Need some babysitter advice.

[wookie]

Disclaimer: My question mark isnt working.`

I`ve never left my kids (4.5 and 1.5) with a babysitter before. I now have some candidates lined up for interviews and I need some pointers as to how to go ahead with the process. Some questions:

1. What`s the going rate for sitting. For now I want someone coming in for a couple hours a couple times a week, if that makes a difference. Their only job would be to keeo the kids safe and entertained.

2. What vital questions do I need to ask. Also, what kind of traits or interactions with kids am I looking for. (Eg: does she HAVE to be friendly. Or talkative, etc.)

3. How do I go about hiring her. Meaning, should I have her over a few times before leaving the kids with her. Or leave and come for a surprise check. Or what.

Please feel free to add anything I may not have thought of. Thanks!

[MelW]

My "strategy" for hiring babysitters relies a lot on my intuition. I like to "interview" a potential sitter with the kid(s) present, and see how my kids react and how the sitter interacts with them. I have asked some general questions about their experiences with kids, and how they would deal with particular situations (how they plan to deal with separation anxiety and crying/freaking out kids, also how they might deal with bedtime and/or naptime). I make sure that I mention specific things for our family to make sure they're comfortable with cloth diapers, parenting to sleep, etc. Ask for references, too.

That said, I hired my current sitter after I saw her in action babysitting at a local park. I thought she was great, chatted with her a while there, and had pretty much made my decision.

As for hiring, I usually hire and just have them start for a short babysitting job the first time. The dynamics are so different when I'm home from when I'm away that I feel that just letting the sitter and the kids figure things out together works better for us than more meetings with me present. But that's my kids, who are generally pretty adaptable to sitters, and have both been away from me regularly since they were around a year old. Also, I really trust my oldest daughter to give me a report about anything that happens.

As for going rate, it really seems to vary from place to place. I usually pay $10/hour and am told that this is higher than average in my area, but was more typical when I lived in the city. Depends on sitter's age & experience, kids ages, and area. You might ask in finding your tribe.

[mommariffic]

I follow my gut

I think cost depends on where you live. I have one DD and a babysitter who comes a few hours a week and I give her $13 per hour...I live right outside New York City. When I have her watch my two kids one day, I'd give her $15 an hour.

I like someone with personality. Feeling comfortable talking about anything, naturally good with kids, playful, responsible all that good stuff.

I work from home a few hours as a freelancer so when the babysitter is here, I'm here as well. I normally like to do that a few times regardless before I leave them alone. I also make sure to get references/cell phone numbers/send txts if I'm out.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Going rate here depends on the age of the sitter and, to a less extent, the age and number of children. I pay a teen sitter a minimum of $10/hr, up to $12 if they are really prized. I pay a college or older sitter between $15-18, but that usually also involves driving the kids somewhere. Agency sitters usually start around $20 (which I've only had to do a couple of times in a real pinch).

Since your kids (or at least 1 of them) is old enough to have an opinion, I would interview and then ask her to play with the kids for a few minutes (maybe 15 or so, beyond that is probably taking advantage). Watch her interaction and then, after she has gone, ask the child. I am looking for a sitter that will actually interact and play with the kids, knows how to talk to them like people and doesn't seem to mind moving around.

During the interview, ask lots of "what if" types of questions to see how she would handle things. Find out if she has any "you have to do it this way" sorts of opinions. If they don't agree with yours, then run. Frankly, I tend to hire younger sitters because I don't want them to have already formed ideas about how to handle kids, I want them to follow MY ideas.

Be sure to get and check references. If they will be driving, be sure to check DMV record, insurance and car.

[wookie]

Thanks ladies. The ones I'm looking at are older thqn 20. Somehow younger than that seems a bit young to care for 2 rambunctious boys, one of whom (the baby) may freak out w/o me. He's never been away from me and is going thru some separation anxiety phase to boot.

Anyway, this is all great advice. Keep it coming, please