Even after you hire someone, there are steps to assure that you have made the right choice. The most important thing to remember is that when your child's welfare is in question, you have every right to be equipped to make the best decision you can make. Sitters can, of course, be male or female, but for consistency in this article, I will use the pronoun "she" in reference to the potential sitter you will hire.

I Need a Sitter. So Where Do I Start?

1. Decide if you want a teen or adult babysitter. Many parents will not hire anyone under sixteen, but that is especially important if an infant is one of the children the caretaker will be watching. Be aware that some states even have laws concerning the minimum age for babysitters to be left alone with children.

2. Decide if you will be taking the child to the sitter's home, or having someone come into your home. Children are often more comfortable in the surroundings with which they are familiar, so if it is at all possible to have the caretaking done in your own home, it is usually the better choice.

3. A family friend or neighbor isn't automatically the best choice just because they do or have done babysitting in the past. It is a good idea to interview someone you know or have heard about just as you would do with a stranger. It is often tempting to hire someone simply because it's a friend or colleague's niece or nephew, but taking the time to find who is best suited to care for your children is always time well spent.

4. Ask the Red Cross for referrals of people who have finished their babysitting course and are from your area. This is sometimes the best way to find a sitter who will know how to handle any situation that may arise.

Okay, I Set Up an Interview, What Now?

6. Take note on the punctuality of the potential sitter if the interview is at your home. Being on time will be important when arriving to the job, so see if she arrives for the interview in a timely manner.

7. If the potential sitter is a teen, find out if she has taken any of the readily available babysitting classes that many areas offer. Has she had first aid or CPR training? The Red Cross offers a babysitting course (mentioned above) and it is definitely a plus if you can find someone who has taken the time to utilize such a course.

8. Don't be afraid to ask questions at the interview. How long has she been babysitting? What are the ages of children she has watched? If your interviewee is a teen, are there younger siblings in the house that she helps to care for?

9. Get references and make use of them. Know the questions that you want to ask the references, especially those people she has babysat for in the past.

10. Ask her if she has a disaster plan if something happens while she is staying with the children. (Some parents choose to ignore this one so it doesn't scare the potential sitter, but it is good to know, especially if your home is in earthquake or tornado areas, or in one of the spots terrorism is more likely to occur).

11. Find out what times and days she will be available so there isn't a last minute misunderstanding.

12. Tell her right away how much you will be paying, again to avoid misunderstandings later.