There are a lot of challenges in finding a reliable babysitter. It really is hard enough to find someone to watch my kids. Yes, just anyone! It’s even harder to find someone that I can really rely on. I think every parent will agree with me on that.
Here’s the main challenge in looking for a reliable babysitter. We usually don’t know where to look. It’s either that or we refuse to look elsewhere. For example, we rely on our parents if they live nearby. We take advantage of the fact that they’re just a stone throw away from us. We give them no choice but to watch our kids. Sure, they enjoy it. But can they really watch our kids? And at their age, do they have to do it? But since we don’t know where to look, we’re left with no other option.
We really shouldn’t have to burden our parents. There’s a huge difference between enjoying the kids and watching them. Our parents shouldn’t be burdened to watch our kids.
We really shouldn’t have to burden our parents. There’s a huge difference between enjoying the kids and watching them. Our parents shouldn’t be burdened to watch our kids.
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So where do we look? We turn to the tweens in our neighborhood. But that isn’t the most responsible thing to do either. We need to look beyond our home and neighborhood. That’s the only way we can find a reliable babysitter. Related read: Run a background check when hiring a babysitter
The internet is certainly an option. It’s a good place to look. But we have to be careful. Posting a babysitting job on Craigslist is dangerous. If we have to look online, we have to stick with childcare service providers. And there are a lot of them online.
Trusting The Source
It’s our responsibility to validate the childcare service providers online. Not all of them can be trusted. And not of all of them can deliver. We shouldn’t trust the first one we see online.
If we look online, we have to do some research. Online childcare service providers aim to connect us to babysitters. So it seems perfect, right? But we shouldn’t get carried away with just that. We have to choose the right service provider that can connect us to reliable babysitters. Keep in mind that’s it’s easy to come with a website that promises heaven and earth. That said, we just shouldn’t trust everything online. If we see something that sounds too good, we should be more careful.
So how can we actually trust the source? First, we research on the top childcare service providers online. Most likely, we’ll come up with Sittercity and Care.com. These are the top two childcare service providers online. Second, we research on both childcare service providers. The only way we can trust the source is by knowing more about it. We have to know how long they’ve been in the business. We also have to look into their reviews. What are the parents saying about each childcare service providers?
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That said, we just shouldn’t trust everything online. If we see something that sounds too good, we should be more careful.
Third, we have to see the various services each provider offers. For example, the top two childcare providers offer a background check service. Our job is to see which provider gives the most extensive background check. If we’re able to get such information, we’ll be able to choose the right one. And eventually, we’ll be able to trust the source.
Hiring Well
If we want a reliable babysitter, we need to know how to hire. Hiring someone entails a lot of work. But then, it is our responsibility to find someone reliable. So we have no choice. We have to know how to hire.
That can be challenging for some parents. Some parents just don’t know what to do. But that should never be a problem if we look online. The childcare service providers have their own selection process. A good example of this is Sittercity. Their simple selection process makes it possible for us to have a good system of hiring. That’s very important. Related read: Get a discount with a Sittercity promo code
Coming up with our own system of hiring is tedious. The selection process of Sittercity is a more organized manner of hiring. It’s a reliable system to follow.
Finding a reliable babysitter is a huge responsibility. As parents, we have to take on that responsibility and make sure that the person we hire to watch our kids and family is the right person for the job.
It Never Ends
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If we want to hire a reliable babysitter, the research just doesn’t end. We can never be too sure of the person we’ve hired. Just because she was the best one on the list doesn’t mean she’s reliable. We can’t tell if she’s reliable just after the hiring process. We can only hope that she is.
We need to monitor the babysitter all the time and make sure that she or he is doing her job. Be observant and try to learn more about your sitter at all times.
Finding a reliable babysitter is a huge responsibility. As parents, we have to take on that responsibility and make sure that the person we hire to watch our kids and family is the right person for the job.
Have you ever hired the wrong babysitter to watch over your family?
A nerd at heart (haha), I have been following and analyzing the world of online sitters for a couple of years now and have seen a lot of innovations and changes in this market. In between taking care of my loving (and demanding 😜) family and writing, I also do a lot of “traveling” on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Read More
As someone who has been using Sittercity for years (about 3 years), I can say that it’s the only source I trust. I’m comfortable with their process but most especially, their sitters are very good.
I can’t believe you consider Care.com as one of the top childcare service providers. There is no way I’m using their services. They’re notorious for not checking the sitters who sign up with them.
Yes, you are so right. We should never stop the research. That’s why it’s important to run a background a check. Again, I totally agree that we should always monitor the babysitter.