How do you work child care? WWYD in my situation?

DS is 4 months old. DH works 60+ hours a week and I work FT overnights (3 nights a week). I work my nights so DH and I meet when he's out of work and on my way to work those 3 days (at his job which is 2 min from my job) and do a 'handoff' of the baby. Obviously with the winter upon us I'd much rather have someone watch him at our home so he isn't shuttled all around in the cold (and potential snow/ice).

Also, I have rotating weekends with the union I work in where I need to work two friday and two saturday nights every six weeks. I would need a babysitter for 4 hours friday evenings and for 8 hours during the day on those saturdays.

DS has a cat allergy (gets swollen in the face, rubs his eyes, sneezes, wheezes). My mom has offered to watch him on the friday nights/saturdays at her home. She has THREE cats.

WWYD? Would you get a babysitter? How do you find someone trustworthy? Everyone is freaking me out about a babysitter hitting, ignoring, not feeding, not changing, shaking or yelling at DS...

How do you work child care?

PS (MIL does not watch grandkids on the weekend as a rule and FIL is a heavy smoker)....
TIA

Re: How do you work child care? WWYD in my situation?

Is there a way your mom can watch him at your house? Or another friend or relative? Can you talk to mil to make an exception? Since it is rotating? I personally dont want to leave dd w/ anyone who isnt family until she can talk. You could find a sitter through ppl you know who have used them. Or an agency thar does back ground checks. Also you can get nanny cams you can watch from work or your phone.

Re: How do you work child care? WWYD in my situation?

Can you ask your mom to come to your house so DS doesn't have to go out? Maybe mention that he's allergic to the cats and that this way she gets to spend lots of time with him? I dunno, try to make it sound beneficial to her?

We put an ad and interviewed people. To be honest? It did and still does scare me. I'm not a trusting type of person.

You could also ask for recommendations from friends if it's just for a short time on weekends, maybe someone knows a trustworthy high school or college kid looking to make a few extra bucks