https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:59:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848232 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 15:48:20 +0000 lioneyes 2848232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The majority of my sitters (college/grad school) are in a nursing program, so I know they have been background checked to work at the hospital. I also ask for references and call.</p> <p>I also use my high school student nextdoor neighbor, and since I know who her parents are/know where she livesI feel ok with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848172 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 08:14:55 +0000 PinkElephant 2848172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ask for a reference of someone they have babysat for before. Typically my sitters are teachers (not necessarily daycare; typically elementary school), so even if I found them through Care.com or some other non-school way, I also feel like working in a school means they've most likely been through criminal background checks, so that's an extra layer of security. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848171 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 07:47:48 +0000 youboots 2848171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a list of local college students through the campus. It’s a spreadsheet based on interests, if they have a car, references etc. Each one we hired I talked to on the phone and checked 2 references. We did this prior to our cross country move. Then I was here the first couple times each one watched Tenny and was comfortable enough with that. One said she worked at the Y in the summers but I did not check- she’s 22 and a grad student in teaching. This college is pretty difficult to get into so between personal references from past families and my gut feeling and next cam (as well as what my very verbal 3.5 year old says) I’m comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848169 Sun, 30 Sep 2018 06:53:51 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2848169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do the same amount of research. However, for a sitter that I find through daycare, I’m not running a background check because they already do that. If you are comfortable with the gym’s hiring practices then I would use your gut that your LO and the sitter will get along. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848162 Sat, 29 Sep 2018 23:33:10 +0000 Mrsbells 2848162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I would play it safe and treat any babysitter as if they were my child's full time caregiver and do an extensive check </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848151 Sat, 29 Sep 2018 20:53:41 +0000 cake2017 2848151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d do extensive check no matter what! My opinion. Ask for references, check to see if your state has public website for all charging (many do by the way). Also, does your LO talk? I’d get the age of the caretaker! When I babysat back in college the family made a copy of my license and I had references. That was just for babysitting! I expect and encourage that for all families! I want to know as much as I can because they will be in my home watching my child! Once again just my opinion! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848144 Sat, 29 Sep 2018 20:06:06 +0000 lady baltimore 2848144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In that instance, I would probably ask for contact information of one other person she had sat for and call it good enough. I considered hiring one of the people from our gym daycare, and I trust that they have been vetted and trained already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-research-on-new-babysitters#post-2848142 Sat, 29 Sep 2018 19:54:36 +0000 Foodnerd81 2848142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much research or background checking do you do for a new occasional babysitter? (Like, for a date night, not for full time care). Does it matter if they were a friend’s recommendation vs a listing somewhere like care.com vs someone you met at a childcare facility? </p> <p>In my specific case, I just asked one of the gym childcare workers who seems to like my kids for her number for babysitting. I think the gym does some kind of background check but I don’t even know how old she is (I’m guessing late high school since the college kids went back to school a few weeks ago). Her Facebook profile has appropriate privacy settings which is good. My kid likes her. </p>