Being a parent can be very demanding. Most parents need a baby sitter from time to time to provide care while they work or to just simply give them a break once in awhile. Finding a baby sitter that is trustworthy and dependable can help to ease the stress associated with child care issues. As all parents know, child care is a necessity at times. It is not always possible to take off from work every time your child has a sniffle and can’t go to school. On the other hand, a parent that is home full time needs a break as well, to rejuvenate physically and psychologically. Since we live in a highly mobile society, parents do not always have family members close by that they can ask to watch the children. So who do you turn to, and how do you find a baby sitter you can trust?

A good place to start the search for a baby sitter is to talk to other parents and ask them if they could make a recommendation. Maybe there is a neighbor who could also help out from time to time. Finding a good baby sitter is not always an easy task, and it shouldn’t be assumed that just because your best friend’s neighbor watches her children, that she is the right one for you. Parents should interview prospective baby sitters and check more than one reference.

Parents also should never expect baby sitters to be a carbon copy of themselves. A good baby sitter should be flexible, kind, conscientious, and have the knowledge and experience to interact appropriately with the children, and know what to do in the case of an emergency. During the interview, parents should discuss hourly rates and modes of transportation too. If the baby sitter lives next door, then transportation isn’t an issue, but it may be for someone who lives across town and doesn’t drive.

Baby sitters should never be expected or allowed to give medications, only simple first aid for minor bumps and bruises should be administered. Before leaving the baby sitter with the children, she should have all the information necessary, including phone numbers, address, etc. to contact the parents, nearest relative, neighbor, or emergency services if a situation arises.

Parents should also arrange a meeting between the children and the baby sitter before the actual time comes, so that the baby sitter knows what to expect and make the children more comfortable in their parents’ absence. Other rules should be discussed at this time as well; baby sitters should not be allowed to have friends over or make phone calls unless approved by the parent. She should never answer the door to strangers either, no matter who they claim to be. The safety and security of the children should be the first priority!