When hiring a babysitter, it’s natural to feel worried and anxious because you are not just ticking off another chore on the list but trusting a stranger with your world. Ensuring your bundle of joy gets the necessary care and attention while keeping your anxiety levels in check is paramount. But how do you ensure the transition is smooth and that you have the right help with your child?
This guide will give you all the information you need to navigate hiring a babysitter confidently. Let’s begin!
Know Your Child’s Needs
Most Aussie parents are unsure of how much babysitting cost, as rates can vary across different cities. But before you even start analysing the costs in your area, assess the childcare requirements. Ask yourself:
- Do I need a full-time, part-time, or occasional babysitter?
- Do I need a live-in nanny for full-time childcare or part-time for occasional help?
- Does my child require personalised care or extra support with special requirements?
- Will the babysitter solely focus on childcare, or is s/he expected to do other tasks related to your child, like cooking their meals or cleaning their room?
Defining the needs upfront will give you a better idea of the quality traits you are looking for in a babysitter, and you can plan the remuneration accordingly.
Do Your Research
Once your needs are well-defined, dig deep and gather information on the potential babysitters from reputable agencies and trusted nanny service providers. After gathering information on the vetted professionals, shortlist them according to their reviews, ratings, background, qualifications, experience, and verification checks. Always ensure the potential babysitter has relevant certifications, credentials, and relevant experience with kids of a similar age.
Schedule an Interview
The interview is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know the babysitter personally. Prepare a list of questions to gauge their knowledge and ability to offer childcare. Here are a few questions you should ask during the interview:
- What is your current position?
- How many years of experience do you have in childcare?
- Tell me more about your previous childcare jobs and your key responsibilities.
- How do you handle a child throwing tantrums or not listening to your instructions?
- What kind of activities do you have in mind for my kid?
- How do you handle emergencies or first-aid situations?
- What is your approach to disciplining a child?
- How does your day typically go when caring for kids full-time?
- Do you have first aid and CPR training?
- Are you comfortable with child-related tasks, like simple meal prep?
- What days are you available to work?
- Are you available for a two-week paid trial run?
Pay close attention to the candidates’ answers, tone, and body language throughout the interview. Enthusiastic and engaged candidates are more likely to be better candidates for babysitting.
Conduct Background Checks
While running a thorough background verification to cross-check the details, starting the trial period is a good idea. This will give you enough time to determine whether s/he is the right fit for your child. Plus, you can observe how your kid responds to the babysitter. While conducting background checks, ensure the candidate has passed the national police check and Working With Children Check (WWCC). Speak to the references to learn about the nanny’s reliability and keep your kids safe.
Formalise the Employment
After the background check and trial period, if you feel the babysitter is the right choice for your child, make a formal employment arrangement with a written contract abiding by the legal considerations, such as:
- Babysitters in Australia are entitled to superannuation contributions if their work hours exceed 30 hours a week.
- Nanny’s wages should be processed correctly, including making payments to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Services like Pay The Nanny simplify the payroll process and reduce the chances of delay and inaccuracy.
Also, while discussing the contract, clearly explain the rules and routines for your child and your expectations of the babysitter. Be clear about the chores, emergency contact, and childcare so there’s no breach of contract. Remember, with clear communication, trust, and mutual respect, you can build a harmonious environment for your child to grow.
