10 Questions to Ask a Potential Babysitter

Are you searching for a dependable and reputable baby-sitter? As a mom, it is only natural that you want the best for your children. It is crucial that you be selective and cautious when hiring a babysitter. Whether it’s for just for a couple of hours, or a full-time job, there are important questions to ask. Here are some questions to ask a potential babysitter in an interview.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #1: Tell me a little bit more about yourself.

This is a fantastic open ended question to help get to know about the baby-sitter, and to have a feel for her personality. You will also have an idea on how she sees herself and what she values in herself.

Someone who just says “Well, I’m 15, um, I don’t know what else to say.”, might be less likely to be hired than someone who says “I’m a teenager who enjoys baby-sitting, tennis and volunteering at my church. I consider myself to be dependable, patient and a hard worker.”

This is not to say that you should rule out someone who doesn’t answer well, but that you will have more a feel for her personality and if see if you think she could work for you.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #2: Why do you want to baby-sit?

This is a crucial question, as you definitely want someone who desires to be around kids. If she or her just says “Well, I need the money”, you might want to think twice about hiring him or her. (Although you have to give them credit for being honest.)

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #3: What kind of experience, if any, do you have with children?

It is important to know if the potential baby-sitter has any experience with children. If they don’t have any, this is not to say that they should not be hired, as some teens with no or little experience might do a better job than older teens with lots of experience. However, if they’ve already been baby-sitting for awhile, that is a bonus, and they should be paid hirgher than someone who has not.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #4: Do you have CPR or First Aid training?

If they already have CPR or FIrst Aid training, that is definitely a plus. If not, and you decide you want to hire him/her you can pay for the baby-sitter to take a class through your local Red Cross. Some areas also offer baby-sitting training.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #5: What activities to you see yourself doing with the children while you baby-sit?

This is another question where you’ll learn more about their personality and how they interact with children. Hopefully the potential baby-sitter will mention playing games, reading stores, playing with toys, making funny faces, etc. If he or she says “whatever you want me to do”, they might still be able to be hired ,but will need some additional training.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #6: Would you be willing to hire yourself as a baby-sitter if you were a parent?

This is a very simple question. Obviously, if they say no, they will get points for honesty but shouldn’t be hired.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #7: Will you need transportation?

It’s a good idea to know whether or not you will need to pick them up and drive them home. Obviously this question is more for occasional teen baby-sitting jobs, not a full-time position, although in some cases transportation may be necessary.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #8: What would you do if?

It’s a good idea to ask at least one “What would you do if….” question. For example you could ask them how they would react in a fire, if the baby is feeling sick, or if your toddler throws a screaming fit. This will help you have a better understanding on their capabilities as a baby-sitter.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #9: What type of situations do you think would warrant calling me?

Hopefully, she/he will know when it is necessary to call you. If not, you might need to give them some extra training.

Question to Ask a Potential BabySitter #10: How much do you charge?

Obviously it’s very important to know beforehand her/his rate for baby-sitting. If she/he tells you a particularily low rate, you should probably raise it a little anyway – it will make them more likely to stay. You should ask other parents to have a feel for the going rate.

I’ll be honest, I did a lot of baby-sitting growing up, and I don’t think I ever had someone drill me with questions like this. These questions though would help you in making a decision on which baby-sitter to select. Always ask for references as well, and check them. Happy Parenting!