What questions to ask potential childcare providers?

[P.J.]

Hi Everybody! My name's PJ and I'm a new Mama, my DS Max is 11 weeks old. Without going into a long complicated story, my current work contract is such that it expires end of October and if I don't want to go back to being a freelancer there I need to start working again by then. I teach ESL to adults at a private school, so I can work as much or little as I want. I reckon I'll start with only maybe 4 hours/week until next year.

This combined with the fact that I could really use a morning or two a week on my own to get things done and maybe join a gym as I put on a LOT of weight in the pregnancy and would like to start taking it off, means we need to start looking for part-time, in-home childcare for our DS. I feel he'll definitely be ready by then (he'll be at least 4 mo), in fact I believe would be now even...his aunt watches him sometimes and he has no problem with being with someone else.

Thing is, I am really worried about if and how to find the right person. We don't know too many people here w/young kids and the one recommendation we did get didn't pan out. I'm putting a sign up asking for recommendations at the birth center tomorrow, and I hope to get at least a couple replies. I have NO IDEA what I should be asking the potential people who turn up. Besides just getting a general intuitive feel for them, and asking for references. What kind of questions would/did/do you ask a potential childcare giver? What should I be looking for in this person, besides that he or she is good with the baby and seems like a good person?
Now that this is closer to becoming a reality, I'm getting worried that it's going to be really hard to find the right person.

Any tips at all are much appreciated. I'm really nervous to leave my baby with someone who as of now is a complete stranger, but I also really want and need to have this little time per week free and if we can find the right person I know it'll be fine. Thanks!

[Sierra]

I hire (and thus interview) people on occassion as a part of my work. In fact, usually they are childcare providers.

I have definitely seen people who interviewed well and didn't live up to their interview. With childcare providers, usually you can find out who is just interviewing well and who is actually really good by throwing in some very specific but open-ended questions that will help indicate a person's thinking around issues that are important to you. "What are some specific strategies you would use if..." kind of questions.

Of course, consider that folks might be nervous, etc. when answering questions, and don't hesitate to hire someone you really like just because they struggled with a particular question or didn't answer it perfectly. But also consider whether their general thinking process is in-line with yours. Also, the more specific a person is, the more likely they are beyond the level of "just interviews well." People who are saying what they think you want to hear will have a harder time getting very specific.

It's really hard to hand over our kids to someone else for care, but I am confident you'll find someone with whom you feel comfortable!