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Interview Questions To Ask A Babysitter

Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano

Babysitters…they’re the lifeline to our work life and sanity, and many of us moms could not live without their help. While we know it’s not always simple to find the right sitter for the job, we think it all begins with a good set of questions to vet your candidates. Below, we’ve teamed up with Vanessa Wauchope Welstead of Sensible Sitters to come up with a solid list of Q’s to throw at your applicants. “Start with the basics,” advises Wauchope Welstead. “Then let the conversation flow and enjoy learning about the applicant as an individual. You can also include some fun questions that take real childcare experience to answer.” See our list below, tailor as you see fit, and let us know any killer questions that’ve worked for you in the comments.

The Basics:
-Name/Age/City/Citizenship Status
-Availability/Rate/References
-What’s your educational background?
-Tell me about your childcare experience. (Find out if she’s worked in daycares or private homes, and what age groups she’s attended to.)
-What age of children do you love most?
-What is your comfort level with bottles, diapers, and soothing an infant? (If interviewing for an infant position.)
-Do you have recent CPR and First Aid training or certification?
-Have you ever needed to respond to an emergency? (If so, get details on how she responded.)
-Do you drive and would you be comfortable driving with children in the car?
-Are you open to helping out around the house, in addition to childcare work?
-Are you open to cooking for the children, and perhaps for the family?
*Invite your child into the room at some point during the interview and see how the sitter reacts. Place the infant in her arms, set up a coloring station for her and a younger child, etc.

Personal And Experience-Driven Questions:
-Where are you from?
-What do you like to do in your free time?
-What are your career goals?
-How did you get into childcare?
-What do you love most about babysitting?
-What do you like least about babysitting?
-What makes you a modern day Mary Poppins?
-What are your favorite childrens’ books?
-What do you prepare for snacks?
-What is your favorite game to play at the park?
-What’s been a challenging childcare experience and how did you handle it?

Want more nanny tips? Check out our guide to What To Buy Your Babysitter!

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  1. I like that you said to start with the basics and get to know the person and what they care about. My husband and I are trying to look for a nanny before summer starts since both of our jobs are requiring more time and the kids will be out of school. Thanks for the helpful tips and we’ll be sure to write down some of these questions as we start the hiring process for a new nanny.

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