Danielle Keeton, M.A.C.C.C.-S.L.P is director of Le Bonheur’s Early Intervention and Development program and therapy outreach. Danielle provides our readers with insight this week on how to find a great babysitter.

Finding a great babysitter brings equally great rewards for both parents and kids.  Parents can find that much-needed time together, and kids get to develop relationships with other adults who care for them and have their best interest at heart.  However, it can be a real challenge to find that special person you trust with your precious little ones.

Raising two boys in Memphis, with our closest family members residing in Alabama, my husband and I have had ample experience with selecting babysitters. Some simple guidance from others who share your quest can make the challenge more doable.

Ask and ask again:
Utilize social media, friends and co-workers to find reliable candidates.  Ask anyone who has children around the same age as your own whom they use for babysitting services.  Let people know that you need a nanny, part-time care or just someone for date-nights, and let the recommendations roll in.

Check with local babysitter course instructors:
The Mid-South chapter of the American Red Cross and Methodist Healthcare both offer babysitting courses for teens.  The courses offer training in CPR & Heimlich maneuver, child development, behavior strategies and diapering – skills needed to get started in the babysitting world.  Ask about recent “graduates” from the course.

Remember this as a general rule: the younger your child, the older your sitter needs to be. Children younger than 3 years should typically be cared for by someone older than 16 in case of an emergency.

Set up a babysitting co-op:
If you are friends with other parents, a “babysitting co-op” will save loads of time, money and worries.  It’s a simple thing to do.  Everyone who wants to reap the benefits of having some kid-free time agrees to take his or her share of kid duty.  A group of parent friends can rotate on a regular schedule to trade off sitting responsibilities with each other.  It’s free, it’s safe, and all of the kids will love spending time together! And again, did I mention it’s free?

So you’ve found “the one.” Now what:
Invite the babysitter over for a tour of your home and a chance to spend a little time with your children. Let them get to know each other.  Observe their interactions, and trust yourself.  If you have even a little feeling of uneasiness, listen to your instincts.  Ask your children what they thought of the sitter, and trust what your kids say.  Kids are very intuitive when meeting new grown-ups.

Once you’ve agreed on the first babysitting appointment, make sure that your expectations and house rules are very clear, and write them down.  This will help you avoid misunderstandings and assumptions about things like visitors, bedtime, computer and TV use and feeding schedule. 

Now that you’ve found the perfect babysitter, congratulate yourself on a job well done, and enjoy your much-deserved adult time!