FYI: Babysitter Interview Checklist for Parents

[lgsdesigner]

Thought this would be helpful to many of us. Found this on the sittercity.com website. Of course-- you don't have to ask ALL of them, but most are really good to question potential sitters/providers/nannies about.


General Questions

• What is it that you like about caring for children?

• What do you look for in an employer/family?

• What is your rate?

• Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?

• Are you OK if a job runs later than planned?

Background and Experience

• How many years have you been working with children?

• What child care roles have you done in the past? Sitter, nanny, coach, etc.?

• How many families have you cared for and how old were the children?

• Do you have specific child care experience in [fill in the blank depending on what you’re looking for – special needs, potty training, infant care, etc.]


Sitter’s Circumstances
(for in-home nannies/providers)
• What is your course of study in school or what is your full time job?

• Do you have any allergies to cats, dogs or other pets?

• Are you uncomfortable around or scared of any particular pets?

• Do you have any particular religious affiliation that might affect the way you care for our children?

• (For full time/regularly-scheduled jobs) Do you plan on taking any time off in the next six months?


Training and Safety

• Do you know First Aid?

• Do you know CPR?

• Are you familiar with the Heimlich maneuver?

• Can you swim?

• Are you familiar with emergency numbers?

• Can you drive in an emergency?


Behavioral Questions

• Tell me about a time where you faced a crisis on the job. How did you handle it?

• What would you do with the kids on a day like today?

• What do you do when a child refuses to go to sleep?

• What do you think is the best way to handle tantrums?

• What is your proudest moment in babysitting and why?

• What are your views on discipline? Are you willing to change if we ask?


For Newborn Care

• Are you comfortable sitting for newborns?

• What is your experience caring for newborns?

• Can you change a diaper?

• Do you know infant CPR?

• Do you know about SIDS and how to prevent it?

• Do you have experience preparing and heating formula?

• Are you familiar with Shaken Baby Syndrome?

• Do you know the proper size for baby chewables and how to prevent choking?

• Can you tell if a room is childproofed?



If the Sitter will be Driving

• Are you comfortable driving kids in the car?

• May I see your driver’s license?

• How many years have you been driving?

• Do you have any marks against your driving record (speeding tickets, accidents, etc)?

[emu0013]

Thanks! It took us a year to leave DD with a babysitter, and it was her teacher from daycare who was with her every day from 12 weeks on, we moved to NH in August '2012 and are yet to leave her with anyone. We actually flew my mom in from NC to babysit.... I really struggle with this, and love her teachers at her daycare here and the one babysits, but we still have not left her.

[lgsdesigner]

Jan 28, 2015 9:47:22 GMT -5 emu0013 said:

Thanks! It took us a year to leave DD with a babysitter, and it was her teacher from daycare who was with her every day from 12 weeks on, we moved to NH in August '2012 and are yet to leave her with anyone. We actually flew my mom in from NC to babysit.... I really struggle with this, and love her teachers at her daycare here and the one babysits, but we still have not left her.

emu0013 - I know, it's difficult. I am really picky about who watches my children. I use sittercity only because they can run background checks and are very thorough with what sitters they have available. I feel I can trust those women more than some random person from Craigslist. I wish one of my parents or siblings could do it, but they all work full-time. So yeah...I'm on the search!

[Deleted]

How do you feel about the fact that I have and will be using a nanny cam?

[emu0013]

Jan 28, 2015 9:50:13 GMT -5 lgsdesigner said:

Jan 28, 2015 9:47:22 GMT -5 emu0013 said:

Thanks! It took us a year to leave DD with a babysitter, and it was her teacher from daycare who was with her every day from 12 weeks on, we moved to NH in August '2012 and are yet to leave her with anyone. We actually flew my mom in from NC to babysit.... I really struggle with this, and love her teachers at her daycare here and the one babysits, but we still have not left her.

emu0013 - I know, it's difficult. I am really picky about who watches my children. I use sittercity only because they can run background checks and are very thorough with what sitters they have available. I feel I can trust those women more than some random person from Craigslist. I wish one of my parents or siblings could do it, but they all work full-time. So yeah...I'm on the search!

lgsdesigner, I know it totally is! I have a free care.com though work, I told DH we need to buckle down and just have her teacher watch her once and a while and even just go to dinner. The closest family we have is 14 hours away, so we have no other options which is hard too!

[lgsdesigner]

Jan 28, 2015 11:24:26 GMT -5 @redcafe said:

How do you feel about the fact that I have and will be using a nanny cam?

@redcafe - Hey-- why not? Still...ask a ton of questions beforehand. I have heard of people covering up nanny cams once discovered by "accidentally" throwing a shirt or towel over it.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 13:06:03 GMT -5 lgsdesigner said:

Jan 28, 2015 11:24:26 GMT -5 @redcafe said:

How do you feel about the fact that I have and will be using a nanny cam?

@redcafe - Hey-- why not? Still...ask a ton of questions beforehand. I have heard of people covering up nanny cams once discovered by "accidentally" throwing a shirt or towel over it.

I should have put quotations around it as in this would be one of my questions., and I'm pretty sure it's not illegal to have a nanny cam in your own home once you've informed them of it.

[Deleted]

And there are two types of laws you need to be aware of: ones for video surveillance and ones for audio recordings. Video surveillance laws: It's legal to install a nanny cam in all 50 states, even if you choose to videotape your nanny without her consent.
Nanny Cam: Yes or No? - Care.com

Besides, Id tell them them straight up, I'm watching your ass. It's a better deterrent. If you're secretly videotaping someone and they harm your child, the damage is done...