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If you hire a babysitter...

12bailey1812bailey18 member
in Stay at Home Moms
What kinds of things do you look for in one? Do you have more than one incase your first one isn't available or do you stick with just one? Are they in college or have other part time jobs? I am starting the babysitter search for the first time since DH is set to deploy. I'm just curious how other moms select their babysitters, what they look for, what you like in one, etc. TIA!

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Re: If you hire a babysitter...

  • lexusolsenlexusolsen member
    I have two cousins that are in high school. One babysits for us and the other doesn't. The one that does is responsible, very sweet and fun. The one that doesn't hasn't given me a reason not to trust her but it just feels off. Maybe it's because her family is having problems. I just don't want to leave her alone with DD.
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  • notkateanymorenotkateanymore member
    I have tons of sitters. We need them frequently as we have date night each week plus work dinners, etc. So anyway, I hire the majority of them from the local Baptist college, that has a babysitting book you can post in. I usually don't call references, I just have them come watch DD once and then after that we see what she thought and go from there. I actually have two emails from sitters in my inbox right now that I need to set up an "interview".
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  • roxy_jjroxy_jj member
    I think it's a good idea to have more than one babysitter.  I usually have the potential babysitter come over for an interview and then meet the kids.  After that I'll check references.  My kids are at the age where they're pretty vocal about whether or not they like a babysitter.  They also tell me everything the babysitter does, so I'll really know if I would like that babysitter to come back.  Most of the babysitters I've used either work as a nanny during the weekdays or are college students. 
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  • dairygirl19dairygirl19 member

    I'm lucky that I live in the sort of place where everyone knows everyone and more backstory than anyone should know. :) So I don't do much reference checking.

    I have a rotation of 3 babysitters I use the most. We know them well, they like my house, and they're nearby. They're also most used to kids so they play well with LO, can make simple dinners and they're usually nice and do some light cleaning for me too. They're also not fussy about times, will come over with short notice, very responsible etc. They're all in a ton of other activities so it just happens to be whoever's around

    I have 2 more that I use in a pinch. I feel safe and trust them, they just don't do a lot of extras and interact as much.

    There is a new girl I've just started "training." She's sweet, but her Mom died, her dad is a nervous wreck, so she doesn't have a lot of kid skills. I use her when I'm around the barnyard, am home but want to deep clean etc. Stuff where she can play and learn but I'm still around to supervise. I plan on using her more in the summer so I can do yardwork, help H outside etc. Eventually she'll work up to date nights etc.

    My babysitters range in age from 7th grade to seniors in HS. I'm okay with that. Like I said, I use the older ones if I'm gone for a long time, the younger ones if I'm around. I know that's Bump Blasphemy to use kids that young..but it's really the norm around here, I babysat that young and did well, I use my common sense, parents are nearby for the most part, there aren't a lot college kids around here etc.

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  • JCMJCM member

    Sorry, this is going to be long but it took me a long time to actually find a sitter for DD. 

     When I was in the market for a baby sitter for DD I used Care.com.  I paid for the membership & started my research.  I looked for someone out of high school but not too much older than say 25.  I looked at their profiles & the pictures they use to represent themselves.  If it was a duck face or otherwise silly or too "sexy" I moved on to the next one.  I also made sure they were CPR & basic First Aid certified. I looked at how long they had been a member and if they had already completed the background check.  Of course, I also looked at their description of themselves & reviews others had put on the profile.  I had one girl that sounded great but never showed up for the interview.  The next girl was awesome.  A full-time college student that also nanny's for a couple that live on the next street over that have 3 kids under 5.  The parents work strange hours so she actually made her college schedule fit their work schedule.  We discussed when she would be available and it's mostly weekends which is what works for us.  She was great with DD from the interview on & DD LOVES her.  After I found her and was happy with the choice I made I cancelled my care.com account.  I don't have a 2nd baby sitter but my mom can watch DD in a pinch most of the time if we need her.

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  • Deblondie1Deblondie1 member

    I used care.com. They have background checks and stuff. I was able to email them and talk to them, try to get a feel of what I thought about them.

    Also, I'm not sure if you know this but since you are an active duty family, you can use care.com for free. Here's the link: https://www.care.com/military-families-care-p1321.html 

    I've had great success and found the most awesome sitter this way.  

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