Finding a reliable babysitter
Choosing the right babysitter is important—both for the safety of your child and for your own peace of mind. Keep these tips in mind when choosing a sitter:
- Ask friends and relatives for names of reliable babysitters.
- Look for someone who’s taken a babysitting course or CPR training and who’s had a lot of experience babysitting children the same age as your child.
- Ask for references from prospective sitters and check them out.
- Interview the babysitter at your house, so she can meet your child and see your home.
- If your child will be cared for at the sitter’s home, visit the sitter there to assess its cleanliness and safety.
- Develop your own sitter. Ask a teen you like to spend time with the baby while you’re at home working or resting. After several sessions of supervising and training you may be ready to trust your sitter to solo. (You may want to offer to pay for a first aid/CPR class.)
Introducing your baby to the sitter
By the time your baby is 3 months old, she’ll begin to be aware of who’s staying with her. Invite the babysitter over beforehand for an hour or so to play with your child. If your baby is familiar with the sitter, she may be more willing to accept her care for a few hours.
When the sitter arrives, give her the important information you’ve gathered with our Babysitter’s guide. If this is the sitter’s first job in your home, give her a house tour so she’ll know where to find the telephone and all emergency exits.
