Interviewing babysitter - what to look for?

rubber_chicken

Hi ladies!  I'd love your input on something.  We're about to meet and interview our first potential babysitter.  This is a high school junior who would sit for us once a month for date nights.  She's first aid/cpr certified and has some previous experience.  What kinds of things should I ask her, or look for?  Basically, we're looking for someone to sit and watch cable while my daughter sleeps and make sure the house doesn't burn down.

litzo27

Ask her about her prior jobs: what ages children, what were her duties, what did she enjoy doing with the kids, anything she struggled with. Just getting her to talk about her prior experience will be informative. Ask her logistics - how far in advance do you have to ask her to work, how late can she stay, will she drive herself. Also lay out your expectations and ask her if she is fine with that: would she need to feed and bathe your daughter? Tell her that you won't (or will) allow a friend and will (or won't) provide pizza/snack.

rubber_chicken

thanks!! it didn't occur to me to ask about logistics or snacks. (and I used to babysit too!)

SunAndRain

Agree with the above.

Also, I never think of it as paying someone to watch TV while my child sleeps. IF your child wakes... IF there is an emergency... IF there is a fire... Will she know what to do? I'd ask, "tell me how you would handle [this situation]".  She may encounter something with your child that she hasn't dealt with before, which is OK. But you want to know that she has a good head on her shoulders and will take a logical course of action no matter what.  I've seen teens interact comfortably with my toddler and those who really don't know how to engage her at all.  They are either naturals with good heads on the shoulders, or not.

I'd also think of the top 3-5 (no more than that) things that are most important to you and make sure to set clear expectations on those.  If you give her more than that it becomes a huge laundry list of things no human can remember. And some things you'll just have to trust her to.  Mine big ones are that they make sure to not leave the house doors open (so the cats don't run out), if they are bathing DD that they never leave her unattended, even for a second (which can become 30 seconds which can become 5 minutes if distracted), and what needs to be done for her bedtime routine (including how long they can let her cry but they usually pat her back to sleep because no one can stand to hear a child cry).

groovygrl

I can tell a lot by the interaction w/ the kids from when they walk in the door so I'd try to have your child present at least part of the time you meet her. We had one issue w/ a sitter recently and in retrospect it always kind of bugged me that she would barely interact w/ the kids when she arrived and seemed uncomfortable even having a conversation with them (they're 5 and talkative so it shouldn't be hard)...  Whereas several others we've really liked the kids have liked start talking to them from when they walk in the door & know how to have a conversation w/ a young kid...