What criteria should be put in an advertisement for babysitting?

Answer 1

Answer: Are you a caring babysitter who loves children, with stellar references from satisfied parents? Here's the deal: The advertisement is just marketing. I wouldn't go with anything less than the one above. But how you choose a babysitter is far more important. So here are some criteria to consider: 1. Go with who you know well, if you can. If you have good friends whom you've known for years, who in turn have a daughter or son that has grown up around you so that you know them as well, that's the obvious choice for entrusting your children to someone while you are away. But do not hire a kid. A good rule: 16 or above. Why? Because they can and should drive, and have a car available at your residence, in case they need to get to a hospital or to another adult's house. (That's not to say they should drive in lieu of calling 911, but in certain circumstances, it's something to consider). Also be sure to ask for references, no matter how young your babysitter - school teachers, parents, friends, whomever - call all of them to gauge the judgment and responsibility of your potential hire. 2. If you are hiring a stranger, or just an acquaintance, you're in a completely different ballgame. You need to know as much as possible about this person. So, first comes a battery of questions that you need to ask, and I would ideally get them to fill out a written application, which includes a signature for authorization of a background check. (There are many companies online that perform this service.) Then comes the background check. Google this to get started: nanny babysitting background check services. Finally, if it were my children, I wouldn't put an acquaintance or stranger in my house to watch over my kids, no matter how carefully I screened them, without an effective, web-based video surveillance system, for two reasons. First, these systems are very inexpensive now. Second, no matter how sweet your babysitter may appear to be, and no matter how carefully you have screened your prospects, you still do not know how they will perform in your home and with your kids. So go here: http://www.wilife.com. Look at their LukWorks product (No, I'm not posting this as commercial spam: I researched the topic, and the URL I posted is the one I was most impressed with.) 3. Some key questions you might consider in an interview: a. Have you babysitted before? How long? For whom and for what ages, and for what periods of time, and in what circumstances, for each babysitting situation? b. Why do you like most about babysitting? What least? c. Describe how you interact with the children you baby-sit on a typical day/evening? (And ask separate questions for infants versus children). d. What 'routine' do you think you might impose on my kid(s)? e. How often would you typically check up on my child/baby while they are in their own room and you are are in another room? e. How do you handle a child that refuses to obey you? Describe a situation like this that you've encountered in the past. f. What have you done in the past when you've had a crying baby that cannot be consoled? g. Have you had training in CPR? What do you do with a child that's choking and cannot breathe? h. What would you do if my child were unconscious? What would you do if my child were choking on his/her sandwich? i. What would you do if there was a fire in the kitchen? j. What would you do if the lights all went out? (Do they know where the fuse box is and what to do?) j. Do you allow children you babysit to go outside? If so, when and where and for how long? (This should be dictated by your rules, including whether your child is allowed to walk your dog while under your babysitter's care). k. Under what circumstances have you ever scolded or spanked a child? (If never, they'll tell you). Also ask: have you ever needed to hit a child to get his or her attention? (You are trying to get at disguised abuse). l. In general, how do you discipline children and/or command their respect when they disobey or ignore your requests? Aside from questions: Perform a background check if you don't know them well, as you've experienced them around your kids. Don't hire children less than 15-16 years of age. Install a covert, web-based video surveillance system. Make sure they have access to telephone land lines and cell phone lines. Give them all phone numbers for how to reach you, as well as your friends/neighbors. Ideally, they have a car to use if necessary. Make sure they understand all dietary, medicinal, allergic issues for each of your children. Full disclosure: I have never been married and do not have kids. I've been around these circumstances many times before, so I'm using common sense and my research skills to try to make a difference for you. Good luck.