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Finding a Babysitter for Your Newborn
Author: Heather Slee
Finding a babysitter for your newborn can be stressful, especially if you don’t have grandparents or siblings close by. Here are some tips to help you find a trustworthy babysitter.
Relatives: If you are lucky enough to live near relatives, this can be a great option. However, just because they’re related to you, doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll care for your child in the way you want them to. Remember to write down a list of important information they’ll need: how much to feed, when to feed, signals your newborn gives you (hungry, tired, too warm, etc.), how your baby likes to be soothed, where diaper items are located, babies sleep on their backs (sometimes grandparents forget this, as the Back to Sleep campaign was only created in 1994), and other information you feel will help them care for your newborn. This list is helpful for all babysitters, not just relatives.
Word of mouth: Ask your friends, fellow parents, and co-workers for babysitter recommendations. This is probably your best bet if you don’t have relatives near. Once you get a couple names, you can do a phone or email interview. For a great list of caregiver interview questions, check out the article “Interviewing Your Nanny or Babysitter” found here: http://www.planningfamily.com/babies/childcare-babysitting/interviewing-your-nanny-or-babysitter/.
Babysitting agencies: Professional sitters can give you peace of mind—they have loads of experience, are probably trained in infant CPR, and they should have been prescreened by the agency. Check out the Yellow Pages or online services that provide babysitting services. (Care.com, Sittercity.com) Make sure the service does a background check and facilitates training to their providers. Get a couple different names of people and do some interviewing to find a person you feel comfortable with. Trust your gut!
After you’ve found a sitter, remember that it’s not carved in stone. If you don’t like something they do or their attitude or anything else, keep looking. You want to have peace of mind when someone is looking after your precious one.
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