Autumn may mean you need some babysitting help with a change of schedule, or even a sitter to watch the kids so you can get your own errands done on the weekend – or perhaps even a sanity break. Lynn Perkins, founder and CEO of UrbanSitter – an online resource where parents can find babysitters recommended by people they know – offers up her 5 babysitter must-haves:
- Emergency credentials
CPR certification is a huge plus in any babysitter, especially one who might be accompanying your children to a swimming pool this summer. Many sitters are child/infant CPR-certified, but if you fall in love with one that’s not, why not request she complete a course before hiring her? You want to feel completely secure that the person you hire can handle an emergency if it comes up. It’s also a good idea to reiterate the importance of calling 911.
- Fun!
Your kids should look forward to a babysitter coming. Of course, younger kids will probably still give you a little guilt as you walk out the door, but when the sitter arrives with art supplies or sports equipment or board games, and (most importantly) a smile on her face, most children will greet her or him with celebrity-like adoration.
- Reliability
There’s nothing worse than counting on a date night only to have the babysitter flake. Once you find a great babysitter, stick with her. There’s real value in knowing you can rely on a sitter to arrive on time, engage the kids, enforce your rules, and respond quickly to any texts you might send. And the mutual loyalty will pay off in spades.
- Going the extra mile
For most parents, a babysitter who does dishes, folds laundry, or wipes down the counters gets major kudos (read: repeat business and a higher hourly rate). Though some sitters are very well versed in this area, others are not. If you want more than babysitting done, ask her up front and be specific.
- Availability
Some sitters are in such high demand they’re never available when you need them. Expanding your network of sitters is critical. Perhaps you are a stay at home mom who simply wants a few morning hours to hit the gym — this might be the perfect schedule for a local college student. When a fabulous sitter is always busy, she’s not so fabulous. Find a few who are available when you need them and give them repeat business.
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