How to find a babysitter I would trust with my young toddler?

[Snapdragon]

I know there is another thread floating around MDC about how to find a babysitter but I couldn't find it. Ds is almost 17 months and dh and I need to occasionally have some alone time together! We are pretty attached parents- ds sleeps in a sidecarred crib in our room, and I am full time sahm. When dh gets home he usually takes him for a few hours. Dh and I do not have much time at all to be alone together, and I don't have any time in the day to get anything done other than watching ds. Up until now I felt that he was too little for me to be comfortable leaving him w- a babysitter- but now I am ready for it just a little bit. I mean- dh and I were talking aout maybe having a babysitter 2 times a week for 1-2 hours- at a time when dh was home from work so dh and I could actually have some couple time!  We do have some of dh's family living near by- in the same town and next town, but they all work full time and can only be available from time to time.  Even with them ds hasn't felt comfortable yet. I would like to have one babysitter who comes regularly- twice a week and maybe sometimes on a weekend night after ds is asleep so dh and I could go out- and I think it would be good if I could hire someone and have them get really comfortable for ds so he felt safe with them when we did it. But I don't know how to find someone I would feel comfortable enough with! I know I can put up an ad and interview and all that, check references. But the issue is more that I really want someone to give me and dh a childcare rest, but I am also pretty protective of my little guy and don;t know who I would actually trust leaving him with, or even more so having someone drive off with him if they took him out!

So how have others dealt with this issue? How do you find good childcare for your young toddlers? HOw do you find someone you trust with your little one?  Any stories of this to share?

[Snapdragon]

To respond to my original own question- I just went to sittercity.com and saw a few babysitters in my area- so I am goign to set up interviews. I guess the heart of my question is:

What has been your experiences with leaving your younger toddler with babysitters for the first time? how was it for you and for them?

[Peony]

I've used sittercity, care.com, and even craigslist with great success. My youngest turned 2 in April and I've used sitters with him since he was a couple months old. Infrequently until right when he turned 1 and then I returned to work very part time. Some months it might of been 3 mornings a month, the last several months it has been at least 2 times a week. He does great, and I do mean it. There are days that I come home and he just looks at me, like gee, I was having a lot of fun, what are you doing back?! 

I always check references and try out the sitter after the interview before I actually leave. So I will have her come over for a few hours while I am home, I hang out in other rooms doing things and observe/listen. If I like what I see then the next step is me leaving for a while. I stress they are to call with anything, I want to know if he is upset. Over the years, that has only come up once and it was when he was a baby, as a toddler he allows them to calm him down, even put him to sleep! Which I still find amazing, I never would of dared tried that with my girls, I didn't use sitters back when they were little, but DS just goes with it. They lay down with him and cuddle him to sleep. I've never had an issue finding a sitter that goes along with what we do in our family, like AP, I tend to use mid 20's sitters just because that is what is plentiful in our area, they are experienced but haven't been too set in their ways to adapt to my family's wants/needs. I have 2 current sitters that I use that DS just adores, to the point where he chases them around the house crying when they try to leave. I think he sees them as a big playmate, someone that is there to cater to his every whim instead of me, who is caring for him while always trying to get other things done. 

[Snapdragon]

great to hear! I found 2 on sitter city that I emailed so that is a start. I am feeling sort of desperate for a break from ds- even though I only have one kid and he is not high needs or anything- I still feel ike the constant care without a break is wearng on me right now and dh is in a busy time at work. I am so excited to maybe get some help!!

[bettyjones]

We have used word of mouth- other stay at home moms or part time working moms. Also craigslist but care.com was better. Always check references and do a trail babysitting while you are home. It is nice to overhear how a sitter speaks to your child or handles safety issues.