I’ve been in your shoes, desperately dialing someone’s sister’s friend’s cousin who might be able to babysit this Saturday. I’ve made awkward conversation on the car ride home. I’ve been delighted when a sitter showed up for her first night with us carrying a bag of toys and books to share, and dismayed when I learned another locked my kids out of the house as a joke. I watched preteens with braces morph into high school students with basketball practice and boyfriends competing with my social life, then into adults with college degrees. And now, I’m the babysitters’ mom.
Since I’ve looked at hiring babysitters from both sides, now, I offer some tips on hiring – and keeping – a good babysitter.
1. Look for a sitter with Red Cross babysitter certification. The daylong training course is offered in communities throughout the state for kids 11-15. Cost varies depending on location.
“The primary focus is taking care of kids, choosing appropriate toys for their developmental stage, decision-making skills, and, of course, the regular first aid and safety, “says Jenni Dillemuth of the South Central Minnesota Red Cross in Mankato. “It’s a pretty grown-up program.”
2. Find a good fit. If your kids are shy, look for a sitter with a warm and gentle personality. If your kids are “high energy,” find a kindred spirit who will play ball or organize a game of tag (outside, of course). Give your sitter tips about helping your kids to cooperate with house rules about bedtimes, snacks, and computer and TV use.
3. Honesty is the best policy when discussing conflicts that arise while babysitting, offers Harry Anderson, director of health and safety for the Red Cross Northland Chapter in Duluth. For example, he says, a young sitter (maybe with his or her parents there for support) might say to an employer: “Here is what happened the last time I babysat your kids; it was hard to handle. I don’t feel comfortable watching your kids and this is why. How do you want me to handle this?” The responsible employer will help the sitter strategize about how to handle the situation or decide together that it isn’t working out.
4. You might consider the team approach: My kids often hire out as a team, sharing responsibilities and pay. The more, the merrier – and the better the sitter-to-child ratio. At the same time, peers can sometimes be a distraction to otherwise responsible teens. One section of Northland Red Cross’s training, “Temptation and Responsibility,” helps sitters stay focused on the job despite distractions.
5. Be clear what you expect. I used to tell sitters, “The kids are job one; don’t worry about the dishes,” but when I’d come home to a sink full of crusty plates and gooey countertops, I’d grit my teeth as I reached for my wallet.
6. Book your sitters in advance. The families who call my kids at the last minute tend to get shut out simply because my kids are busy with extracurriculars and their own budding social lives. Some people set up a standing date with a favorite sitter – that way, everyone can plan ahead, including your kids.
7. Call if you’re going to be late! My kid/your sitter might not have a problem falling asleep watching SNL, but I probably will if she’s not home when she says she will be.
8. Duh, give sitters your contact information and tell them where you’re going to be even if you leave a cell phone number.
9. Sitter sticker shock aside, pay your sitter decently. Depending on the going rate in your area, you can expect to pay at least $1.50 per child per hour up to $8-$10 an hour, especially if you’ve hired an older teen who agrees to take on more responsibility for meals, laundry or driving. Ask your friends and neighbors what they pay.
It might take a few tries to make a lasting match, but it’s worth it to find a good babysitter who will earn a place on your speed dial and in your kids’ hearts.
