- 1). Invite the potential babysitter to your home so you can do the evaluation on your own turf. Conducting the interview in your home also provides the babysitter a chance to see where she would be working and ask any questions.
- 2). Ask the babysitter to provide basic information, including name, address, phone number, age, rates and when he is available. Some of this information allows you to check on him, while other pieces of information help you decide whether he is a good fit for your family.
- 3). Inquire about her personal views on handling specific situations, such as a child who misbehaves, a child that goes missing or how she would handle a medical emergency. Provide her with specific situations so you can get a clear view of how she would react in various situations.
- 4). Request that the babysitter provide you with references from past jobs with whom you can check. If others are happy with her, chances are you will be as well. However, failure to provide references can signal a problem.
- 5). Include questions about your potential caregiver's background in babysitting. For instance, you need to know if your babysitter has first-aid training. Past experience can also be important. Ask a potential babysitter about any difficult child-care experiences and how she handled it.
- 6). Watch for body language cues. If the babysitter is extremely fidgety and refuses to make eye contact, he may be hiding something and may not be comfortable. However, remember that a small degree of fidgeting and discomfort can be normal during an interview.
- 7). Invite your caregiver over for a trial run with your child. Stay in the home while the babysitter is there, but try to keep yourself busy in another room. This gives your child the security of having you nearby as he gets used to the babysitter, while allowing you to get a feel for the interaction between the babysitter and your child. If your child isn't comfortable, you know the sitter is not the right fit.