring a private investigator is not far fetched. A private investigator can tell you things about the candidate that you may not see. They can identify questionable lifestyles and let you know what kind of people are associated with the candidate. If you think this is going to far; think about the last time you heard or read about a child dying while in a sitters custody. Still think its too much?

Give the sitter a test run under controlled conditions with the child.

A meeting between the sitter and child can give you some indication of how the relationship will be. If the child does not like the sitter it is probably wise not to consider. You can usually tell within a few minutes if a child is comfortable with the sitter. This is especially true with small children.

Children have a sort of a sixth sense about people. They will readily display disfavor towards ones they believe who will cause them harm. It will be to your advantage to trust yours and your childs intuition. This controlled meeting will give you great insight. Remember this is a controlled meeting. When a sitter is hired it may still be necessary to inconspicuously monitor the sitters activities.