Leaving your little one with a babysitter for the first time is a huge milestone for most parents. It is probably safe to say that mother tend to be more anxious than babies the first time they go out by themselves.
If your babysitter is a paid professional, and not grandma or a friend, grilling them in advance and making sure that you share the same childcare philosophy and will keep your kids safe can do a lot to ease your mind. So, what questions should you ask potential babysitters when you are interviewing them?
Why do you do this job?
Whatever your potential babysitter’s answer is to this question, you will gain useful insights. Perhaps they’ll say they love children, or they like working during evening hours because they study during the day. They could be babysitting because they think it is easy money. They could also be doing it because they want to burgle your house while you are enjoying a nice meal at a fancy restaurant. No, of course they are not going to tell you that, but you might just be able to sense that they are lying to you.
What experience do you have? Do you have children, or younger siblings?
Obviously, someone who has extensive experience with small kids suits your needs better than someone who has never taken care of children before, but thinks they can dump your sweet baby in their crib and then go off to watch television. This is a question you definitely want an answer to.
What are your views about discipline? What would you do if our child misbehaved?
It is important to refrain from sharing your own opinions before you get the answer to this question, because you want to avoid the babysitter saying what they think you want to hear, just to get the job. Babysitters can be flexible and go along with parents’ wishes, if they take their job seriously, but it is just so much easier if you have a babysitter who agrees with your view. Taking care of your kids is easier on your sitter if she is able to do what comes naturally, as well.
Other questions to ask are how your babysitter would react in an emergency situation, how they feel about drinking and smoking, and whether they would ever allow friends of their into your home while they were babysitting. Teens who babysit often do this, and this does not necessarily have to be a problem but it is obviously something you want to agree on in advance. Asking your sitter to tell you something about kids they previously cared for can help you get a feel for how they truly feel about their job.
Now, the number one fear of many parents is sexual abuse. This is a taboo subject, but a very important one nonetheless. Security experts sometimes recommend asking potential babysitters if they have a criminal record, or even undertaking steps to verify this. Asking if they have ever suspected a child they babysat for was being abused (as recommended by one famous expert) is something most parents feel weird about. Having this in mind, and asking some similar questions, might be able to provide you with information and put your mind at rest or otherwise.
Keep in mind that vetting carried out by a babysitting agency does not guarantee a good, ethical babysitter, and use your own common sense at all times.
Olivia is a former journalist passionate about all topics related to the female body, Trying to Conceive, pregnancy, and birth. A new addition to her site is free and personalized Ovulation Calendar.