Questions For Hiring a Babysitter

In Person Interview:

My Experience : tell about your family life, why you are looking for a babysitter, that you don’t smoke, drink or do drugs

Ask: What is your family experience? – You want them to start talking about themselves and the type of family they were raised in

Ask: Why do you want to babysit? – granted they probably need the money but  somewhere in the conversation they should mention that they LOVE kids.

Ask: How long do you envision being available?: You are looking for sense of commitment – you don’t want to go through this in another 3 months.

Ask: What do you like to do with kids? – You want to make sure they know how to entertain the age of my child.

Ask: How do you discipline childrens? – you want to hear what they say, time out , talk it out – make sure to tell them you do not believe in spanking,

Ask: Do you know CPR?

Ask: Are you comfortable with infant stuff (dependent on age)

Ask: How long would you let a baby cry for? – make sure she knows your philosophy

Ask:If you were hiring a babysitter for your own children what would you look for? – loving, nurturing, patient, kind or does she want someone who arrives on time and is tidy.

Ask: what are you doing now? Why are you leaving?

Ask: Do you smoke? Drink? Do drugs? – you might be surprised by answers and if they are lying.

Ask: how is your health?

Ask: What are your strengths? (you want to hear patient, great with KidS)

Ask: What are your weaknesses? If they can’t think of one move to next question

Ask: for 3 references

Questions for References – VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Ask: how long have you know the applicant?

Ask: do you have children? Ages?

Ask: How did she interact with them?

Ask: Did the children life her? Vice Versa

Ask: What did she do with them?

Ask: Can you describe her temperament?

Ask: Describe her personality?

Ask: Do you think she is mature, smart, has common sense?

Ask: Does she take direction well? Criticism?

Ask: Any emotional or medical problems?

Ask: Honest and responsible?

Ask: Did she follow your rules?

Ask: Any drugs or alcohol?

Ask: Reliable, arrive on time, cancel?

Ask: Leave house neat?

Ask: Does she show initiative?

Ask: Does she have a lot of stress in her life? How does she handle it?

Ask: Is she easy to talk to ?

Ask: What do you think her strengths are? Weakness?

Ask: Did you use a nanny cam? If so did anything bother you? And how did she take it?