Understanding the Compatibility Factor: What Makes a Babysitter "the Right Fit"

You want the best for your children, so you’re on the search for a babysitter who’s a perfect match for your family. Your children’s babysitter should be aligned with your family’s needs. The right fit will be compatible with your schedule, parenting style, and children.

via Pexels

Scheduling

Before examining personality traits or credentials, you need to make sure that your babysitter’s availability will fit into your schedule. This is practical, but important. Take a moment to think through what kind of time commitment you’re asking a babysitter to fill. Do you want someone working a regular schedule? Maybe you work late and need someone to pick up your children from school every afternoon during the week. Others will only want babysitters for the occasional night out. Once you decide on your schedule, you’ll be able to narrow down your pool of potential babysitters.

Your Child’s Age and Needs

Children in different age groups have different needs. Babysitting for a baby is different from babysitting for an eight-year-old. Every babysitter will have their own preferences about what age groups they feel comfortable and excited about working with. You want to find a babysitter who will be interested in working with your children. When searching for a babysitter, make sure to clearly write out each child’s age.

To ensure that a babysitter is suited to working for your children, consider asking questions about their previous work experience. Have they worked with similar age groups before? Do they know what kinds of behaviors are developmentally appropriate? Childcare experience can make a big difference.

You may also have children who have a variety of needs that may need extra attention. A child with a severe allergy needs a babysitter who will take food safety procedures seriously. A child with behavioral or intellectual differences will need a babysitter who is informed about their disabilities, patient, and empathetic. A child with physical disabilities will similarly need a babysitter prepared to work with them. As the parent, you may even prefer a babysitter to have certifications like CPR or Red Cross babysitting certifications.

Parenting Styles and Philosophy

There are many different parenting styles and philosophies in the world. A few commonly practiced parenting styles are authoritarian, authoritative (commonly known as gentle parenting), and permissive. Because a babysitter works closely with your children, you will want to hire someone with compatible views. If a babysitter enforces rules differently from primary caregivers, it can cause confusion for the children.

How do you want your babysitter to interact with your children? Some babysitters actively play with the children they work with. They may prepare activities, bring toys, and help with homework. Sometimes parents want babysitters with a specific skill, like a language, that they can pass on to the children. Consider looking for a babysitter who will

Child’s Personality and Opinions

Are you still unsure whether a potential babysitter is compatible with your family? One of the best resources you have is your children! Your children are the only members of the family who actually have to spend time with their babysitter. How your children feel about their babysitter is going to make a huge difference in their experience. Don’t underestimate your child’s perspective!

Consider searching for a babysitter who will complement your child’s personality. An outgoing child may require a babysitter who is also full of energy. A shy child might feel more comfortable with someone who is thoughtful and an active listener. Children may feel better connecting with a babysitter who has things in common, like similar interests.

Before this new babysitter begins working with your children, take the time to introduce them to your family when you or another primary caregiver is present. This will help your children develop a relationship with their babysitter. The presence of a familiar adult will bring them confidence as they warm up to a stranger. You’ll also get a sense for how the babysitter interacts with children.

After this initial introduction, talk to your children when the babysitter is not present. Ask how they felt about this new person. This will open up a dialogue with your children. They’ll know that they can talk honestly with you about this topic. Each time the babysitter works with your children, listen to what they have to say. You can ask them about what activities they did together and whether they had fun. Ideally, your children will enjoy the time they spend with their babysitter, even if they miss their primary caregivers a little bit. That is a normal feeling!

As you gain your children’s perspective, pay attention to anything negative that your children share. You may also want to look for red flags in your children’s behavior. A few examples are extreme emotional outbursts when the babysitter arrives, unexplained injuries, and regressions in behavior like having frequent accidents despite being potty trained.

Keep these different compatibility factors in mind, and you’ll be able to find your perfect babysitter!