Three-Step Sitter Monitoring:

Even after you’ve gone through a thorough screening process and hired a child care provider, you may still feel a little anxious about leaving your little ones with someone other than yourself. Whether your babysitter is your next-door neighbor or a Super Sitter on Sittercity, the sitter monitoring process is a critical part of easing your fears, ensuring your child receives superior care and making the most of the child care relationship.

Below you’ll find the three-step monitoring process to help you determine whether your sitter is a good fit for your family or whether she displays some of the warning signs that could spell trouble.

STEP 1: ASSESS THE MATCH: Sometimes sitters look great on paper (check out those glowing references!), but that doesn’t always mean that she’s going to be the right fit for YOUR family. As soon as you invite a sitter into your home, pay close attention to her relationship with your children.
STEP 2: COMMUNICATE: Talk to your sitter. A major part of any strong child care relationship is communication. One simple way to keep line lines of communication open is to provide your sitter, upon her arrival, with a quick list of questions you’d like to discuss for no more than five minutes once you return.
STEP 3: OBSERVE: Throughout the entire child care relationship, keep an eye on your child’s (and sitter’s!) behavior over time. And remember — you don’t have to do it alone. A neighbor can always lend a helping hand (or eye and ear…).

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