Before hiring a teenage babysitter, it is very important to get to know as much as possible about this person. Be sure to ask many questions and get a good feel for your new babysitter before handing over the care of your little ones. Look closely at the teenager’s lifestyle, personality and experiences and choose a babysitter who is mature, well trained and responsible.
Finding a Potential Teenage Babysitter
It can be nerve wracking to ask a complete stranger to come into your home and care for your children in your absence. Feel more secure in your choice by getting a highly recommended teenage babysitter through a trusted friend, a family member, neighbor, church, daycare provider or doctor’s office; they are in an excellent position to recommend reliable babysitters.
Interview With a Potential Babysitter
Invite your potential babysitter to your home for an informal interview. Prepare a list of questions to ask him or her but encourage the interview to be conversational and relaxed by asking open ended questions. If the teenager is reserved you may need to be more direct with the questioning. Encourage him or her to also ask questions; lots of questions means enthusiasm and a teenager who is thinking through the responsibilities of being a babysitter.
Teenage Babysitter’s Background
Discussing topics such as school grades, hobbies and how they feel about issues such as alcohol, drugs and smoking help to round out a full picture of the person you are considering. It would also be very important to know if the teenager has a medical condition such as diabetes, asthma or allergies that may put some restrictions on his or her ability to do the job. Knowing whether the babysitter’s immunizations are up to date is not often asked but may be important for you and your family to consider.
Ask for a copy of the teenager’s driver’s license and consider a background check for a criminal record or sexual offenses. The internet is a great way to check on many teenagers these days; check MySpace or Facebook for more background information about the teenager. Always ask for and follow up on three references, don’t accept a written reference at face value, talk in person to previous families that the babysitter has worked for.
Teenage Babysitter’s Experience
Ask the teenager about previous babysitting experience with other families as well as babysitting younger siblings at home. Find out the length of time that he or she has been babysitting, ages of the children cared for and why he or she chose to take up babysitting. If the babysitter will be taking care of a baby or toddler, it is important that he or she is able and willing to change diapers, sometimes really messy ones!
A babysitter should also be knowledgeable and experienced with preparing milk and feeding a baby if applicable. Consider hiring a babysitter who is certified in CPR (including infant CPR), First Aid and has completed a formal babysitting course.
Emergencies, Discipline and Activities
Ask the teenager what he or she would do in a specific situation such as:
- What if the child were constantly crying?
- What if there was a stranger at the door?
- What kind of problems would you feel that you would need to call me for?
- In an emergency such as a fire starting in the house or a drowning situation, what would you do?
Ask how the babysitter would react to a child misbehaving and find out if you are on the same page with discipline. Inform him or her of your house rules and ask him or her how he or she intends to enforce the rules. It is also important to find out how the teenager will plan to interact and play with your child in your absence. Does he or she like to read, play games and do crafts?
Teenage Babysitter Availability
A great babysitter is of no use if your schedules clash. Be sure to ask when he or she can start work, about other babysitting obligations, vacation dates and other times that he or she is unavailable because of school, sports and extracurricular activities. Be very specific in hashing out exactly when the babysitter is available for work and if regular work is desired or just the occasional babysitting job. Find out if he or she has transportation or will need to be picked up and dropped off after work. Some teenagers may have the use of a car or will have parents available for pick up and drop off, others may not.
Payment for the Teen Babysitter
Start the payment negotiations by asking how much the babysitter expects to be paid. Before the interview ask around for the going rate for babysitters in your area. When discussing payment consider; how many hours you will be gone, age and number of children babysat and babysitter experience. Find out whether he or she would prefer to be paid in cash or with a check.
Before the candidate leaves the interview, make sure that you have all the information you need, such as full name, address, age and phone number for those all important background checks. When choosing a teenage babysitter, arm yourself with all the facts but most of all go with your gut instinct. Your new babysitter should be mature, friendly, responsible and absolutely love children!
Resources:
American Red Cross: "Get Trained: Babysitting" (accessed October 15, 2010).
"Safesitter Website" (accessed October 15, 2010).
"Megan's Law Sex Offender Website" (accessed October 15, 2010).
Julia Wooldridge - Julia Wooldridge was born and raised in England where she trained to be a Registered Midwife. After training she worked in prenatal, labor ...
