If you are looking for an occasional babysitter, you might decide to employ responsible adolescents from the neighborhood, typically teenagers who are looking to make extra spending money. There is an advantage to having young people as babysitters, since they are generally energetic, playful, fun-loving, and entertaining for your children. The disadvantage is that they may be less strict than you are with discipline, and they may not be experienced in handling problem situations. If your child is close to twelve years old, you will need someone considerably older to babysit. A teenager only one or two years older is not likely to have much authority. Be sure to speak with the parents of any teenager you are considering hiring, to get a sense of how he or she handles responsibility. It is also a good idea to check with other families who have used the teenager for babysitting.
The best strategy is to develop a list of three or four sitters who know your child and can be called upon if your regular sitter is busy or ill. Make sure they all understand the rules that apply to sitting at your home regarding TV watching, visitors, smoking or drinking, telephone use, and taking your child outside.
If you need a sitter on a more regular basis, you may need to employ an older person. Newspaper advertisements, agencies, and word of mouth are the most common means of recruiting people. Sometimes local colleges have rosters of students interested in babysitting. And what qualities should you be looking for in this babysitter? In general, he or she needs to be mature, reliable, friendly, and pleasant with children. He or she should be someone with whom your child enjoys spending time. In fact, as your youngster gets older, she should have some say in your selection of caretakers.
Interview applicants thoroughly to get a sense of their reliability and competence. Ask them about other positions they have held, the ages ol children they have cared for, and what their responsibilities included. Inquire about how they would handle various situations (such as your child not wanting to do homework). Ask about activities they enjoy doing with children. If you think reading or singing to your child is important, look for a babysitter who enjoys these activities. Explain fully your expectations—for example, will the child care involve housecleaning? Ask for and carefully check references.
If one person stands out among those you've interviewed, have him or her come for a "visit" while you are home. Introduce him or her to your child, and pay him or her for an hour of child care while you are there to watch. Evaluate this first encounter in helping you make a final decision. Later, ask your child about the sitter, and be sensitive to her comments. Trust your intuition about whether the sitter will work out, and follow that feeling.
The hourly rate for babysitting varies from community to community. In general, pay should increase with responsibility and with the competence of the babysitter. Caring for multiple children or adding household chores to child care merits a higher hourly rate.
Some families prefer to hire an "au pair." Typically, this is a college-age person from another country who agrees to live and work in the United States for a specified period of time (usually one year). While an au pair can be expensive, he or she can bring cultural richness into your family. Recognize, however, that many of these individuals also need to be given support and assistance in adjusting to the United States. To find an au pair, use an agency that specializes in these placements.
Some families develop cooperative arrangements with neighbors or family friends who also have children. Families take turns providing child care for one another. Even in these cases, be sure you are clear about the rules you expect to be applied to your children. It is also helpful to keep track of how much child care each family is providing, so no family feels that the exchange of service is out of balance.
No matter what kind of sitter you select, make sure that the person with whom you leave your child has a list of all emergency phone numbers, including where you can be reached, and the names and numbers of trusted neighbors, relatives, and your child's pediatrician. The emergency hotline number (such as 911) in your locale, and the number of the poison control center, should be displayed on or near the phone.
In the weeks and months ahead, monitor your sitter and how he or she gets along with your child. Work with the sitter to improve his or her understanding of your youngster. Give advice and suggestions, but also reinforce his or her positive qualities.
What should you do if your child challenges the babysitter's authority? First, find out exactly what happened, talking to both the child and the babysitter. Then, except under extraordinary circumstances, stand behind the sitter. If you don't, your youngster will lose respect for the sitter and make it even more difficult the next time you leave home. However, if your child expresses a dislike for a sitter or protests when hearing who is going to sit, take their opinions and concerns seriously. Explore what the problem is, and remember that with regard to child care, your child's safety and well-being get top priority.
Finally, be considerate of your sitter's time. Schedule and (if necessary) cancel well in advance. Respect the sitter's wishes to be with his or her family and friends on holidays and other special occasions. Remember, a good sitter is a valuable resource.
