In centuries past, families lived together in large groups and children were cared for communally. But today's nuclear families often live isolated from their relatives and the child care rests solely on the shoulders of the mother and father. With so many demands on their time, parents may find themselves in a situation where they need an extra set of hands.
Furthermore, it is important for moms and dads to spend time together as a couple, and an occasional date night means someone has to be available to help watch the kids. That's why it is so important to have babysitters you can trust and rely on.
There are professional child care services which can provide you with home child care on a regular basis, but these can be expensive and you might find that you only need someone occasionally. In that case the best place to find a babysitter is through referrals of people you trust. If your neighbors or co-workers can recommend someone, you will have at least some assurance of the professionalism and reliability of the person you are considering. If no one close to your can refer any options, consider asking at your local church, community college or other institutions where people can be reliably located.
Regardless of how you find your candidate, you want to sit down and talk to them in person before you agree to hire them. Ask questions about how they might handle certain situations; be sure they are mature, understand your needs and are willing to be flexible with your schedule. You also want to be sure that the payment is discussed beforehand to prevent any misunderstandings.
It is a good idea to look for two or three babysitters that you can alternate or call on if one of them is already engaged or unavailable when you need them.
Finding a babysitter can be a project that takes a little time, but the alternative is completely unacceptable. You must have help when you need it, so sit down and talk to your spouse or partner about what you are willing to pay, and what requirements you both have for a sitter. Once you've found the support you need, you'll be amazed how relieved you'll feel.
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