5 Top Qualities I Look For In A Babysitter

I have my own set of qualities that I use as a guide each time I hire a babysitter. In my years of hiring a babysitter, I have come up with my own list. But the qualities I look for aren’t any different from the qualities other moms look for in a babysitter. I can say that they’re pretty much the same.

The only difference is that I have my own set of parameters to gauge if the babysitter has the qualities I’m looking for.

5. Caring

Of course I want a babysitter that’s caring. All moms want that, right? But what does it really take for a babysitter to be caring? Caring is such a broad term.

For me, a babysitter is caring if she comes to work focused on my child. She’s not just coming over to keep my child company. I don’t want that. I want someone that cares enough to keep a watchful eye on my child. That means I will not tolerate a babysitter that has to do some homework. How can a babysitter keep a watchful eye on my child if she has to do some homework?

I am also very straightforward when it comes to using mobile phones. A caring babysitter shouldn’t be on the phone all the time unless it’s important. She shouldn’t use her duty time chatting on her phone.

I am also very straightforward when it comes to using mobile phones. A caring babysitter shouldn’t be on the phone all the time unless it’s important. She shouldn’t use her duty time chatting on her phone. She will never be able to keep an eye on my child if she does so.

So a caring babysitter shouldn’t just be physically present. She should also be emotionally present. She should communicate with my child, get to know my child. I don’t want a babysitter that just goes through the motion. I want someone that cares enough to entertain my child.

I want a babysitter that cares enough to make up for my quick absence. But also want her to be very professional about it. If she cares enough about my child and her job, she will perform all her tasks very well.

4. Sincere

I had always thought that being caring and being sincere were one in the same. But when it comes to finding a babysitter, I realized that they’re different from each other.

When I look for sincerity in a babysitter, I want her to work with me. Some babysitters use the same template for child caring over and over again. I don’t want that. I want someone that can work around my child’s needs. I want someone that’s sincere enough to think outside the box for the sake of my child.

So it’s very important for me to find a babysitter that’s willing to align with my own set of beliefs when it comes to child caring. But at the same time, she won’t judge me as a mom.

3. Honest

We all want to deal with honest people, right? Hence, that’s one quality I look for in a babysitter. I want someone that can report to me accurately.

For me, a babysitter’s tour of duty doesn’t just end soon as I get home. I want a babysitter that will give me a full-blown report. And I want that report complete with all the small details. Whether it’s done in writing or not, I want the babysitter to update me on my child’s activities.

And of course, I want her to be totally honest about it because I will always double check with my child. Related read: Sittercity is really affordable

2. Experienced

When it comes to hiring an experienced babysitter, I want her to have some kind of formal training on child caring. It can be a course on child psychology or basic First Aid. It would be most ideal if she had both. But most importantly, she should have years of experience in child caring.

I will never settle for one that doesn’t have enough experience with children. She wouldn’t know what to do in case of an emergency.

So I base the experience of the babysitter on her training and on her years of child caring. I will never settle for one that doesn’t have enough experience with children. She wouldn’t know what to do in case of an emergency.

On the other hand, a babysitter that has had enough experience with children would have more presence of mind. I would never settle for a novice. That’s just the way it is for me.

1. Reliable

When I look for reliability in a babysitter, I want someone that has word of honor. If she says she going to show up, she should. I want a sitter whom I can rely on to take good care of my children, especially when I am not available. And she should show up on time.

So this is my own set of parameters to gauge if the babysitter has all the qualities I’m looking for. I hope it helps.

How about you? What qualities do you look for in a babysitter?

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Stephanie Parker

A nerd at heart (haha), I have been following and analyzing the world of online sitters for a couple of years now and have seen a lot of innovations and changes in this market. In between taking care of my loving (and demanding 😜) family and writing, I also do a lot of “traveling” on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Read More