Questions You Ask Baby Sitters?

I am a full-time nanny and have been babysitting for over 13 years.

It is definitely fine to ask if the person is a smoker and if they are you are within your rights to decide you do not want them around your child.

Here are some questions that I would hope to be asked:
1) What experience do you have with children? Ages? Number of Children?
2) Do you have any training/certifications? CPR, First Aid, Red Cross babysitting, etc
3) Please give me the names and number of two references, preferably that you have babysat for in the past
4) Do you have any criminal background? Have you been or are you willing to be finger printed? (if this person has ever worked in a daycare they had to be fingerprinted and should be able to provide you with a copy of the results. even if you do not want to actually pay for this to be done, if they have nothing to hide there is no reason they should not be willing to do this) Also, if they will ever drive your child anywhere, get a copy of their driving record - they can get this for free from the MVA.
5) Do you have any medical conditions that could inhibit you from performing any duties required while caring for the child?
6) What do you believe is an appropriate way to handle...(give examples of situations that may come up while they are watching your child)?
7) What is the scariest thing you have had happen while caring for someone else's child?
8) What things do you like to do? (if partying is their first answer, they are probably not the right person for the job)
9) How much do you charge? Do you have a minimum number of hours? Do you have your own transportation? Do you prefer cash or check (not everyone has a bank account)?
10) What kind of activities will you do with my child?

Also, make sure you lay down the guidelines on your expectations: discipline you use, rules of the house, t.v./internet/phone restrictions for both the child and the babysitter (it is not unreasonable to request they do not use these while the child is awake). Be sure to leave emergency phone numbers (cell phones, neighbor, grandma, pediatrician, poison control), any allergies, routines/schedules.

I can go on and on and on...If you have any further questions (or if anyone else has any questions) feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com

Everytime that I've interviewed daycare providers/babysitters I've always done the following:

Try to get a referral from someone you know, if not contact the state and get referrals for licensed providers. If I call and they have an attitude I end the conversation and call the next provider.

I ask the following questions:

1. Do you have vacancy for my _ year old son/daughter?
2. What are your hours of operation?
3. Please describe your curriculum.
4. What are the ages of the other child(ren) in your care?
5. What is your weekly rate? (sometimes they prefer not to disclose the amount until you actually come meet them because some people just call around for the cheapest rate versus the overall quality of the facility)
6. Are there any pets in your facility?
7. Do you operate a non-smoking facility?
8. When can I come by to see your facility?

I always bring the kids with me to see how they interact with her and act in the environment. Once we get there as they are showing me around I take note of the condition of the house and the play and learning areas (i.e. are there open outlets, cords from appliances hanging loosely, cleanliness, etc.). I look for the license and CPR certifications (usually displayed on a wall somewhere) along with different awards they may have received for their child care. Usually if they aren't displayed they either don't have them or they are out of date, if you don't see them, ask. They should show you the actual curriculum they described on the phone. Then I ask them the days that they are closed, how often they take off, their future vacation plans, etc.

Never be afraid to ask questions, this is your daughter's life that you are taking into consideration! You can also run a background investigation on them and definitely do a sex offender search as well.

Overall just trust your instincts if you get a bad vibe don't chose that provider/babysitter.

I pray you find a great babysitter who you trust will take great care of Mia in your absence!

I am a mom and a babysitter/nanny. I have never had a problem with people asking if I smoke (I don't) and feel strongly against it. When someone is going to trust me with their children I think they have the right to ask just about anything about me when making the decision of who to hire. Also references are a must! I found my current babysitting job through a website called sittercity.com. As a parent you have to pay a fee to post a wanted ad and search for a babysitter but you can also have a background check done through them on any person you are considering hiring. There are lots of sites like this but i've found this one to be easiest to use and has lots of sitters registered.

The best way to find a babysitter is through a referral from another mom that has used the babysitter. If that's not possible, I would ask if they have taken any kind of babysitting course (usually local hospitals offer these), I would ask her for references from other people she has baby-sat for, I would go to her house and see how she lives, and talk to her mother too. You could also ask about younger siblings and how she relates to them. I ask what they like to do in their spare time, how they like school, their grades, etc. I have also had babysitters come over and spend a couple of hours with my son while I am doing things around the house. This way you get to see how the babysitter interacts with your daughter. Good luck!

Hi R.,

When i find a babysitter for my 3 kids. I am going to ask them if they are willing to do a backround check. Just try to ask them the same questions that would be answered in a interview for any type of job. I know that is hard to find trust worthy people. I had a lady from my church watch my kids for 2 days and she stole money from my kids. I would suggest putting nanny cams in you house. So you know what is going on at all times. That is what i am going to do. Good luck.

L. R

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking someone if they're a smoker at all! They're going to be in your house watching the most important person in your life, so ask whatever you want to know. A good place to start if you're looking for a kid in high school for baby-sitting a few hours at a time is if they've taken any classes (most hospitals offer baby-sitting & CPR classes for this very purpose). Also ask for references & make sure you call them! If you feel iffy about someone, don't feel bad about not entrusting them to take care of your baby. You sound like a great girl, just maybe a little nervous. Just follow your gut & don't worry about how you come off to other people. Good luck!

R., I can definitely understand how you feel. When we moved to where we live now, it was with the military, and we didn't know a soul here, and had no family around whatsoever. It is a very scary thing to try and find someone to entrust your child with. The good news is that there are a lot of genuine, great people out there! Your intuition as a parent will tell you a lot. I agree with everyone else, always ask for references and call. I wonder if you have The Child Care Network in your area? This can be a great source to find child care, whether you qualify for financial assistance or not. They will send you a list of people in your area based on your child's age, what shift you want, etc. And as far as I know, they do not allow any of their listed providers to smoke around children. The husband of the provider whom I used through Child Care Network smoked, and ALWAYS went outside. Hope this helps!

I just wanted to let you all know about a super awesome nanny I know who is looking for a job. She needs full time but doesn't mind splitting up days with more than 1 family. Her name is Najat Benanssa. She was so great with my 2 kids. She's very motherly, they loved her. She took them outside to play every day, twice a day. She played with them, she sings songs, she is a fun, responsible and nurturing lady. Her references are impeccable too. If you need someone I hope you will give her a call, She is a rare find and anyone who gets her will be very lucky!

Here is her number: Najat Benansa ###-###-####

Thanks, R. Gagnon

So your just after a few hours at night once or twice a week ? It took my wife and I 8.5 years before we found the right one. Maybe that's just because we have an 11 year old kidnapping case in our family and we are paranoid.

I will PM you her MYSPACE page.

A. Brighter Futures

Boooo Stephanie Comparing "daycare providers/babysitters" is like comparing a "Pilot/Stewardess"