Finding a babysitter is not always a simple task. Sometimes you are lucky and someone you know and trust has a name to give you. Keep in mind that just because that person giving you the name likes the sitter doesn't necessarily mean that you have the same criteria.
I think that even if you normally have family available to watch your child, it is a good idea to have a back up should something happen where family is unable to help you out. You may all be invited to the same event where children are not included. Plus, if you find a good sitter in the neighborhood you have a bit more freedom.
You can be the most loving, diligent, and caring parents in the world, which is great, but don't forget to keep your relationship with your spouse a healthy and happy one. If we center all of our attention around our children, the other reasons that we enjoy each other's company may become lost in the everyday shuffle.
There is nothing wrong with, and often some true advantages, to having a teenage babysitter if you are going out for an evening. Of course, it depends on the teenager. If you receive their name from someone, make sure that you still take the time to interview them and check their references. I think it is also comforting to know if their mom is in the area and willing to help should a crisis arise.
An advantage to having a good teen sitter is that they often play with the children. They still have a fresh imagination and can make the evening fun. Many children relate well to other children. Or you may end up with a sitter that spends the entire evening texting with their friends and only doing the minimum to get by and be paid. These are situations that you can find out from an older child, but if you have a toddler this might not come to light.
My suggestion would be to hire them to watch your children the first time while you are at home doing a project. This way you can see for yourself how they interact with your child. If they are uncomfortable having you there, this may be an indicator that their behavior may be very different without the parent around. On the other hand, they may just be shy. See how they handle themselves, if they are patient and most importantly if your child is comfortable around them. It is well worth the money to have this preview. If you hire them without meeting them first, you may have an uncomfortable feeling about leaving your child with them and it will ruin your evening.
Ask them questions, express your expectations and your household rules. If there are behaviors that you don't allow, point those out to your sitter. Maybe you have a limit on TV or gaming time. You might not allow certain snacks after dinner or have a specific bedtime ritual. This will make it tougher for your child to take advantage of the newbie. Make sure that you leave a list of numbers where you can be reached, the number of a family member and maybe a trusted neighbor. Be sure they are aware of your child's favorite toy or item that they sleep with if they are expected to put your child to bed. They need to be aware of any allergies or medical conditions that your child may have.
If there is a preteen in the neighborhood that is always interested and friendly to your child that may be a little young to start babysitting but has the ambition to be a sitter. Have that preteen around, get to know the family, and you may just have the perfect babysitter in the making for the future. Take a chance and hire this preteen to help out when you are home and you may be building the relationship to have an awesome sitter at a later date. I was one of these preteens, I was invited to hang around and I learned a lot about taking care of babies and young children from the mom that wanted me as a future sitter. I babysat for that family up into my late teens when I took care of the four kids for entire weekends.
Choosing who you are willing to leave your children with is an important decision. Please take the time to interview your sitter and preview how they interact with your children. Ask them questions and check their references. Also, make sure that you listen to your own gut instinct on whether or not this sitter is going to be a good fit for your family.
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