Finding – and Keeping – a Great Babysitter

By Carol Band

Looking for a good babysitter? Chat up the parents at your neighborhood playground and you’ll hear a familiar refrain: “There’s only a small window of opportunity for babysitters – when they’re old enough to be responsible and young enough not to be out with their friends every Friday or Saturday night.”

These days, that means the prime age for a babysitter is somewhere between 11 (for a mother’s helper) and 16 (for a caregiver who can handle a late night). But even when you’ve found a good one – someone you’ve just broken in – all of a sudden, she’s got a date or other plans on the nights you need her. Or maybe your sitter is in such high demand that he’s always booked by the Johnson’s or the Brown’s. Just how do you find a good babysitter – especially when you’re still wet behind the ears as a parent yourself? And once you’ve found one, how do you keep a sitter long enough for your kids and you to feel a comfortable sense of security and trust?

On the Hunt

Word of mouth is probably your best bet when looking for a reliable sitter. Ask other parents about their babysitters, but keep in mind that they may be hesitant to give a referral. After all, they still need that sitter; make sure you don’t end up competing with them for childcare.

Here are some other suggestions to help you in your sitter search:

• Look around you. Know any parents with older daughters or sons? Ask about their availability. Or perhaps there is an adult in your neighborhood – a single mom or a grandmother – who is interested in baby-sitting for additional income.

• Check at your neighborhood convenience store, church or library. Budding babysitters often put up signs notifying parents that they’re available. Libraries and hospitals sometimes offer baby-sitting courses and the staff there may be able to refer you to recent “graduates.” • Put your name and needs in with the student employment office at local colleges. College students are often looking for convenient ways to earn money. If you’re lucky, you might get a student majoring in education or child development.

• If you can’t find a sitter who’s at least 13, don’t shy away from hiring someone as young as 11 or 12. If this adolescent has taken a baby-sitting course, he or she may become your most reliable and loyal sitter. You’ll have the chance to break her in. Start her as a mother’s helper, entertaining your kids while you’re still in the home. Then leave her for a short time, while you run a quick errand or two. As your sitter matures, you can work up to leaving her with your children while you enjoy a much-deserved night on the town.