Ten Questions to ask a New Babysitter
When thinking about getting a baby sitter there’s a lot to take into consideration. Many new parents feel anxious when looking for a suitable candidate to care for their children.
Whether it’s the first time you’ve ever needed a babysitter, or perhaps you’re looking for a new babysitter, you’ll need to ask a number of questions to ensure your new babysitter is right for you and your children.
Asking the right questions will help to ensure you have peace of mind and reassurance when you leave your children with them for the first time.
There are many reasons why parents need to hire a babysitter.
Some parents hire a babysitter for a set amount of hours each week, so that they can go off to work.
Other parents hire a babysitter on a more ad-hoc basis. Perhaps for a night out or for a weekend away.
Whatever your reasons, finding the right babysitter is important. Sites such as http://www.sitters.co.uk/find-a-babysitter.aspx are a good place to start your search. Of course, you can also ask friends, family and other parents for their recommendations too.
When it comes to asking the right questions, I’ve put together a short list of the top ten questions you should ask a new babysitter. I hope you find them helpful!
- Tell me about yourself…
- What babysitting experience do you have? How long have you been babysitting? How many families have/do you babysit for, and what ages are the children? Do you have any childcare qualifications?
- Do you have a valid enhanced DBS check?
- Do you have first aid training? Have you ever had to use it?
- Can you provide references?
- Do you drive? Do you have a full, clean, driving licence? Do you have appropriate insurance should you need to take my children anywhere in your car?
- How would you discipline my children if need be?
- What activities would you do with our children? How would you plan the day?
- How do you feel about nappy changes? (If required)
- What kind of food would you cook for our children? Do you have any food hygiene/safety experience or qualifications?
As mentioned above, these are just a few of the questions you can ask your potential babysitter. It’s important that you and your partner sit down together and discuss what expectations you have for your babysitter, along with what duties you would like them to carry out whilst caring for your children.
It’s also important that you do your own research on each individual applicant. Checking their social media profiles can give you a good insight into their lives, but also making sure all relevant checks have been carried out.
Only when both you and your partner are 100% satisfied, can you proceed with making a decision. It’s also important to carry out regular checks and keep communication open and free between you and your chosen babysitter. Feedback is important, and that goes both ways.
