Hiring and Introducing a Babysitter

As incredible as parenting is, it's also challenging — and at some point, everyone needs a break. Whether you're leaving the house for a few hours to run an errand, planning a fun evening out or prepping an overnight sitter for a slightly longer stay, you want to feel comfortable that you've left your child in good hands.

One key to making your outings enjoyable is to feel confident that you have a trustworthy, reliable sitter who creates a calm, safe environment for your child at home. Here are some strategies on finding and hiring a babysitter, plus tips for introducing them to your little one.

How to hire a babysitter

Hiring a babysitter can take time and patience. There are a few steps you'll want to keep in mind during the process, which usually involves:

• Finding and reaching out to potential sitters
• Conducting interview(s)
• Checking references
• Extending an offer

Finding a babysitter

For many parents, the easiest way to connect with a new babysitter is through word of mouth. This is often the best place to start your search, as the sitter recommended to you has already been vetted by a family you trust. Talk to your friend group, parents at your child’s day care or preschool, your pediatrician's office or neighbors and ask who they use for sitting services. Local colleges may also have a list of early education or child development students who babysit.

There are also apps and websites such as Care.com, UrbanSitter and Bambino that connect families with potential babysitters. These services are convenient and let you browse candidates based on your location and qualities that are important to you (for example, you might want to hire someone who is comfortable around pets or can care for multiple children). The downside? You might incur additional costs, as these services often charge a membership fee.

Considering a teenage babysitter? The right teenage sitter can be a real asset to your family (not to mention an energetic companion for your little one), but first, check with their parents, and make sure they understand safety, especially if or when to call 911. You should also pick a sitter who’s old enough (kids have varying degrees of maturity, but in general, look for a teenage babysitter who’s at least 15 years old to watch your tot, and consider your child's age — many families aren’t comfortable using a teenage babysitter until their child hits toddlerhood).

And of course, whether you're searching for a babysitter in person or online, or hiring a teenager or someone with decades of experience, always check references and listen to your instincts. If you have a nagging suspicion that something isn’t quite right, there’s probably a reason.

Interviewing potential babysitters

Once you've connected with a potential sitter, set up an interview so you can get to know them. Scheduling the interview at a time when your children are home will let you watch the sitter in action.

To get a sense of how the sitter will interact with your children when you're not around, you might ask questions such as:

• How many years of experience do you have?
• In past jobs, how old were the children you cared for?
• What kinds of activities would you do with the children?
• Do you have first aid training and know CPR?
• Have you taken a babysitter course?
• What are your discipline techniques?
• Do you drive?
• Do you smoke or drink?
• Ask how they’d handle a fussy infant, a diaper blowout or a small household emergency such as the power going out.

You can also use the interview as an opportunity to share the job expectations. For example, are you hoping that the babysitter will also do some light housekeeping or prepare food? What are your house rules about watching TV, phone use, having visitors over or taking your child outside?

During the interview, make sure you ask for references. Ideally, the sitter should be able to provide at least two references that you can follow up with. When you call their references, ask about whether the sitter showed up on time, how they got along with the children and whether they would hire the sitter again.

Extending an offer

You've interviewed the sitter, checked their references and feel confident that you found a trustworthy, reliable caregiver to watch your little ones. Now, all you need to do is make an offer.

Paying your babysitter a competitive rate (as well as tipping them during the holidays) is a sure way to show that you are grateful for their skills and services. Most babysitters are paid by the hour, and the rate often depends on how many years of experience the sitter has, the age and number of children they'll be watching and where you live. You might extend an offer based on the average cost of a babysitter in your area, or simply ask the sitter for their hourly rate.

Keep in mind that you may pay more for a sitter who will be watching an infant, or if the sitter has special training like American Red Cross babysitting certification, CPR training or early childhood education experience.

How to introduce a new babysitter

Keep the following in mind when introducing a new sitter to the mix:

If possible, invite them over before you actually need their services

If a trial run isn't possible, ask the sitter to arrive at least 30 minutes before you need to leave (though infants experiencing separation anxiety may need longer). That way the sitter and your child have time to get to know each other while you're still there (and watching them together may put your mind at ease).

Some kids love everyone at first sight, so if your little one is willing to be cuddled right off the bat, great. But if you have a child who is shy or skittish, for example, take it slow.

During the introductions, keep the focus on your child and the sitter, and try not to overwhelm your little one with reminders of your absence. That sets the babysitter up for success to interact with them while you’re gone and to have a successful sitting session.

Give them a tour

Make the sitter's job easier with a quick round of show-and-tell. Show where supplies are located (diapers, first-aid kit, your stockpile of expressed breast milk or formula, the fire extinguisher, snacks…).

Make sure you keep important phone numbers and addresses handy, as well as leave a signed consent form authorizing certain types of medical care.

Next, dish any important details about your baby — the best way to soothe him, his favorite toys and songs, his sleeping and eating style (he likes to be rocked, he spits up easily, etc.) Also, don't be shy about giving instructions on how you'd like things done (e.g., how you want your baby fed, diapered and cleaned).

If you're prepping an overnight sitter, it's especially important to make sure they're well versed in the layout and run of your home. Explain any quirks about your house, walk them through all of your child's gear, show them where you keep the emergency supplies and make sure they know how to get to the nearest doctor or hospital. 

Keep goodbyes casual

Long, drawn-out farewells will only make your child pine for you more — and the sitter's job of transitioning more difficult. But don't skip them altogether. Sneaky retreats are bound to backfire next time you try to leave him with the new babysitter. Be up-front about backing out the front door.

Finally, although it can feel emotional to leave your child with a new caregiver, remind yourself that he's in good hands and time away is healthy for you both. Making sure you’re comfortable with the sitter of your choice will go a long way towards giving you peace of mind as you leave the house. And as you continue to develop your relationship with a babysitter, parting ways will gradually become a little easier for everyone.