Article: Even if you're considering a teenager as a babysitter, they should be able to whip up a quick list of references that includes previous clients or people who can vouch for their character. Ask for a list of at least 3 such people, and call them directly to confirm their recommendation. It's best for your child's safety if any babysitter you use has CPR certification and first aid training. If you've found an otherwise great babysitter who doesn't have this kind of specific training, you might consider investing in the training for them especially if you envision them becoming a long-term sitter for your family. Invite them over for an "interview" at a specific time (e.g., 6 o'clock) and see if they arrive on-time or even a little early. This is always a good sign! Also evaluate whether they seem prepared to discuss the job with you, and whether they seem excited about it. Sit down with the candidate and run through a list of questions you've prepared beforehand. Evaluate not only the content of their answers, but also their demeanor and comfort level. Ask things like: What is it that you enjoy about caring for children? How many other families have you babysat for? What would you do if my child was choking? Could you stay later than scheduled if we're running behind? Check out a detailed list of potential questions at https://www.sittercity.com/parents/find-child-care/babysitter-interview-checklist. If you'd like to take the next step beyond contacting references and asking detailed interview questions, you can typically check things like driving records, court records, and sex offender registries for free. To do so, you'll usually need to contact the relevant government authorities (or check their websites) where you live. You can also pay to have third-party companies do more thorough background checks for you. You must get the person's written consent, however, before you do a background check on them. Your safest bet is to draw up a "Consent to Background and Reference Check" -- you can find free templates for these online. Give them at least 15-30 minutes to "hang out" with your child/children to get a feel for how their personalities mesh. Even better, set up a 1-2 hour "observation session" in which they babysit while you're still in the house and occasionally checking in. Offer to pay for this observation session, like you would for a typical babysitting gig. Your kids shouldn't have the final say on their babysitter, but that doesn't mean you should completely ignore their opinions. Ask them if they liked the person, if they had a good time together, and what specific things they did together. You might want to use your kids' opinions as the "tiebreaker" between two equally-viable candidates, for instance. Go over your house rules, the specific expectations for the job meals, cleanup, bedtime, etc. and the typical times when you'll require their services. Take it as a positive sign if they ask questions and are eager to learn more about how things work in your home. Babysitting rates will vary widely based on factors like where you live, the number of kids you have, and the age and experience level of the sitter. A good general pay range is between $10-$15 USD per hour, though. Ask friends and neighbors how much they pay their babysitters. At the end of the day, you know your kid(s), your home, and your family's needs the best. So if an otherwise qualified sitter just doesn't "feel" right, you're probably right to trust your gut and consider a different candidate. It's great to give people a chance to prove themselves, but letting them do so while caring for your children isn't the best scenario.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Ask for and check their references. Find out if they have emergency training. Take note if they're on-time and seem prepared. Interview them by asking relevant questions. Take additional, more thorough background check measures. Let them interact with your kid(s). Get feedback from your kid(s). Set clear ground rules and evaluate their response. Compare their pay demands to the going rate in your area. Trust your instincts.