5 Simple Ways To Make Your Sitter Appreciate You

So now that you have a sitter, what do you do next? For starters, you want to make sure to welcome her. Give her a briefing so that she knows exactly what to expect. Second of all, you can introduce her to your kids so that both parties are familiar with each other.

Most importantly, you should do your best to have her stay. To put it bluntly, you should avoid annoying the sitter. Here are simple ways to make your sitter like you.

5. Don’t Expect Her To Take Your Kids Out All The Time

One of the major reasons why you hire a sitter is because you want to spend some time to yourself. That makes sense, actually a lot of sense. You deserve a break.  Every mom deserves a break.

Use that break wisely. Plan ahead before the sitter comes. Better yet, plan way ahead so that you can inform the sitter right away. The babysitter has to be prepared to take your kids out of the house. Don’t expect her to do that all the time.

You also need to consider the immense responsibility of the sitter. It’s hard enough for the sitter to watch your kids within the comforts of your home. How much more if you expect her to take your kids out all the time?

Sitters have to work double hard to watch your kids outside your home. If you always expect your sitter to take your kids out all the time, she will just end up stressed.

Sitters have to work double hard to watch your kids outside your home. If you always expect your sitter to take your kids out all the time, she will just end up stressed. This might give a good reason not to work for you again. So take it easy with the sitter.

4. Respect Her Time

Having found the right sitter doesn’t mean you can call her all the time. Sure you have her number on your speed dial and you treat her like she’s part of the family but you should step back and respect her time. Related read: Should you use Care.com or Sittercity?

As tempting as it may seem, you just can’t call her anytime. Even if she says it okay, it’s not okay! Once or twice if probably okay but doing it all the time will really annoy the sitter. You have to respect her time if you want her to report back to you again.

3. Compensate Her If You Cancel

Don’t you just hate it when the sitter cancels at the last minute? You’re all dressed up to go only to end up going nowhere because the sitter cancels. That’s is more than annoying for you.

It’s the same thing for sitters when you cancel at the last minute. You have to keep in mind that sitters, especially the ones you hire from Sittercity, are professional caregivers. They take their job seriously.

For them, canceling at the last minute means lost opportunity. So if you really have to cancel at the last minute, you need to compensate her.

For them, canceling at the last minute means lost opportunity. So if you really have to cancel at the last minute, you need to compensate her. It’s the most professional way to deal with this kind of situation and the sitter wouldn’t mind working for you again.

2. Inform Her If Your Kids Are Sick

Nobody wants to get sick. Surely, your sitter feels the same way as well. After all, she is a professional and getting sick means missing an opportunity to earn. You should understand that.

This is the reason why it’s a must that you inform her that your kids are sick. Related Read: Get savings on Sittercity

If she has to come over and watch your sick kids, be honest with her. Give her the option to either show up or not show up at all.

If she has to come over and watch your sick kids, be honest with her. Give her the option to either show up or not show up at all.

There are sitters who opt not to show up, so respect whatever decision is made. At the same time, you need to talk about the compensation for that lost opportunity.

There are sitters who would rather not be compensated but nonetheless, you need to work it out with them. That’s just about the right way to deal with this kind of situation.

1. Don’t Expect Her To Do Other Things

Once you have found and hired the sitter, you always need to set expectations. It’s always better for the both of you to know what to expect from each other. Hence, all the tasks should be clear from the start. Related read: Which Is Better: Urbansitter or Sittercity?

When everything is clear, you should never expect your sitter to do other things. If she’s only expected to watch your kids, then set your expectations around that. Anything she does outside her terms of references will always be appreciated. Nonetheless, it should never be part of your expectations.

These are just the basic ways to make the sitter appreciate you. As you get to know the sitter, you will find your own ways to have her appreciate you. On the other hand, if you really want to annoy the sitter, you can do everything on this list.

Disclosure: Compensated Affiliate. Click here for details.

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Stephanie Parker

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