| Choosing a babysitter for your child care needs is not | | | | before the time when you want to go out. Let her play |
| easy! You want the person responsible for the child | | | | with your kids and see how they respond to her. Do |
| care while you are away to be a person of integrity, | | | | they interact well, or do your children seem afraid and |
| with a clear understanding of the needs your children | | | | stand offish. Remember, though, that young children |
| have. How do you find a good babysitter and what | | | | are likely to be shy around a stranger, so give them |
| can you do to keep one when you do? | | | | time to warm up to this new person in your home. This |
| Remember, having a good babysitter means you can | | | | accomplishes two things for you. It allows you to see if |
| enjoy your evening out, without having to worry about | | | | the sitter will be a good fit for your family and it gives |
| the child care, or lack thereof, going on at home. Start | | | | the sitter and your children a chance to get acquainted. |
| by finding a babysitter whom you trust. This is | | | | This visit might be a good time to talk to the sitter |
| important, because children under the age of one are | | | | about the rules of the household. With your children |
| most likely to die from an accident. You need to be | | | | present, they will know that the sitter knows what's |
| able to trust that your child care provider is not going | | | | what at your home. The sitter should know when |
| to let this happen. Also, make sure they know what to | | | | bedtime is and how much TV is allowed. |
| do in the case of an emergency. Ask if they know | | | | When the big night arrives, have the child care provider |
| whom to call if something happened. | | | | arrive at your home early. You do not want to be |
| So, where do you find a good sitter whom you can | | | | rushed as you get ready to go and end up forgetting |
| trust? Gone are the days of simply asking the | | | | to tell her something important. Review the house rules |
| neighboring girl down the street. In today's society, you | | | | and give your sitter a list of contacts. Make sure the |
| might not know her name! Start with the circles of | | | | poison control number is available, as well as the |
| people that you know. Perhaps someone at work has | | | | number where you or another close relative can be |
| a teenage or college age daughter who would do a | | | | reached. Finally, give them the number of your child's |
| good job of babysitting. Or perhaps your church has | | | | doctor in case nothing else works. |
| some girls how are known for their baby sitting skills. | | | | Remember to call your sitter at least once during the |
| Then, talk to these girls and find out if they have any | | | | evening. This gives her the opportunity to tell you if |
| references. Explain to them that you want to know a | | | | something is going wrong, such as a kid refusing to eat |
| little about them and ask if you can talk to their | | | | supper. Give suggestions about the problem to your |
| teachers, their boss at work, or anyone else that can | | | | sitter. |
| attest to their responsibility and character. Finally, if you | | | | If all goes well, you will have a new sitter for your |
| are dealing with an experienced sitter, ask if you can | | | | family for a while! That is, of course, until she gets |
| talk to other families whom she has provided child | | | | another job and wants to leave the child care world |
| care for. | | | | behind her! |
| If you like what you see so far, have the sitter over, | | | | |