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DR. WALLACE: I’m a single parent of a 2-yearold son. When I needed a baby sitter, my mother was available. Grandmother was my number one sitter.
Grandmother has now moved to Canada and won’t be returning. I now need to find a reliable sitter. What should I look for? — Nameless, Michigan City, Ind.
NAMELESS: Finding the “right” babysitter can be time-consuming, but it is worth the effort when you find an excellent sitter. But remember you will be entrusting the care of your son to someone you barely know.
Celeste Stuhring, author of “Kid Sitter Basics” ( Westport Publishers), offers tips to help you find and keep good sitters and have peace of mind when you leave your child in the care of a sitter.:
• Ask friends for referrals. The junior high school may keep a list of teens that baby-sit. Local day care centers often take drop-ins, and babysitting agencies are a source for older, more experienced sitters.
• Be alert to baby-sitting classes in your area. Most graduates of these courses make good sitters.
• Select a responsible sitter. Take the time to interview the sitter and assess how he or she responds to you. Ask about the sitter’s experiences with small children, and check references. If possible, select a sitter who has attended a course in baby-sitting, child care, CPR and/or first aid. It is good to meet the sitter’s parents.
• Reach an understanding with the sitter on job requirements, wages, hours, privileges and duties. Establish a wage for the sitting engagement before you leave to avoid uncomfortable situations. Most baby-sitters prefer to be paid in cash.
• On the sitter’s
first visit, introduce him or her to infants, children and pets. Discuss the layout of the house and show the sitter how to work appliances and where you keep the first-aid kit.
• Let the sitter know how you expect the house to look when you return. Don’t count on the sitter to clean your whole house; his or her job is to be with the children and pick up after them. If your house is cleaner than when you left, consider this a bonus.
• If you’re using a new sitter, call while you’re out to see how things are going and answer any questions that may have come up.
• Make sure the sitter has the house key, emergency numbers and a number where you can be reached. Don’t assume the sitter will call 911 or notify you in an emergency. Make certain the sitter understands your preferences.
• Leave written instructions for bedtime, meals and other activities.
• Be home at the stated time. If your plans change, contact the sitter. (Ask about the sitter’s flexibility before you leave.)
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