4 Questions to Ask a Babysitter Before Hiring

When you think about it, a babysitter has the most important job: taking care of your children. Why then would you choose one without first interviewing her and checking her references? When you hire a babysitter, you’re the employer and the babysitter is your employee. By following a process of interviewing and checking references, you’ll feel more confident that you’ve hired the right person.

Many employee searches begin with a phone interview. You should do the same. Start the interview by letting the potential babysitter know the number and age of your children, your address, any special issues, transportation, and “pet peeves” or restrictions. Go over your expectations and stress that your first priority is to keep your child safe and happily entertained.

Then, you’ll want to ask the babysitter a few crucial questions:

What is your age and babysitting experience with children the same age as my children? (Tip: Sitters shouldn’t babysit for infants less than six months of age until they’ve had at least two years of experience.)
Do you have training in the rescue of a choking infant and children?
What is your usual fee? (Tip: Negotiate a fair fee prior to the job.)
What if….? (Tip: Present a few scenarios to determine how the babysitter would handle them. For example, for a toddler, you might ask about handling a child who cries when parents leave.)

If the phone interview goes well, and if your schedule allows, arrange a pre-job personal interview to check out your “gut response” to the babysitter. If you feel you’ve found the right babysitter, the next step is to check references. Do not hire a babysitter if you cannot check their references!

When you hire a babysitter, you are hiring a person you are willing to trust with the responsibility for your child’s life. Make sure you select a trustworthy, responsible babysitter to watch and take care of your child.

Has your sitter taken a babysitting preparation course? If not, consider chatting with her parents about signing her up for Safe Sitter®. Use our Find a Class tool.

Summary

Treat babysitter hiring like an employment search — start with a phone interview and be upfront about your children's ages, your address, any special needs, and your expectations.
Ask about the sitter's age and experience, especially with children the same age as yours. Sitters should have at least two years of experience before caring for infants under six months.
Ask whether the sitter is trained in choking rescue for infants and children — this is one of the most critical safety skills a babysitter can have.
Discuss the fee upfront and present a few real-world scenarios to see how the sitter would respond in challenging situations.
If the phone interview goes well, arrange an in-person meeting to check your instincts — and always check references before making a final decision.
If your sitter hasn't completed a babysitting course, encourage her family to enroll her in a local Safe Sitter® class.

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