What do I ask a potential babysitter?

[MrsFogi]

I was going to ring a couple of people advertising at my local shops as I don't know anyone who uses a babysitter near me so can't get a reccommendation that way. So....what's the usual form, do I ask them to come over and meet me? + what should I ask?

Bump

ask for references and call them to find out what they are like

ask what they would do if your kids wake up etc

Ask if they have any qualifications ( a lot of the babysitters round here are nursery nurses in the daytime), and if not, then ask about basic first aid knowledge...and what would they do if kids woke up (right answer depends on you though, personally I'm happy enough for awake children to be plonked in front of a dvd, other prefer them to be settled back to sleep - I only use a babysitter once in a blue moon so I know the kids won't get into bad habits.
And remember to leave them a list of your contact numbers, NHS direct, and instructions on how to use tv,dvd,sky etc.
(We came home once to find lovely babysitter mopping our kitchen floor because our digibox was set up to record a programme and she was so worried she daren't watch tv, so she cleaned instead!)

E-mail or Call them and ask about what childcare related qualifications/training they have had. You can find out about childcare workforce qualifications at: Children's Workforce Development Council - you can then list qualifications by level.
Also ask about First Aid training, just incase your child/children have a minor accident, or worse stop breathing!
Ask them if they can provide references from other families they have babysat.
If all is going well so far... invite them over during say a weekend daytime, so they can meet you and your children. The thing to look at is how they interact with your children, as you want someone who the children will like, plus who you feel you can get along with. Use this time to check their paperwork (qualification/training certificates, written references, obtain phone numbers for verbal references if you feel the need)

If you are planning to go out shortly after your children have been put to bed, let me tell you what happened earlier this week...

5 children aged 1-6 yrs (2 families)
All in bed when I arrived, quite unusual for me.
Parents said they were all tired and that they will sleep through.
25 seconds after parents had left, 4 of the children were awake and active. So much for sleeping through!
So we had story time, followed by getting them settled in bed. 3 settled quite fast, but 1 wasn't interested as was 1:in a new house 2:missing mum. So took quite a bit longer to convince her to go to sleep.

So even when you think the babysitter will have a quiet evening, it may not turn out that way.