Tuesday, December 23, 2008

A Step-by-step Guide to Find a Babysitter

Author: Jane Worthington

1) Determine the night you need the babysitter. You might have an overnight conference, a friend's birthday party, your office's holiday party, or a special date with your spouse. Make sure the date is confirmed so that you can start searching for a babysitter right away.

2) Ask friends and neighbors for babysitter recommendations. It is always better to receive a recommendation from people whom you trust. If this sitter did a great job with their kids, they will most likely to do a great job with yours.

3) If the above method does not work out, you need to find a babysitter a different way. It is time to do some research. Call the career services of a near-by college or university, ask at your place of worship, and look around for postings at elementary school or in your work place. You can also sign up for a site online that has profiles of babysitters in your area. You can read these posted "resumes" so that you can find someone nearby who is able to/willing to sit for you.

4) Call up the list of finalists, i.e. the girls that you thought had the most potential, and interview them over the phone. Ask them for a few references, about their experience, and try to get a good feel for who they are. If they sound mature and friendly, they are still in the running!

5) Call the girls' references.

6) For the two candidates that you feel are the best, invite them down to your house for a quick tour and for a trial babysitting period. This "test" can just be for a few hours during a weekend afternoon while you go run errands.

7) If your kids like both girls, perfect! You have two potential babysitters so if one does not have the date available, then you can call the second. Call one up and schedule her for the date you need! The process to find a babysitter might seem difficult and time-consuming, but it is very important for you to find someone you and your kids both like. Ideally, you will not need to look for a sitter for many years to come! Good luck and enjoy your night out!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/a-stepbystep-guide-to-find-a-babysitter-690402.html

About the Author:
Just another creative writer talking about anything and everything under the sun!

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