The day has come for you to leave your baby in the care of someone else. It’s time to choose a babysitter to care for them while you go out into the world and do things that adults need to do without children — for example, work or attend an adult event like a wedding or date night. Let’s help you choose a babysitter who’s awesome.
Maybe you’re feeling anxious or nervous about leaving someone else to take care of your precious little one. I get it. You made that little human and they’re perfect, you don’t want anyone to mess that up.
No one is going to love your child the way you do — but maybe, just maybe, with a little due diligence, extensive background checks, and a whole lot of experience you’ll find someone who you can trust for a few hours to keep your child safe and attended to in your absence. I know it feels impossible but it’s not. You can do this, mama.
How to find a reliable babysitter
3 most important things to look for in a babysitter
1. What did the references have to say?
You’ve checked the references but what did they have to say? Did you remember to do the background check? Don’t skimp out — it’s a crucial part of the hiring process to not only make sure that your little one is taken care of but that you have peace of mind. Did she perform the same duties with her previous families as she will do with your family? Does she cook, clean, tutor, and get the kids to bed?
2. Ask your kids what they think about the babysitter
If you really want to know if the babysitter is a good personality fit for your little ones — and if they’re old enough to answer — ask them. Was she nice? Did they have fun? Did she get mad? Did she yell? Did she feed them? Were they paid attention to?
Don’t do it cold turkey, though, especially if this is the first time leaving them with a sitter. “Don’t just hire some teenager one night and take off, leaving your child with a stranger,” Dr. Sears wrote on AskDrSears.com. “Build up to it.”
3. Trust your mama intuition
Even if everything looks perfect on paper, if your gut tells you that something is off, listen. Maybe it’s nothing or maybe it’s something; either way better to be safe than sorry. “I don’t care if she’s the perfect sitter, if she doesn’t ‘feel right’ to me, I can’t leave my son in her care,” mom Melissa Tigu told Mom.com.
