subject: Leaving Your Child with a Babysitter [print this page] Leaving Your Child with a Babysitter
Sooner or later every parent is going to find that he or she needs the services of someone to care for their child. It may only be for a short time, or it could be that this sitter is needed for extended time periods. The problem most parents face is how to go about finding a babysitter who is responsible, trustworthy and competent enough to care for the child.
It used to be as simple as asking a neighborhood teenager to baby sit, but unless you live in an area where you personally know each family this is no longer as easy as it once was. Locating a sitter now involves thorough background checks, personal references, recommendations and more. Too many times a parent who has failed to check these things ends up regretting it.
Begin your search by asking family, friends, co-workers, people in your neighborhood, and even someone in your doctor's office for recommendations. Perhaps a relative has a teenage child who wants to earn a few extra dollars by babysitting. This can be a bit tricky however, because if the sitter doesn't work out you are put in the position of having to let them go, and this may cause hard feelings. It's often best to extend your search beyond these boundaries.
A community college is a good place to locate a responsible student who would like to earn extra money through babysitting. Many of these schools have students who are enrolled in child development courses and this may be the perfect solution for you. You will be able to speak with their teachers about the character of the student and also ask for recommendations and honest opinions.
You can also make use of a local babysitting agency if one is located in your area. You may find them listed in the phone book or through advertisements in a local newspaper or similar publication. The positive side about hiring a sitter this way is that the agency takes care of background checks and works to match each sitter with a family according to needs and preferences. This doesn't mean that the chosen person will work out, however. You may find that you will need to interview several candidates before you find a sitter or nanny you feel secure about and whom your children are comfortable with.
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