( What are the parents looking for? )

Many of us are hiring new babysitters as the school season is about to get into full swing. Here are some tips on how you should interview a babysitter, what you should ask for and how you know if he or she is right for your family.

The Initial Interview

The initial interview will be based on your observations, the questions that you ask and your overall impression of the sitter. Here are some questions to get the conversation started:

1. What do you like most about babysitting and being with children? What do you like the least?
2. Do you have any special training or certification? Are you trained in first aid or CPR?
3. What is your approach to discipline?
4. What kinds of activities do you enjoy doing with children?
5. May I obtain a background check?

If you are confident with this initial conversation, you should ask for a list of references and other personal information about the candidate that you may need to perform a background check, like: previous names and addresses, birthdate, driver’s license and social security number, and anything else you might want to know. If you use a babysitting service like Sittercity, they will obtain a background check, references and other information for you and have reviews from other families who have previously used this babysitter.

The Second Interview

Just like any other job interview process, it is important to have a second “interview” with the kids. Simply arrange for him or her to meet and play with your children. This will help you to be able to see how he or she relates to your kids and how the children react to the new sitter. Some families have the person baby sit once while they are still in the home, in order to help a new sitter get accustomed to the family, the rules of the house, and to make sure you are confident that things will work out when you leave them alone.

If you followed these guidelines, you should be able to determine if the babysitter is right for your family. Although it seems like quite a process, finding a great babysitter is worth the effort.