Babysitting Questions - Mount Pleasant,PA

What experience has she had?
Has she had a first aid /CPR class?
Does she have referenced?
What does she charge?
How will she get back and forth?

Rules we had for sitters...
No friends or boyfriends over while sitting.
No food in the living room.
If kids go outside to play in the yard so does the sitter.
All toys played with picked up.
All food dishes used must be washed.
Kids are not allowed to go in car with Sitter and or sitters friends.

I think the biggest problem with sitters might be cell phones. Certainly she will need a phone just in case you need to be reached, but I would discuss expectations with her. "We expect you to interact with the children while they are in your care, so please do not be on your cell phone talking or texting."

Are you getting her thru someone who used her? If no, get references, ask about her experience and especially with kids that are your kids age.

How many hours at a time can she sit and how late or early?

You can tell if teens like kids by having them over for a short time to introduce everyone. I'd pay her for an hour to come over while you do some chores around the house.

Go over your rules before hand. No use of her phone while kids are up, no spanking, etc. You're the boss so give her the rules of the job. But most importantly, how is she with your kids?

I think the most important question is to ask for references if you don't know her well - preferably not family members for whom she has babysat.

Other questions might be if she has taken a babysitting course (most YMCAs offer one), if she has changed diapers before (if your child is diaper age), and what kinds of games she usually plays with kids when she babysits.

Kids that age tend to text, text, text...

I would simply ask the sitter to avoid texting while watching the kids.
Be specific about what can be watched on tv.
No friends/boyfriends over

Did the sitter take a babysitting course?
Does s/he know CPR?

I used to think things like CPR were important. Now I think it's all about distraction. Teens are on iPads and cell phones constantly and they THINK they are focused on 2 things at once, but they are not. I'd tell her you pay a higher rate and re-hire sitters who are not on the phone. They are there to ENGAGE with your kids, not just be available to call 911 if the house catches fire.

Ask about experience & references, yes. Basic first aid, yes. Ask what they like about sitting, what activities they like to do with a child your children's ages, find out about HER. See if she has any clue of what to do with them.

You can ask her how she handles disputes and fights between kids. Mostly give her your rules. I was much more safety and activity oriented, and I cared a lot less about whether all the dinner got eaten. I left a listed taped to the inside of a cupboard door about where bandaids were, that they could have snacks (including the sitter), what TV channels were allowed, how much TV was allowed (depended on the time of day - on a beautiful day, nothing. Rainy day or nighttime, different story), where the board games were located, where the bike helmet was, neighbors' numbers, etc. I found a sitter was more likely to call a neighbor than the pediatrician - and it made more sense anyway.

Don't make it the third degree - it's not a job interview. I also started my sitters when I was home so I could get stuff done and I could still overhear the interaction. I posed it as "start slowly to be sure you like these kids and so that I am here if you need to know where anything is or ask what's allowed" rather than "I want to be here to supervise your every move."

Also find out whether she needs rides to & from, what her rate is, what she needs from you. (Does she like stuff written or verbal, for example.)

I'd suggest finding out from your friends if they have kids old enough to babysit.

If you go to church find out from the youth leaders if they have anyone that does this. Call some local child care businesses and ask them if any of their employees do babysitting in the evenings. I had a couple of employees who were struggling and they had passed all their background checks and had CPR/First Aid. I always let them take the calls or call the people asking back.

There are many places to find those who've already proven they are competent and able.

The problem, and mostly the only problem, with older teens is this is a no parent zone and they've discovered private time can be taken if kids are in bed.

So I've stayed away from that age myself. I had a couple of not so wonderful, not bad, but just not what I really wanted going on experiences when my daughter was younger.

http://www.care.com/child-care-babysitter-interview-p1145...

Get references that are not her family (other jobs), too.

We usually just have new sitters come over - before the time we need her - to meet the kids and "be around" while they get to know each other. Maybe 2 hours or so, so everyone gets comfortable.

How many kids do you have? How old/ self sufficient are they? If you have 5 kids, you might be better off with a young empty nester rather than a late teen.

See if they have experience with leadership/ kids- past babysitting, camp counselor, girl scout volunteer, youth soccer league.
Ask how they handle disputes.

Talk about your house rules and expectations.

Finally have a hard copy list of emergency info & house rules on hand.

Best,
F. B.