How to Perform a Background Check on Your Babysitter or Nanny by:Doreen Lee

Today, many parents have to leave their homes to work and give their children the best life that they can possibly provide

. And most have to contend with the fact that they have to leave their children in the care of a hired help because they don't have the convenience of having a relative or friend to watch over their kids in their absence. But it's also important to make the right choices when it comes to hiring a babysitter or nanny. The reality of it all is that you're still going to let a stranger into your home, to handle your child. The best that you can do is to make sure that the person you have hired is somebody who can keep your kid safe.

Running a background check on your potential nanny

Before you hire an applicant, you need to perform a background check first to make sure that she's truly reliable. In as much as you are probably impressed by her credentials, experience, and training, it would be to your best advantage to run this check so you can determine beforehand whether or not the individual is trustworthy. Naturally, you don't want to work with somebody who has a criminal record or somebody who has had a bad employment history.

Ask for references

A good way to start your background check on your potential nanny or babysitter is by contacting her previous employers and any other references. You want to make sure that the applicant has verifiable references that you can call to ask about her performance. Having repeat clients is one proof that the babysitter is good at what she does, aside from the fact that the children she has cared for must have loved her as well.

You need to take the time to verify that the references your applicant provided are credible. Make phone calls and ask her previous employers about her performance. Were they satisfied with the services she provided? Were the children properly cared for? How did the children find their babysitter when she was taking care of them?

Check for criminal background

You will also want to check for criminal records if any. This will include involvement in criminal cases as well as financial histories that can be characteristic of irresponsible behavior. You need to go through this on your own if you're going to hire the babysitter yourself instead of going through a local agency. To ensure that the applicant has a clean record, you might want to request her to apply for an FBI clearance. This is one of the best ways for you to ensure that you are not hiring an unscrupulous individual into your home.

Running a background check on your nanny or babysitter ensures that you're hiring the right person for the job - somebody who can look after your children and who can make sure that they stay safe. You owe it to your child you're leaving at home to ensure that somebody can attend to your child's needs.

About the author

Doreen Lee helps parents get instant access to thousands of qualified babysitters around their area by leading them to http://www.hireasitternow.com

POST COMMENT

Surprising Secrets to a Successful Summer by:Toni Schutta Where to Find Babysitters on the Internet by:Doreen Lee Gender Differences - The Sight and The Sound by:Janet Allison Six Tips To Help Your Overweight Children Lose Weight by:William Winch The Benefits of Baby Sign Language Extend Way beyond the First Few Years by:Lisa Baade Top Ten Nutritional Tips for Children by:Jason Horsley Ways Parents Can Encourage Older Children,Adolescents,and Teenagers to Wear Diapers to Bed and Other Topics by:Colin Ellison Reasons for the Stigma Surrounding Diaper Use With Older Bed-Wetters and Ways to Reduce this Stigma by:Colin Ellison Is It Safe to Continue Breastfeeding While Nipples are Sore? by:James Smith Potty Training Made Easy - A Guide To Success by:Muna Chongo Road Trip: A Trip To The Past by:Susan Wisdom Parenting: Which Road Do I Engage To Raise A Good Kid? by:Rex Villaflor Tips for Shopping for a Boy Online by:Don Ryan