As parents, we want to be sure that the babysitter we hire is reliable, trustworthy, and caring. If you have found a babysitter from a friend or relative, you may not need to interview as extensively as you would a stranger. But, whether you are hiring someone you know on recommendation or a stranger, we at Yoopies recommend getting to know your babysitter before asking them to look after your children. An interview is a perfect opportunity to get to know your babysitter both personally and professionally.
So what kind of questions should you be asking?
Basic Questions
1) Tell us more about yourself…
First and foremost, you’ll, of course, want to know who you’re welcoming into your home, so ask your babysitter about themselves.
What are their hobbies and interests? What other jobs have they had? Do they have any kids of their own? By getting to know your babysitter on a personal level you’ll automatically feel more comfortable with having them in your home and looking after your child. It will also enable the babysitter to feel at ease and create the conditions for a positive relationship from the offset.
2) What experience do you have?
Secondly, you’ll naturally want to know if your prospective babysitter has any past experience in childcare, formal or informal, as a nanny, childminder, babysitter or au pair. This is your chance to find out some more information about their previous roles, for example, where they were based, and what duties they carried out.
This also allows you to assess whether they have the experience that you require. For instance, if you’d like your babysitter to also do some light cooking, it would be a good idea to see if they have carried out these duties in their previous role.
You‘ll also be able to find out whether the person you are interviewing has had past experience with a child or children of the same age as yours. For example, your babysitter will be able to change a nappy more confidently if they have had previous experience of looking after a small baby.
3) What are your motivations to be a babysitter?
Your child is the centre of your world and when a babysitter is with them, naturally, you want to ensure that your child is their number one priority. When speaking to a potential babysitter, it’s advisable to ask them why they want the job and what they enjoy about looking after children.
4) What is the most important thing when looking after a child?
All families are different. However, there are certain factors when looking after a child which are fundamental. The babysitter you choose should be someone who understands that the safety of your child comes first. We recommend asking your potential babysitter what they class as the most important thing to consider when looking after a child.
Do you want someone for your child to bond with and rely on? Do you want someone who your children can play with? Do you want someone who will organise homework, meals, and bedtimes? By finding out what the babysitter feels are the most important factors when it comes to looking after children, you’ll soon gauge as to whether your principles and priorities match up with theirs.
Other questions could include:
5) What activities do you enjoy with children?
6) What is your approach to discipline?
7) What do you find most challenging in regards to childcare?
Safety Questions
DBS and First Aid Certificates
Babysitters are not obliged to have a First Aid or DBS certificate. Most babysitters are young adults, carrying out irregular or occasional childcare and therefore will not have such qualifications. However, there is no harm in asking if your babysitter is first aid trained or has a DBS check. If your babysitter is not first aid trained, share with them your expectations of action should there be an emergency. There are lots of useful questions parents can ask to ensure your babysitter is able to effectively deal with an emergency situation. For example:
1) Have you ever had an emergency situation in the past? How did you deal with it?
2) What would you do if my child(ren) became seriously unwell or had an accident?
3) Do you hold a valid driving licence?
4) If my child(ren) had a fever, how would you respond?
5) How would you react if my child was choking on food or a toy?
References
Questions on duties and expectations
During the interview, you should make your expectations clear to your babysitter. If you need them to be able to do light cooking, bathe the children, deal with allergies, or take the dog out into the garden- these are all things your babysitter needs to know. You can ask questions to better understand how comfortable they feel with your expectations, such as:
1) Do you feel comfortable around large dogs?
2) Occasionally my child requires an inhaler, is this something you feel comfortable administering?
3) Are you able to help with homework?
4) Are you able to help with bathtime or dinnertime?
5) Are you comfortable to change nappies?
Questions on hourly rates
Many babysitters will have a rate up to midnight and may charge extra during unsociable hours. It will be up to you to negotiate a suitable rate with your babysitter. To find out more about how much a babysitter costs, have a look here. Make sure you are both clear on your babysitter’s hourly rate to ensure there are no disputes down the line. Questions could include:
1) What is your hourly rate?
2) Do you charge more after midnight?
3) How will you be travelling to our home? Shall we negotiate travel costs?
Signs your babysitter may not be right for you
Not all interviews always go to plan, and there are some key things to keep in mind to ensure you’ve picked the right babysitter. Keep note of how punctual your babysitter was to your interview unless they have a valid excuse, showing up on time demonstrates both professionalism and seriousness. Forgetting to show up or serious tardiness isn’t the best start. Monitor your babysitter’s enthusiasm when answering questions, are they engaged in what you’re asking? Do they really want the job? Do they seem willing to carry out the duties proposed? Continuously speaking negatively about past jobs may highlight problems with how they work.
Don’t be afraid to let your prospective babysitter meet your children when interviewing them or organise a trial run of your babysitter with you present.
We hope that this guide to babysitting interview questions and tips has been helpful and we wish you the best of luck with your search. To find professionals in your area that you can get interviewing, head over to the Yoopies site where you can find a babysitter in your area by using our quick and easy postcode search.