Ask These 15 Questions When Hiring A Babysitter

Ask the 15 questions listed below when hiring a babysitter or au pair and deciding who is just the right person to help your family with childcare.

Ask these 15 questions when hiring a babysitter

1. How long have you been caring for the children? What age children do you have the most experience caring for, or what age children do you feel most confident with?
2. Have you ever had other jobs in the past that have made you more qualified and able to work as a babysitter and take care of children?
3. Do you have first aid training? Have you attended any courses or obtained other childcare-related certificates? Would you be willing to make one on request?
4. How flexible are your schedules? How many children do you think you can take care of at the same time? (This is essential information if, for example, you are planning visits by family members such as cousins, or you want to get visits from your friends or friends of your children when the babysitter is responsible for entertaining the children).
5. What are your favorite activities with your kids? Would you be willing to prepare the necessary schedules for your work hours for common activities and routines when caring for children?
6. Is there any childcare-related task or responsibility you don’t want to do?
7. Would you be willing to take short walks to nearby places in the neighborhood? Can you prepare snacks and meals for the kids? Do you mind if you also look after your family pet?
8. What are you doing to comfort and reassure the children, and how would you punish them? Do you have experience with children’s illnesses, inappropriate behavior, and outbursts of anger?
9. Can you reliably take care of children’s sleep routines?
10. What do you like most about working with children? What area of ​​expertise do you find most challenging when working with children?
11. Could you tell me about the most difficult, or stressful moments you have experienced in your job as a babysitter? What approach or strategies did you use to resolve the situation?
12. Have you ever had a health emergency while working as a babysitter? What did you do, and how did the situation go?
13. What do you like to do in your free time?
14. Have you had problems following instructions or rules related to discipline?
15. Do you have anything against the idea that you should incorporate certain family routines or beliefs into your work?

Other considerations

• However, if you find someone who adapts well to your family’s lifestyle and rhythm, you should remember to advise him or her well. Be sure to tell her if the children have special diets, for example, or if your family has religious beliefs that the babysitter should also take into account in their work.
• If necessary, discuss with your prospective childminder any learning difficulties for children, such as autism, or lack of concentration. The babysitter needs to know your child’s special needs and characteristics in order to take proper care of them.

• It is essential that you tell your babysitter about any special medicines or treatments for your children. Don’t forget to tell your babysitter if your children have suffered in the past from any of the harmful situations you think she should be aware of.
• From the outset, find out what the person’s working hours are and what their pay is. This way, you avoid unnecessary complications or difficult situations later. Ask the candidate for contact information for referrers to review his or her previous work experience.
• Before asking a babysitter in person for an on-site interview, first contact her by phone and review her recommendations. Based on the findings and references from this first contact, you can already decide whether to ask him for an interview for more information.

• Take the time to process and contact several people to see which of them your children treat best. When you are not at home yourself, the babysitter is your eyes and ears, as well as the person in charge of the home. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a good relationship with him from the beginning.