TIPS FOR CHOOSING A BABY-SITTER Submitted by Lisa  (Provided by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse)

Interview all potential baby-sitters.

Ask the baby-sitter's age, if (s)he is a teen. If you have very young children, you will want to find an older teen.

Talk about the baby-sitter's past experience.
What activities is (s)he involved in?
Why is (s)he interested in baby-sitting?
What does (s)he enjoy doing with children?
Has (s)he taken the Red Cross baby-sitter's course?

Ask for references. Talking to people who have hired this baby-sitter in the past will give you an idea of the baby-sitter's reliability and trustworthyness.

Invite the baby-sitter to your house.

This will give you an opportunuty to observe the sitter interacting with your children, and to show the baby-sitter around your home.

Discuss your views on discipline and child care. Make sure that the sitter understands appropriate forms of discipline. Discuss the household rules, and tell the baby-sitter how you expect your child to be treated.

Be sure the baby-sitter understands your rules on visitors, bed times, snacks, etc.

Leave important telephone numbers with the baby-sitter (your cell phone or pager, neighbors, nearby relatives, doctor, fire, police) in case an emergency should arise.

Talk to your Children about the baby-sitter.