One of the most important decisions a parent can make is who cares for their child when they can’t be there. But what do parents need to know when they make this decision?
Parents need to think about what kind of experience and qualifications they want a babysitter to have, research the potential babysitter, plan how they’ll communicate and evaluate whether the babysitter they chose is a good match for the family.
For families using a hiring service or professional organization to find a nanny, consistent child care or occasional babysitting, these guidelines for credentials are especially key.
Consider Qualifications
A babysitter needs to be able to keep a child safe and handle emergency situations. This means that a babysitter should be CPR- and first aid -certified and have reliable transportation. Even under close care, accidents and emergencies can happen, and there may not be time for the parents to get back home before a child needs help.
The US Nanny Association, a professional membership organization for nannies, has standards which require a high school diploma or three professional references, documented child care training, current CPR and first aid certification, documented work experience and a record of passing a background check and industry exam.
Parents who have children with specific needs should consider looking for a babysitter who has experience with children who have similar needs.
Check References
Parents should always ask potential babysitters for references, especially if they don’t know the babysitter personally. When calling references, parents should try to learn how this reference knows the babysitter, how long the babysitter has worked with them, what the babysitter’s responsibilities were, what the babysitter’s temperament was like and how the babysitter got along with their children. If the reference is a character reference or a professional reference unrelated to child care, parents can ask questions about punctuality, work ethic and interpersonal skills instead.
Getting a background check is an additional safety measure parents should consider. A background check lets parents know if a person is on the sex offender registry, if they have a criminal record or if there are problems within their driving history.
While parents can obtain a background check on their own through a service, it’s important to note that federal law requires that an employer obtain written permission before conducting a background check.
Professional child care connection services like UrbanSitter require prospective caregivers
to have a background check. Other services like Care.com or Sittercity have optional background checks and offer families and caregivers different levels of background checks.
Sittercity is an online platform for finding babysitters, nannies, pet sitters and other home professionals. The service has been in operation since 2001. Sittercity offers three levels of background checks which can include a basic criminal background check, an enhanced criminal background check including unlimited county criminal search/federal criminal records and a third level including motor vehicle records.
Some independent professional babysitters or nannies may have their own background check available.
Plan to Stay in Touch
Parents need a way for the babysitter to reach them in case of an emergency. Provide the babysitter with a direct line of communication and consider providing backup contacts like a trusted neighbor or nearby relative in the event that the babysitter needs someone quickly.
Staying in touch with tech can also provide parents with peace of mind. Parents can arrange for babysitters to send them updates or photos of their children at specific times or use a baby monitor or nanny cam.
However, there are some things parents should consider when thinking about how they want to use technology like a nanny cam. UrbanSitter’s guidance for parents on nanny cams suggests that its best to avoid using a hidden nanny cam or baby monitor and that parents should be upfront and transparent with the caregiver instead.
According to UrbanSitter, parents using nanny cams cite benefits like peace of mind, safety, emergency evidence and staying connected. However, using cameras in the home can be costly, snapshots can be potentially taken out of context, constant surveillance can strain the trust and relationship between parents and caregivers and hidden cameras can infringe on a caregiver’s expectations of privacy.
Sittercity’s guidance on nanny cams for parents cites similar pros and cons and offers
insight into a caregiver’s point of view. According to the guidance written by Sitter-
city’s editorial team, there are caregivers who will refuse to work in a home with nanny cams because they feel it means the parents don’t trust them with their children—not because they want to be able to hide their behavior.
There are also legal matters to consider when using an undisclosed camera. Some states, like Maryland and Pennsylvania, may require the knowledge and consent of the person being recorded for cameras with audio.
Follow Up
Parents should check in with their children after the babysitting session. Asking the children how they felt about the babysitter and why can give parents important insight into whether or not that babysitter is a good fit for the family.
Parents should also follow up with the babysitter and ask about how they feel their time with the kids went and whether they have any questions about the house rules or parenting style.
