One of the hardest tasks many parents have is to find a babysitter who is responsible, dependable and one who your children adore. Here are the top ten tips for finding this babysitter and keeping the sitter coming back happy.

1. Get Recommendations from Friends

Whether you are looking for a full-time in-home provider or a sitter for an occasional night on the town, start by asking your friends, coworkers, and neighbors for recommendations.

2. Community Resources

Find out where local babysitting classes are offered near you. These places often keep lists of available babysitters that they would be happy to provide you.

3. Local Colleges and Universities

If there is a local college or nearby university, inquire there. Many early education departments may have places to post your job.

4. Online Babysitting Services

Try an online babysitting site like Sittercity. Some have lists of thousands of sitters available all over the country. You can even search by zip code to see available sitters near you.

5. Interview the Candidates

Make sure to interview potential babysitters. Watch how he or she interacts with your children. Have a list of questions to ask each candidate regarding their experience.

6. Run a Background Check.

Not every sitter is as nice as they may seem. Background checks are well worth the effort. (Some online babysitting services even offer these as part of your membership.)

7. Review your Rules

Go over your rules and expectations with any new babysitter. Be clear on everything from using the phone, to TV watching to having guests.

8. Make Their Job a Pleasant One

Remind your children that the babysitter is in charge and that the house rules still apply. Have special snacks or movies for the babysitter for once the kids are in bed…anything to let them know that he or she is appreciated.

9. Be Home on Time

Value your sitter’s time by arriving back when you said that you would. Be respectful of his or her schedule.

10. Show your Appreciation

A babysitter is caring for your precious children. Remember to show how much it means to you to know that they are in good hands while you are away.

Need help finding a babysitter? Sittercity allows you to “Try It” free before you sign up! Put in your zip code to see the available sitters in your area before you ever need to sign up!

Check it out…you may be surprised just how many great babysitters live right near you.

If you are looking to save some money, you may want to look at your babysitting cots and ways to reduce them.

Many families spend a large part of their budget on childcare. Here are 5 simple ways to reduce the overall costs to your family:

Swap with a Friend

Most parents with small children need babysitters too! Why not watch their children while they go out and then have them watch yours another night? This way you both get time away, the kids get a play date, and you don’t have to pay for a babysitter!

Adjust your Schedule

If you or your spouse have flexible scheduling options, simply rearrange your schedule so your kids require less babysitting time!

Start a Babysitting Cooperative

A babysitting cooperative is a group of parents who agree to watch each others’ children while other parents go to the doctor, do their shopping, or simply take a nap. This is especially helpful for stay at home parents who need a break.

Find a Home Day Care Provider who Might Like a Swap

See if they might be interested in taking an additional child or two on an irregular or part-time basis for an hourly fee or in exchange for two or three nights out with her husband while you watch her kids. She may love the idea!

Fire Your Daycare Center If you send your little ones to a daycare center, you may be spending too much on childcare. Parents with multiple children often find that in-home care is less expensive (and more flexible!)

Sittercity allows you to “Try It” free before you sign up! Put in your zip code to see the available sitters in your area before you ever need to sign up!

Check it out…you may be surprised just how many great babysitters live right near you.

Whether you need a great sitter today or next week…Sittercity is a great choice. Sittercity has THOUSANDS of awesome babysitters, housesitters, petsitters and even elder care companions!

Click here to find out more at Sittercity.com! Try it today…and you can spend tomorrow evening out on the town!!!

Looking for a good babysitter? Well maybe you should think twice before you just hire the girl down the road to watch your kids. There are some advantages to having a really good babysitter. Here are the top five advantages to hiring a good sitter.

1. Your Kids Will Have More Fun. If the teenager down the road spends 90% of the time at your home text messaging her boyfriend and the other 10% watching T.V, how much fun is that for your kids? A good babysitter will play with the kids, take walks, play games and really entertain them. (I don’t even think mine has ever tried to turn on the T.V.)

2. Complimentary Care! Kids benefit from being exposed to different experiences. Some play sports or read books with the kids. My babysitter is more creative and helps them do arts and crafts that I would never think of doing!

3. A Clean House Ever come home to a house cleaner than you left it? A good babysitter may not only clean up after your kids, but also spruce up things a bit once the kids are all in bed.

4. Safety. A good babysitter is responsible. If something happens to your child when you are gone, you need to know that this person will know exactly what to do.

5. You Will Be More Willing To Go Out. When you are nervous about a sitter, you won’t ever want to go out or you will hire one only when absolutely necessary. But if the kids have a good time, the house isn’t destroyed, and you feel your kids are safe, you will be more willing to go out and have a good time…and happy parents make better parents any day.

Need help finding a great babysitter for your kids?
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