Interviewing potential sitters...a few ?'s

MrsT0514 · October 2013

So after posting for a sitter on Care.com last night, we already got a few replies from some great potential sitters. We're gonna set up a few interviews to meet with a few of the applicants, so I wanted to rack your brains for some good questions to ask. A few I have already are:

What prior child care experience do you have?

Do you have children of your own? Do you expect to have/bring them with you whule caring for my child?

Hours of availability/availability on short notice? Are you willing to come to my house or would you want me to drop off at your house?

List of references

Comfortable with pets?

What else??? Also...should we be meeting applicants in a public place like a coffee shop? Or have them come to our house? What is common for the interview process? TIA for your help! I'm a total newb at this.

LoveActually4 · October 2013

I like what would you do scenarios:

...if the baby won't stop crying?
...if the baby has a fever?
...if the child is being disrespectful or defiant (older kids)

shadypines · October 2013

Thoughts on Miley Cyrus...

ILoveBoys · October 2013

I don't know if they do full background checks on the site, but I'd want to know if they'd ever been arrested and if so, what for.

MrsT0514 · October 2013

ILoveBoys said:
I don't know if they do full background checks on the site, but I'd want to know if they'd ever been arrested and if so, what for.

Yep, I can get access to preliminary background checks, if I need to on the site.

MrsT0514 · October 2013

So I set up a meeting with one of our applicants. She's a 29 year old Nanny to twins who is cpr/first aid certified with 15+ years experience. Her rate is $15/hr. Is this the normal going rate? It seems reasonable with her experience/skill set, but I figured I'd ask those who are more versed in this.

My guess is if she were younger and less experienced I'd be able to pay closer to 8$-10 an hour?

ILoveBoys · October 2013

Do you know anyone with older teens who might want to make some money?

MrsT0514 · October 2013

ILoveBoys said:
Do you know anyone with older teens who might want to make some money?

No, unfortunately. But holy shit...babysitters are fucking expensive!

MrsT0514 · October 2013

kdc2007 said:
@MrsT0514 - wowsa - that seems like a lot for a babysitter! I'm in a major midwest city, and I pay $10/hour to a 19 year old who is a full time nanny during the day, has infant CPR training and is experienced (ie she worked in the infant room at a daycare all last year).

This was my though at first too. But its a 30 year old woman...so I'm guessing she wouldn't want to be working for 10 bucks an hour given her experience and all. IDK. I think its a bit high too, but I'm in the northeast, and everything seems to be so damn inflated up here.

ILoveBoys · October 2013

I have a confession: I don't trust people besides family with my kids.

MrsT0514 · October 2013

@peanutrach1 Thanks for the input! Uts helpful to know where we're at as far as what's the norm for sitters out there.

I also asked one of my gf's who used to babysit for a few different families as well as nanny for one family in particular, and she also said given this particular applicant's experience as well as her CPR/first aid certs than $15 per hour sounded reasonable.

MrsT0514 · October 2013

peanutrach1 said:

ILoveBoys said:
I have a confession: I don't trust people besides family with my kids.
Inappropriate post here

I'm also wondering where/how that comment would have been helpful.

Eta...some of us don't have convenient access to family for child care (we live in a different state than all of our family), so we don't exactly have a choice. If we need child care, it means hiring someone.

MrsT0514 · October 2013

peanutrach1 said:

MrsT0514 said:

I have a confession: I don't trust people besides family with my kids.
Inappropriate post here

I'm also wondering where/how that comment would have been helpful. Eta...some of us don't have convenient access to family for child care (we live in a different state than all of our family), so we don't exactly have a choice. If we need child care, it means hiring someone. My parents live relatively close but I trust our daycare providers more than them. They don't know what to do with DD. I just think making a comment like that is not constructive and sounds like a dig on those who aren't fortunate enough to have trustworthy family close to them.

Agreed. I was also gonna mention that sometimes having a non-related care provider can be less hassle, IMO. In all honesty, sometimes its more of a PITA to plan weeks/months in advance with a family member, and also have to host them overnight, etc etc.

Sometimes, I'd just like to have a sitter come over, watch my kid so i can have a date night MH, then I can pay her and she goes home. Done deal.

Eta..there definitely pros and cons to both! Its great to have family to help with childcare, but its also a nice resource to have a professional working relationship with a sitter as well.

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Interviewing potential sitters...a few ?'s

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