If you are interested in hiring a babysitter for your children, you have come to the right place. There are many articles and resources out there to help you know all about what it takes to hire a babysitter, so here you will find a time-saving mini guide that covers the important steps you need to know. Remember the most important step in hiring a babysitter is thoroughly interviewing the candidate and checking the sitter’s references.

- Where can you find a babysitter?

There are plenty of resources that you can use to find the babysitter that fits your needs.

Local newspapers are a great resource to find available babysitters close to your area. You could also try to put an ad in the local newspaper about the babysitter services you need.

The web – There are dozens of websites that will allow you to look up babysitters in your area. They will have customized searches among babysitter profiles that fit your requirements in terms of age, experience, own transportation, availability etc. (Check our home page on our website for more information about the most popular online babysitting services).

Babysitter agencies : These agencies are specialized in recruiting all types of babysitters, making sure their background, work eligibility status and references are thoroughly checked. You can save time and effort by contacting a babysitting agency that will make sure to find you a babysitter fit for your needs. They will charge you various rates for doings so, but they will also save you the all hassle and time spent on hiring a babysitter

- What type of babysitter do you need to hire?

Whether you want a full time babysitter, a summer babysitter or a travel babysitter, make sure you look for the one whose availability matches your needs. You also need to decide whether you will hire a teenage babysitter or a more experienced one, the difference being in how much you’ll end up paying for their services. Also think of special characteristics you want your babysitter to have: CPR certification, extensive experience, speak foreign languages, have at least three references and so on.

- The selection process

After reviewing the applications of potential candidates make sure to establish an interview. Be prepared to ask them about their past experiences, how would they handle or have handled an emergency situation, what activities they could do with your kids (especially for the summer time) and more important, be clear on what duties you expect your babysitter to fulfill.

Here’s a quick tip: if your kid is old enough, bring them along at the interview, and see how the potential candidate connects with your kid and how she or he reacts to them being around- this should be an indicator of her ability to establish a connection with your kids.

- How much should you pay your babysitter?
Babysitter hourly rates vary from as low as $5 up to $20 per hour. You can how much to pay a babysitter based on the applicants’ experience, age and qualifications. Make sure to check your babysitter’s work eligibility status before you hire her!

Good luck hiring your perfect babysitter!