1. Personal recommendations. Ask your friends and acquaintances if they know a suitable candidate. Turn to other moms and dads you know. Ask even those who don’t have children: Perhaps they have siblings or they just know where to look for a good babysitter. This method is the most effective if you want to get a reliable information.

When talking to these people, pay attention to what kind of children the babysitter is experienced with. Just because the babysitter does a good job with newborns doesn’t mean they can get along with children of school age. In addition, don’t forget about personal preferences: Don’t be afraid to reject a candidate recommended by a family member. Even if a potential babysitter has been described as “the best of the best,” they may not be right for you.

2. Agency. A good agency will collect all the necessary information about the candidate in advance. You don’t have to check a babysitter’s work experience and medical certificates on your own. Go to the official website and select a babysitter that suits you, then conduct a phone and face-to-face interview with them.

Be careful and double-check the information: Get in touch with their former employers, ask the candidate for copies or originals of their documents. However, this must be done whatever search method you use.

3. Social media. In regional mothers groups, you will surely find posts from someone offering their services. Also, those who no longer need a babysitter can write there, and they want to recommend their babysitter to others. With this search, you will have to conduct a more thorough verification of all information than with the methods where you turn to an agency or friends.

💡 Tip: When posting your request, be careful in choosing the words that describe a babysitter you need. The word “calm,” for example, can mean different things to different people: For some people it can mean that the babysitter is inactive and doesn’t have fun with the children, for another person it can mean that they don’t panic in stressful situations. Specify what you mean, “We are looking for a calm babysitter who doesn’t raise their voice and understands the importance of rest between activities.”

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