4 Important Questions to Ask in a Babysitter Interview

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By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Mar 15, 04:49 am

Photo: (Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

It might be overwhelming for some parents to find the right person to look after the kids for part-time work. Going through a proper babysitter interview, however, is an important step because you are entrusting a new person in your child's life.

The babysitter you hire could also be potentially a reliable help for many years to come. However, parents won't know if they are the right fit or have the right style unless they get some insights during the baby interview.

Here are some important questions to ask the person you're considering hiring during the babysitter interview:

1. What's your experience with babysitting?

According to The Apiari, asking about the babysitter's experience shows a pattern of work and the capacity to look after a child. The site suggested that if parents have a one-year-old baby, it would be better to have a babysitter working with kids for at least seven years.

If the babysitter applicant is in college, it might be an advantage if they study early childhood development or take behavioral psychology credits. In high school, they are the best fit for babysitting older children and not a very sensitive infant or toddler. The advantage of hiring high school kids to babysit is they tend to charge lower rates per hour.

2. Have you had CPR or first aid training?

According to Care.Com, babysitters must know what to do to ensure the kids' physical safety. If they have a training certification for CPR or first aid, parents will have more peace of mind leaving their children for a few hours.

For babysitters who will look after infants, awareness about sleep safety is also crucial. Let them relate any emergency cases they have handled while on duty. The parents also need to ascertain that their driving record is spotless. Want to get certified in CPR and first training quickly? Get this ACLS fast track to certification course online and get your instant provider card.

3. What discipline techniques do you subscribe to?

Some kids will likely test the boundaries of the new babysitter, so it would be helpful to know your potential candidate's view on discipline and discipline techniques.

How do they feel about spanking children? Do they agree with time-outs? Are they a stickler for schedules? How will they address children who are misbehaving and not following the rules? What helpful reinforcement techniques do they know to provide a positive environment in the house? How to handle conflicts between siblings? These questions will help the parents determine if their values and goals align with the babysitter.

4. Will you be comfortable taking the children to the park or library?

It will be to the child's advantage if the babysitter is active and willing to do much stuff outside of the home together. Suppose the babysitter has no problems taking the kids to the park, library, or other recreational sites. In that case, it shows their confidence in their abilities with children in public places, according to KidSit.

The parents should not forget to discuss rates and scheduling as some babysitters could be strict about working late, especially the students.