The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
New babysitter, safety first?
Improvolone
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I was doing some food shopping with my son (16 months) and got to talking to a woman in her 40's. She made a remark about how her youngest is graduating high school next week and that she should start carrying around business cards to give to everyone so that she can baby sit.
"Actually, I'm going to need a babysitter", says I.
So I have her name, number, and I know that she works for the school board. What do I do next to make sure that "hey, yea, I have enough information to trust this person now."
I have never used a stranger for babysitting purposes, so this whole thing just feels weird.
"Actually, I'm going to need a babysitter", says I.
So I have her name, number, and I know that she works for the school board. What do I do next to make sure that "hey, yea, I have enough information to trust this person now."
I have never used a stranger for babysitting purposes, so this whole thing just feels weird.
Voice actor for hire. My time is free if your project is!
Improvolone on
0
Posts
You can ask if she's ever done any babysitting before and possibly get references there. I'd also recommend a "dry run" where you are around, but out of sight, and kind of see how she handles things.
I'd say find a friend of yours or your wife who has teenage kids that you think you can trust, ask if they'd like to babysit. They'd probably be cheaper too.
You're right, though, people will behave differently when they know they're being watched, and kids will react differently when their parents are around, whether or not they're interacting with them. That's why I suggested being out of sight -- it seems silly, but there really is a subtle mental "you're being watched" switch that turns off, whether it's realized or not, and people will behave more naturally. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.
More or less, yea. Sure, it's also to make sure she isn't a twisted individual, but thats where the references thing will come into play.
Well, I'm 22, his mother isn't very involved in his life (we are separated), and the friends that I do have who are capable of baby sitting are very busy in the own lives. Suffice to say, this is why I'm going to need a baby sitter.
And of course I worry about "what might this woman do!!!!" because I watch a lot of Law and Order and some Nancy Grace every now and then.
So I leave, tell the babysitter I'll be back for dinnertime. Go get groceries, and come back home unexpected. See if shes watching TV and letting my child get into trouble. Then I drop off my groceries and go to the bank. Come home again unexpectedly. Then do my last chore, and do it once more. If I come home and find something amiss, new babysitter.
Also has the side effect of making them think I could come home at any time. Which I never really will, but its better keeping them on their toes.
She has aa job and a husband who presumably works, so I know she wouldn't be doing it for the money.
You'll want to find out if she's taking care of other kids and if so how many and their ages. You'll also want to find out if babysitting is all she'll be doing when taking care of the kid. You'll want her to have a child car seat.
Regulations w/r/to informal childcare vary state to state, but in Texas someone could take care of 3-4 children in their home without having to register with any agency or be subject to state scrutiny. Some lady was busted earlier this year, she was driving around with 2-3 babies and had left a few toddlers at home. Kids were fine, but she was really running around and taking a lot of risks that wouldn't be possible in traditional childcare.
If you don't feel right about her then look into traditional childcare. Depending upon the schedule you could probably get your kid in somewhere at or under $15/hr.
Edit: If there's a university nearby you may want to post a flyer near the education and psychology colleges so you can get more applicants from which to select.
There are laws/policies for people who want to run a daycare either from their home or at a business, but nothing required for hiring someone just to babysit. Most cities will have classes (at a library or community college) for basic care or CPR-type stuff, but it's optional.
I would just phone, say hi, tell her you've had a think about the times you need a sitter and what you can afford and offer to meet her for coffee to discuss further. This can act as your interview.
If you're going to then meet at a coffee shop, you can then say something like "If you have a few phone numbers for reference it'd be great if you could write them down and bring them". Then take the numbers at your coffee meeting and call them later on, assuming you still think everything is fine after your mini interview.
As a mother, she should understand perfectly.
Yes, but Improvolone mentioned that she works for the school board.
Although I'm not sure that working for the school board necessarily means you are working with children and would therefore have to clear Disclosure.
I'd say meet her daughter as well. I mean, you should be able to get some measure of a person's parenting skills from the results they've produced, right? If she's a heroine addict it isn't necessarily the parents fault, but at least if she appears to be a well rounded individual you can at least assume she wasn't horribly abused for 16 years.