OT- Questions to ask "New" Babysitter

[Passions71203]

Hi! We are thinking of hiring a babysitter for us part time in the evenings and some weekend nights. Does anyone have any good questions we should ask her? This is the first time we are using a "normal" babysitter (we normally use a grandparent)

TIA

 

[Passions71203]

Bumping

 

[LaurinG]

If it's important to you, ask her if she is CPR/first aid certified.
Ask her for a couple references from non-family/friends.
Ask her if she is comfortable making simple dinners/bathing children/taking children outside to play.
Ask her if she has experience handling discipline in young children.
Ask her how she would handle an inconsolable child.

I'm sure you can google 'interviewing a babysitter' and find a lot of information on the topic.

 

[Passions71203]

If it's important to you, ask her if she is CPR/first aid certified.
Ask her for a couple references from non-family/friends.
Ask her if she is comfortable making simple dinners/bathing children/taking children outside to play.
Ask her if she has experience handling discipline in young children.
Ask her how she would handle an inconsolable child.

I'm sure you can google 'interviewing a babysitter' and find a lot of information on the topic.

Thanks for the help I know this sounds dumb but this is the first time that we will have to ask the questions...We normally have MIL watch the kids.
So thanks

 

[laurie31]

Ask her what she would do if one of the kids got hurt or if there were a fire.

There's minor fell and scraped their knee kind of hurt and then there's the more rare and more serious hit head hard, or needs stitches kind of hurt.

Write down your address so if she needs to call 911, she can tell them where she is. Also clue her in if the kids have any allergies.

Make sure she knows where your fire extingiushers are and how to reach you in an emergency. Also if you have neighbors nearby that could help if needed.

Also, lay down the ground rules about things like phone and internet use, and whether she can have friends over.

You can throw that in matter-of-factly with everything else. Something along the lines of "it's fine if you need to use the phone, but please limit calls to 5 mins or less, and we'd rather the children not go online when we're not home, and we prefer no one else come to the house while we're not here."

Of course, if you don't mind the sitter or your kids surfing the net, say so. My kids are allowed to go to certain sites and the sitter knows she's to monitor them while they're online.

Finally, there's the food issue. Teens like to eat. Most won't help themselves to your pantry unless you okay it first, but others will eat anything not tied down.

I always tell mine to help herself (so she knows it's okay - and I would feel bad about her feeding the kids and not having anything for herself) but if there's something special, I let her know if it's off limits or not.

ex: the cake is for my sister's birthday tomorrow. Don't let the kids cut it tonight

or - I baked a cake this afternoon. Feel free to have some.

Also, let her know what sorts of things you allow the kids to eat or not eat, and where they are.

ex: there's nachos in this cabinet and salsa in the fridge. There are grapes and oranges in the bowl on the counter, and Little Johnny likes apple slices with the peel removed. If he wants a sandwich, he likes it cut in half, but so that it makes two triangles, not two rectangles (or whatever preferences your child has that others wouldn't guess easily).

Finally, if she'll be putting them to bed, make sure she knows their bedtime routine, where their pj's and toothbrushes are, and how much help they'll need getting ready for bed.

 

[lexmas]

If you do hire her, you should probably make up a sheet with your phone numbers, other emergency contacts (in case you can't be reached), your address and phone number (home), childrens doctors names and numbers, any allergies your children have, etc. and post it near the phone or leave it on the counter for her. I spent many years babysitting (still do occasionally, with DS in tow!) and you'd be shocked the number of times that parents left without leaving me any information, and while I tried to remember to ask, sometimes I forgot. Which made me nervous, of course.

If you're staying out late, I'd ask if she has a time she needs or wants to be home. And try to be home close to the time you tell her, even though she'll learn if you're chronically late...some people just are...but it's frustrating when it's by HOURS!

As for cooking, if it's only once and awhile you might just want to make dinner yourself or buy a pizza. It's probably easier for everyone. For what it's worth, I'm married with a child and I STILL can't cook at the one house I babysit at...they have some old pans that are uneven on the bottom and an electric stove, and I just can't get it to work! Makes me feel a little incompetant lol, but whatever! Well, I just re-read your post and it seems like you're going to use her a lot, so maybe just inform her about how things work if they're a little tricky.

Generally, when I went on "interviews" for babysitting (this was a long time ago, so from what I remember...) they just asked me about my babysitting experience and got a general idea about my personality and how I interacted with their children. You could have her over to "watch the kids" while you were doing something at home and then talk to your kids and see if they like her, and that way you would get an idea of how she is. Probably the easiest way to do it!

Oh, and your kids are probably too old, but you never know, if they're in diapers at all make sure she knows how to change them and how often. Even if they're in diapers at night, either set out their pajamas and let her know where everything is.

Sorry to ramble, but I'm just trying to remember things others have overlooked from my babysitting days. Oh, you may want to ask how much she charges, some people set a rate they like to get. I'd probably try her out a few times before hiring her on a weekly basis, just to get a feel for how she is. And that way she can get an idea of how she interacts with your children to see if she wants the job! Hope some of this helps!

 

[Passions71203]

If you do hire her, you should probably make up a sheet with your phone numbers, other emergency contacts (in case you can't be reached), your address and phone number (home), childrens doctors names and numbers, any allergies your children have, etc. and post it near the phone or leave it on the counter for her. I spent many years babysitting (still do occasionally, with DS in tow!) and you'd be shocked the number of times that parents left without leaving me any information, and while I tried to remember to ask, sometimes I forgot. Which made me nervous, of course.

If you're staying out late, I'd ask if she has a time she needs or wants to be home. And try to be home close to the time you tell her, even though she'll learn if you're chronically late...some people just are...but it's frustrating when it's by HOURS!

As for cooking, if it's only once and awhile you might just want to make dinner yourself or buy a pizza. It's probably easier for everyone. For what it's worth, I'm married with a child and I STILL can't cook at the one house I babysit at...they have some old pans that are uneven on the bottom and an electric stove, and I just can't get it to work! Makes me feel a little incompetant lol, but whatever! Well, I just re-read your post and it seems like you're going to use her a lot, so maybe just inform her about how things work if they're a little tricky.

Generally, when I went on "interviews" for babysitting (this was a long time ago, so from what I remember...) they just asked me about my babysitting experience and got a general idea about my personality and how I interacted with their children. You could have her over to "watch the kids" while you were doing something at home and then talk to your kids and see if they like her, and that way you would get an idea of how she is. Probably the easiest way to do it!

Oh, and your kids are probably too old, but you never know, if they're in diapers at all make sure she knows how to change them and how often. Even if they're in diapers at night, either set out their pajamas and let her know where everything is.

Sorry to ramble, but I'm just trying to remember things others have overlooked from my babysitting days. Oh, you may want to ask how much she charges, some people set a rate they like to get. I'd probably try her out a few times before hiring her on a weekly basis, just to get a feel for how she is. And that way she can get an idea of how she interacts with your children to see if she wants the job! Hope some of this helps!

I plan on writing down all the questions that you guys told me and now, I feel like I am prepared on what to ask, etc.
Thanks again

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I would say try to find someone who is a daughter of a friend, or or grandaughter of a friend, or someone who lives nearby, etc. It's nice to have a good relationship with the family...the kids I babysat in high school (a family of 3 and a family of 5) all came to my graduation party, and my mom is still best friends with one of the grandmothers! It made the situation really friendly, but I could see how it could turn bad if the babysitter is someone you are not happy with.

When I first began babysitting, I was not driving yet, and the families had to drive me home afterwards. You may want to be sure the driver has reliable transportation. It could be frustrating to rely on someone and then get stuck with a problem.

I would also go over whether or not the kids can call you...one family I had was great, the kids would say good night when the parents left, and were fine going to sleep. The other family was interesting...as bed time approached, the kids were always watching tv...and when i told them it was bedtime (the time their parents said) they would give me a hard time...and call their parents...who extended the bed time...every single time...even if the kids called them in the middle of a business dinner, in the middle of a movie, etc...lol! so i would say just clarify that.

good luck on your search!