How does this babysitting thing work out? Trusting your kids with a total stranger...

[Koalamom]

I am still getting to know the area and don't really know anyone. I don't have a babysitter and was desperate for one for this coming tuesday. I found an ad in the local newspaper, called her up and she can babysit for tuesday. She is a 17 year old girl in the next town over, who is going into her senior year of high school next year. She has a license and borrows her parents car. She sounded really sweet and calm. I don't know anything else about her but really need a sitter. Would you trust your kids with a total teen stranger? And how much do you pay them per hour? I was thinking $7 or 8.

[pianojazzgirl]

You could ask her for some references, and call and talk to some other parents she's worked for in the past.

As for how much to pay I think it varies, depending on where you live.  Here, for our 2 kids, we usually pay $10 an hour.

[Buzzer Beater]

When we found a sitter we interviewed several beforehand, all recommended by moms on our street. We didn't really need one though, so we had time to do that. The going rate here is 10 bucks an hour.

If you don't like her or you get a bad feeling, can you cancel your plans?

[Koalamom]

I can't really cancel my plans last minute. It is marriage counseling and I would probably get a late fee. But I would cancel if I saw the sitter was unsafe.

I didn't get references. I completely forgot when I arranged things last night with the sitter. It has been so long since I babysat that I was a spacey of what to do.

Eeek, ten an hour?! That is what my dh makes at his hard labor job. He should go into babysitting, Lol!

[BroodyWoodsgal]

http://www.sittercity.com/  <----- I've seen this a bunch of times, never used it because we haven't crossed this bridge yet, but I've seen a ton of stuff about it and it seems like a legit service.

How old are your kids??

[woodchick]

Could you have her over to meet the kids and tour the house before Tuesday?  That way you could get a feel for her and get to know her a little before you leave.         

[Alyantavid]

I don't leave my kids with total strangers.

Definitely meet her before the appt to see how she is with your kids and get to know her a little bit.

[LuckyMommaToo]

I agree that if you can have her over for a meet-and-greet before, that would be great. If not, have her come 30 minutes early. I'm assuming you'll be gone less than two hours for counseling. Set it up for success. How old are your kid(s)? In your case, I would have snacks out on the counter waiting. Have a dvd ready in case the kids are fighting. I often do something like have a packet of balloons (cheap and easy) for the babysitter to blow up for them.

Don't worry too much. A 17-year-old is going to be able to handle things for less than two hours. It will be fine!

-e

[Linda on the move]

I'd ask her how much she charges. It varies A LOT by location, number of kids, etc.

You've got some time between now and Tuesday. How about asking her to come over for an hour (which you will pay her for) just to hang out with the kids while you are there? That way your kid(s) can get used to her, you can see that she is just a normal teen (most of them are), and all the anxiety for all parties can just melt away.

I hope your counseling goes well.

[Koalamom]

Well I just changed thing big time. I canceled the 17 yr old and now have a 15 yr old coming in her place that has references and one of them happens to be a woman I know well. I am feeling alot better about her. Strange thing is I trust a younger sitter more than an older one. I am totally ok with my kids (ages 2 and 4) watching TV with a sitter. Actually my kids watch alot of TV and it would be strange for my kids to meet someone new and not watch TV as they are used to.


(PS- thanks Linda!)

[Peony]

I meet them prior to leaving my kids with them. Usually I have them come over to the house but I couple times I've meet them at a park or something. The going rate here starts at 10 bucks an hour, I pay 12.50 to my current sitter and I know I'm getting a deal for what she does, I tend to pay a little extra here and there. I'd line everything out as well like another poster suggested. And at 4 and 2, they probably are going to have a blast playing with the sitter. My 4 and 2y adores sitters because they think it is someone that comes over just to play with them unlike boring old mama who is always trying to multitask and do other things. 

[swd12422]

Sounds like you've got it worked out, so good! I hope it all goes well, including the counseling. One piece of advice: Meet the 17-year-old anyway. It can't hurt to have two people to call on if you need them, and especially if you're going to be doing counseling on any sort of regular basis, you'll need a backup in case one has a date or school dance or project, whatever.

It took us a LONG time to find a sitter, and once we did, we only used her. We never branched out, and then got caught in a bind and had to do what you're doing now with a new sitter. Now we have two, and even though we don't use them frequently, we know them and know that our son is happy with both of them. (Oh, and I pay the 15-year-old $7/hour and the 13-year-old $5/hour.)