How to find a babysitter

Leaving your baby at home for the first time can be hard enough. You’ve watched over them since birth and now you’re going out alone, even if it is only for a few hours.

The only thing that can put your mind at rest is knowing you left them in safe, caring hands. Finding the right occasional babysitter or permanent nanny, however, can be a daunting experience for all members of the family.

If at all possible, you should start by fishing from your own pond. Often someone you know personally, like a family member or close friend, will be more than willing to look after your kids on the odd occasion. While this isn’t an option for all families, knowing that your children are with someone you trust does give you that extra bit of reassurance. Sort out an agreed rate at the outset, or at least buy them a nice bottle of wine for afterwards.

If you have limited family support or are looking to take on a permanent carer, you can try searching online. There are obvious dangers in this approach, so we’ve come up with a few ways to ensure you pick a suitable and safe carer.

Safety first. Never give out personal details online. Things like your street address, your children’s names, or their schools or day care centres can all be used for a sinister purpose.

Check the facts. Make sure you choose a nanny or babysitter who has had a working with children check and recent police check and has attained a first aid certificate. Always ask them to provide evidence of this. If you are wary about the validity of these documents, there are a few great websites you can use (our favourite is Green ID) to check the verification of a person’s identity.

Interview away from home. Arrange to meet potential candidates in a local café or park – it’s a more relaxed environment for everyone. Make sure you have a list of questions and give them some scenarios to talk through to determine how they would act in certain situations.

Make it a family affair. Don’t be afraid to bring your children and partner along to the initial interview or second chat. The whole family will need to get along with the new carer, so you need to know if there’s an obvious problem before you make a final decision.

Ask your child(ren). If they are old enough, ask your children what they think of each candidates and which one is their favourite. We often underestimate the wisdom of children, but perhaps they will pick up on qualities you can’t.

Talk about the future. We all know kids need stability, so ask candidates about their plans for the future. There is nothing worse than you and your children falling in love with a nanny and then them leaving after six weeks.

Here are some of the best websites you can use to help find a babysitter: Find a Babysitter, My Super Nanny, Rock My Baby, We Need a Nanny and Babysitters Now.

Have you found a nanny or babysitter online? What are some of your tips for parents looking to find a new carer?