The complete guide to hiring a babysitter

First, narrow down what you’re looking for by asking yourself: When do I need a sitter? What experience and/or training do I want them to have? What exactly do I need the babysitter to do? You’ll need this information to create a detailed job description.

Check the going rates in your area with our cost of child care calculator. Then, consider the number of kids you have, the sitter’s experience and the assigned duties.

Schedule a conversation with the potential babysitter. Focus on what you’re looking for and how their availability, skills, personality and caregiving style align with the job.

Think you’ve found the one? Now it’s time to do your due diligence: Call the sitter’s references, set up a babysitter trial while you’re present to see how they interact with your kids and run a background check, which can help divulge any criminal history. 

Just a few final steps — consider creating a contract to ensure expectations are aligned, familiarize yourself with tax obligations and discuss safety. Now you can relax and let your sitter do what they do best: take care of your children.