A babysitter is required to safeguard the child she is watching, keep him entertained and maintain order in the home. With the weight of the responsibilities required, you may find it hard to find someone that you trust with the care of your child. Making a list of requirements before you begin the search process can make it easier to find the right person and help you feel confident in your choice.
Age
It is important that your babysitter be old enough to handle any surprises that may occur. The University of Illinois Extension Service recommends that babysitters be at least 14 years old. If you are considering a younger babysitter, make sure that she is legally old enough to stay home alone. Contact your state's department of health and human services to see if there is an age limit and what it is, where you live.
Training
A babysitter should have basic first-aid knowledge, know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver and know CPR. The Red Cross offers babysitter training in many communities. Whether the babysitter received training through the Red Cross, a school program or with some other group, make sure that she knows what to do in the case of an emergency.
Maturity
Regardless of age, it is important that the babysitter be mature enough to take direction from you and abide by your decisions. Explain the house rules for both the babysitter and the child. Let the babysitter know if he is allowed to use the phone or have guests over, what time your child should go to bed, what snacks are available and any other rules you have. After having a discussion about rules, you should feel confident that the babysitter will abide by them.
Experience
Choose a babysitter that has experience babysitting children roughly the same age as your child. A babysitter with experience watching preschool age children may not be capable of handling an infant, while a babysitter that is capable of holding, feeding and caring for an infant may not understand the importance of watching a toddler constantly.
If you are considering a babysitter that doesn't have experience, consider hiring her as a mother's helper a few times. A mother's helper stays in the home and watches the child while you are there. This gives you the opportunity to observe the babysitter and child interact and allows you to decide if the babysitter seems competent.
