what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

hi all,

we don't have any family/friends near us and have decided that if we ever want to do a date night out, we need to get started on looking for a babysitter. what does that entail? i mean, i know i should interview the person, get references, check them out, but is a "trial" session acceptable also? what else should i do? i'm sooooooo nervous, i've never once done anything like this and leaving DD alone with a stranger scares the beejesus out of me!

any BTDT moms that can give advice, i'd REALLY appreciate it!

Re: what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

well first of all, do you have any neighbors with young children? it might help to get references from them.

you could also look in your local paper, sometimes they have ads, although i would prefer to get a babysitter by word of mouth.

what area are you in? maybe someone on here can recommend someone.

Re: what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

Posted by headoverheels

what area are you in? maybe someone on here can recommend someone.

Re: what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

Posted by bonitachyc

Posted by headoverheels

what area are you in? maybe someone on here can recommend someone.

western chicago! lol. i'll def look into the paper, that's a good tip thanks!

Re: what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

Posted by SuzyQ

Posted by bonitachyc

Posted by headoverheels

what area are you in? maybe someone on here can recommend someone.

western chicago! lol. i'll def look into the paper, that's a good tip thanks!

I live west of chicago too (in Naperville.) I have found a couple of sitters through word of mouth in my neighborhood, but I also found 3 really great sitters when I lived in downtown chicago through sittercity.com. It costs money to join, but it was so worth it to me. They run background checks on the sitters on there and that made us feel so much better. When I found one I liked on there, I chatted through e-mail, then we had them come over to meet all of us and to get to know each other. We asked them questions and saw how they interacted with DD. After I checked references, then had them come over to babysit. Most times with a new sitter I would be home for awhile doing stuff in another room while they played. then I usually would run out for an hour or so. That was my "trial run." (of course, I paid them.) Good luck in your search!

Re: what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

What *I* did, was go to Physical Therapy for two different surgeries at the same PT office. One of the young women there who set me up with heat pads and ice packs, and helped with the equipment, etc, babysits. She's also going to college to be an elementary school teacher. I've been talking with her for a few nights a week for about 3 years. I've brought DC in every once in a while. She also babysits for my therapist.

We invited her over for dinner a couple of times for a social visit before we eventually gave her the kids to watch.

However, not many people are willing to have two major surgeries, and three years of therapy just to find a babysitter.....

Re: what's the entire process of hiring a babysitter?

Posted by GoldenRod
However, not many people are willing to have two major surgeries, and three years of therapy just to find a babysitter.....