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How to Hire a Babysitter for a Wedding
Are you a maid or matron of honor this summer but can't think of the perfect gift? Hire a babysitter for the wedding. Don't be afraid of the responsibility. With an online babysitter service like Babysitters4Hire.com, it's simple. There are babysitters available for one time-events, as well as long-term assignments. Go through profiles of local babysitters, and find the one that meets your needs. Details are import. Will you need the babysitter for the whole-day event, or just for the ceremony? What will the babysitter be paid? How many children do you expect? Will one babysitter be enough? Make sure all aspects of the job are communicated clearly, and in writing. Do not leave anything to chance.
When you hire the babysitter, follow through. On the day of the event, if you are unable to check on the babysitter periodically, assign someone else to do it. Make sure that your child care provider has the support that he/she needs. This includes making sure that all children are picked up at the appropriate time.
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Babysitter Tip: What You Should Pay Your Babysitter
How much to should you pay your babysitter? Keep these factors in mind:
Will the babysitter be providing a meal as part of the service?
What is the babysitter's age and experience level?
Does he/she have first aid training, or certification?
Does your child require special care? If you child has behavior issues, is a special needs child or has medical issues such as diabetes or epilepsy, extra pay is merited.
Will your babysitter need to provide transportation? Picking children up from school or taking them to activities should be compensated. The cost of gas mileage should be paid in addition to a wage that reflects the added service.
How much is the babysitter expecting to be paid? This can be an uncomfortable topic, but if you use an online babysitter service like Babysitters4Hire.com, the expected rate is in his/her profile. When you hire a babysitter, offer a fair rate. Child care is a very competitive market, and quality babysitters are worth the extra investment they demand.
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Licensed to Drive
If you are considering hiring a younger babysitter to watch after your little one, you may want to consider the benefits and pitfalls of hiring a teenager with a driver's license. On one hand, you would benefit from having a person in your home who is able to drive in case of an emergency. However, if this same teenager has a license you may spend your night out worrying about whether or not they are taking your child to another place, even a place as innocent as the city park, without your permission.
Ask for a copy of the babysitter's license before hiring her. This provides you with a detailed description and record of the person in charge of your child in case anything were to happen. You should discuss with her ahead of time which places, if any, you will allow your child to go visit during your absence. You should set clear, approved hours for this mini-trip. You will also need to talk with the babysitter about carseat needs and safety concerns about riding in a car with another driver. It would be a good idea to have the sitter call you before taking your child anywhere just in case you come home early to find an empty house. Avoid the panic and drama by setting clear guidelines from the beginning and you may find that giving your babysitter and child room to breathe while you are gone will be appreciated and enjoyed.
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Babysitter Tip: Following up on References for Babysitters
When you decide to hire a babysitter, ask for job references -- and call them. Don't skip calling the references because everything “feels right.” Your child's safety is at stake.
Be on the lookout for:
Disconnected or incorrect phone numbers.
Supervisors who do not clearly recall the applicant.
Supervisors who will not offer detailed comments or any positive comment.
A list of references with no long term-relationships.
Ordinarily references are biased, but a well-placed question can get a revealing answer. Write out your list of questions before you make the referral calls. Judge the quality of the references by the depth of the relationships. An enthusiastic endorsement means more coming from a long time acquaintance.
Babysitters4Hire.com provides you with babysitter profiles to choose from, but it does not screen applicants. There are sample reference forms available to registered members and there is a section for Babysitters to download references for your review.
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Put the Word Out
Along with leaving a list of emergency phone numbers for your babysitter, you may want to make at least one of your emergency contacts aware that you are going to be out for the day or the evening. This person can then act as your second pair of eyes. If you will be out for a late night meeting, for example, in which you will find it difficult to call home and check on your child, this contact can also check up on your child for you. This may sound extreme, but it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the well-being of your children.
You should choose a babysitter you feel confident with because you never know what scenarios might come up. Your sitter may be having difficulty getting your child to eat what you left and not know what else to try. That phone call to check up is an opportunity to talk and find other options you would approve of at a time when you cannot get to the phone. If you choose to make an emergency contact aware of your absence, let your child know that this contact will be calling. Your child will also know that they can count on this person in case of an emergency.
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Babysitter Tip: How to Interview a Babysitter
Always conduct an interview before you hire a sitter. Good interviewing skills can help you screen out problems before they occur. The interview should take place in a neutral environment, like a coffee shop or public area so you will both be relaxed. Be friendly and business-like, and allow a few minutes of natural conversation before the interview begins. There are sample interview questions available to registered members at Babysitters4hire.com.
Ask open-ended questions. Encourage the interviewee to expound; it will give you additional insight. Ask specific questions. For example: “Tell me about a time when a child lied to you and how you handled it,” is more effective than “What would you do if my child lied to you?”
Keep control of the interview. If the interviewee begins to stray to another topic, bring back the issue at hand. If she is going into more detail than is needed, again, bring her back into focus.
Observe the body language of the babysitter closely. Lack of eye contact, exaggerated laughter or evasive answers are warning signs. Don't be afraid to ask pointed questions if necessary. Your objective is not to make a new friend, but to protect your child and hire a competent babysitter.
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Asking for Recommendations
You may not require your babysitter to have a degree, but she should be able to provide references. You may determine whether she gives you written letters from either parents of children whom they have previously cared for, or from character references. You can choose whether a phone number of a reference that you can call and speak with is enough.
It is entirely up to you, however; you must get the opinions of those close to the applicant, especially if the person applying is a teenager or minor themselves. Be on the lookout for certain keywords used to describe the person you wish to hire. You want to know that this person is responsible, caring, has good communication skills, and is punctual. These traits can describe someone who has years of experience and even an associate's degree in childcare or a high school student looking to earn extra money after school. They are traits that can be demonstrated in many ways in a person's everyday life. As long as your candidate has these qualities, she should be capable and successful as your child's babysitter.
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Babysitter Tip: Kid-Tested, Mother Approved
Since it is your child or children that will be left in the care of your potential new babysitter, shouldn't they also have say in who is hired? If your children are of speaking age, it might be a good idea to have them present when you research a babysitting service, or at least for part of the interview process. Your role when the kids are present is to observe the interaction between the caregiver and child.
Does your normally outgoing child find that person frightening or intimidating? Do they get along together? Is the new babysitter willing to be playful and friendly with the child or do you imagine him or her just plopping the little one down in front of the TV? If your child is slightly older, he or she might enjoy getting to ask their prospective caregiver a few questions themselves. Let your son or daughter ask them as many questions as they need to in order to feel comfortable with this person. If your child smiles right away and is open to this new friend, they are probably well-intentioned. Ask the candidate what she would do in a situation when your child is behaving well and when he or she is misbehaving and show your approval or disapproval of her response. This way your child will see them as both a friend and an authority figure. The look on your child's face should give extra points to the applicant, or take away a few. Your child's opinion of their babysitter matters, and the child will be more likely to cooperate with the babysitter when you are gone if they played a role in the hiring process.
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Background Checks
If you are toying with the idea of selecting an adult babysitter, it is most likely because it gives you peace of mind to know that the caregiver of your child has enough life experience to adjust to most situations. Anyone considering an adult sitter should conduct a background check before allowing the adult to be alone with your child.
Leaving your son or daughter alone with any adult means letting that adult assume authority over them. Your children will become vulnerable to that person’s whims, both good and bad. It is absolutely necessary to know whom you are dealing with. There are many online sites that offer free background checks on adults. You may consider any of the following: http://www.abika.com/Reports/Freebackgroundchecksandverifications.htm and www.freeprf.com. Many public schools these days conduct background searches on anyone who comes into contact with the kids, even if it is to attend a field trip with their own child for the simple fact that they will also be exposed to other children. If your search turns up more than a traffic ticket, or even a minor offense that they cannot explain, move on to the next candidate.
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Be Prepared for Mealtime
If you leave a babysitter in charge of feeding your child, be prepared. Just because someone is great with your kids does not mean they can boil an egg. It also does not mean they would be as careful as you in the kitchen -- and accidents do happen. If you do not feel good about the babysitter using the stove, then don't put them in the position to use it.
Prevention in err of correction can save you a lot of trouble and give you peace of mind. Cook the meal you want your child to eat ahead of time and leave it labeled in the refrigerator for the sitter to reheat. Leave any specifications you have on the label and make sure you point out the meal before you depart. If you really want to make sure your child gets your food, leave enough for the sitter to have a helping or two. You would probably rather have your sitter share a table with your child than need to pay attention to her own cooking while your child eats alone. You also probably prefer your sitter not to eat junk food in front of your child, making him more likely to ask for junk food himself. This generous act shows your gratitude and appreciation for the caregiver of your child.
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Two-Way Parent Approval
We're all guilty of putting our best face forward when applying for a job ... and sometimes of neglecting to mention little details that might jeopardize our chances of getting it. The same can be said for a teenage babysitter. However, the parents of that teenager are more likely to give you an honest perspective on their child's ability to take care of another child.
Before putting your child in the hands of another minor, talk over the responsibility with the prospective babysitter’s own parents. Get the scoop straight from the people that have known that person their whole life. It would be even better if the parent-to-parent interview could take place at the teenager's home. You do not need to see what luxuries their family can afford but rather how they keep up with what they have. Does their home look kid-friendly? Is it organized? Is it clean? This is especially important if your child is to be watched in the babysitter’s home. Even if your child stays on your property, this home visit will provide a sneak peak into their lifestyle. This will let you know what you will come back to after a night of this babysitter being in charge.
Regardless of what you see, remember to be courteous, whether or not what you see pleases you or scares you away. And always ask your interview questions with a positive twist.
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