How to find a sitter

Avatar for mandymi
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2003
How to find a sitter
3
Thu, 08-12-2004 - 12:01pm

Ok, my friends are either busy with newborns or establishing their careers, my brother is a flake, and my aunty lives 30 minutes away... the military does have a referral service for baby sitters, but it seems whenever I find a good one, she transfers...




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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
Thu, 08-12-2004 - 12:19pm
These are the days that I know how lucky I am to have my sitter. She is a college student who is at my house all summer long.

Is it appropriate to put a rate (ie $5 per hour) on the notice and not change it regardless of whether an adult of a teen responds?

~I wouldn't put the rate on at all if you think you will change it depending on who sits for you.~

What's the going evening rate, anyway?

~Mine charges $8.00/hr and around where I live thats GOOD.~



How do I know they aren't going to go through all my stuff in my apartment if they're sitting in my place?

~Not sure how to answer this..I trust my sitter COMPLETELY. Call references, see how they feel about the sitter, ask questions, express your concerns. I called references for my sitter and everyone RAVED about her. One of them said they use to lock thier bedroom door but after some time they felt comfortable with her and kept it unlocked.~

My class runs from 5:30 pm to about 8:30 or 9, so if it's at my place I can have dinner ready and the bath run, if I had to bring him to another apartment, I assume he'd be eating with them... do I have to offer to pay extra for dinner?

~I would do what you feel is best. If you would rather your child be home and in bed at a certain time then I think that is what you should do. If you bring him to another place, I would make sure you have dinner for him. My sitter comes to my house feeds them lunch and then goes to her pool or to the library or the park. There are times that she voluterily feed them at her house but I don't give her extra.~

Do I need to do any sort of contract with a baby sitter? What kinds of rules should I tell a teen if that's who responds?

~I don't think you need a contract. My rules were no smoking, no drinking, no boys, and let me know where they go before they go.~

Hope this helps.

Lori
Avatar for cl_tcranky1
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 08-12-2004 - 12:43pm

Hi


The girl who regularly has babysat for me this summer is a daughter of one of my acquaintances from school who's other daughter is in my daughter's class and who's three daughter's have been my Girl Scouts.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Thu, 08-12-2004 - 3:05pm
Definetely call references, and ask around. Find out from friends and their families who they use. Make sure you specify if you don't a smoker. I wouldn't put an amount on the ad either, just negotiate for the time you will need them. I usually just negotiate a set amount for the time, not specific to the hour. My old babysitter I used to just give her $20.00 regardless if I was one hour or four, she was fine with that.

Also you need to talk about how they will be getting there and home. Will they be needing a ride? And I would say it's probably best to have them come to your home, since your son can go to bed at the same time as regular nights.

I really hope you do find someone great!

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