New parents face many challenges when they bring their baby home from the hospital. Dealing with nightly feedings and changing dirty diapers are the easy ones. Finding a competent babysitter for when you are ready to go out alone is one of the harder ones. But it doesn't have to be difficult. It just takes a little time and patience.
In this day and age, most people don't have the luxury of having their parents just up the street from them. Many children move away when they leave home, sometimes thousands of miles away. So having Mom or Dad watch the little ones isn't feasible. So, where do parents go to find someone trustworthy to babysit their child?
Friends and family are a good place to start. Who watches your best friend's kids? Ask friends and family in the area if they know of anyone who babysits and get their number. Your friends with children are great resources for finding a sitter. But even a friend who is childless might know of a sitter in the area. Ask around and you'll be amazed.
Church and Activity groups are another place to ask. Many churches have a list of members who babysit. Activity groups do too. Many of these have newsletters with the sitter's names and numbers. Be sure to ask other members if they have used a sitter, and what they think of that person's abilities, etc.
Neighbors are wonderful resources for finding a sitter. Especially ones with young children. Ask around and see who is sitting for that young child across the street. You can get a recommendation while getting their number. If the parent is leery about giving you their sitter's name, offer to give your name and number to them to pass on.
Other places to try are bulletin boards at grocery stores, community centers, hospitals and even the classified section of your local paper. Many sitters advertise in these places as a way to get clients without spending a lot of money. Also try the local community college and high school for references.
When you find one, be sure to ask questions. You should screen any person who is going to be taking care of your children, even if they've been recommended by a trusted friend. Your children's safety is very important. Some questions you should ask are:
What is their full name?
Are they trained in CPR?
Do they have any children of their own?
How long have they been babysitting?
What is the youngest child they've sat for? The oldest?
Also, check them out on your local police sexual offender lists. Finding out if someone is a child molester is easier now than ever before. Most police departments have part of their web site dedicated to listing and searching for pedophiles. Use these resources to make sure your sitter hasn't been convicted of a crime against a child. It's better to know than not to know!
Once you find a sitter, and you've checked them out, introduce them to your child while you are there. Observe how they interact with your child, how your child interacts with them. Make sure you leave plenty of time to let both become comfortable before you leave. You will enjoy yourself more if you know your child is happy with your choice of a sitter. A good babysitter means parents can go out and have a nice, relaxing time away from home knowing their child is in good hands.