Scared to say yes to a babysitter/childminder

[Amelia4991]

Hello,

Mum of two oldest 4 youngest 2,

Me and my partner wanting to get a babysitter/childminder for maybe like an evening time for a few hours so We can go out have a meal together on a birthday

So not looking for anything full time just a one off. No friends or family members to hold them, that's why we are interested in a babysitter/childminder

Like it says in title, just think I'd really be too scared to Do it, have had a look on websites and profiles but still it feels very weird.

Am i other thinking or just been a sensible parent with doing a risk assessment.

Would love to hear your opinions and experiences with first-time babysitters childminders!?

Thanks

I am a babysitter on a care site and have had lots of one offs and some regular jobs. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions or for references. .
I would say feel free to ask to meet before the night though I have just turned up and been left straight away!!
Whatever you need to feel comfortable, your prospective sitter should be happy to arrange for you and your dc!!

Thank you very much makes me feel abit better.

You are wanting someone to come to your home in the evening to care for your children, so you are looking for a babysitter.

As a babysitter (in the Surrey/Berkshire border area) when a parent contacts me I arrange to meet them and their children, before babysitting. I provide details of my training and experience, including written references from families for whom I have babysat in the past. I can provide contact details for a current family for whom I babysit should you want to talk to another parent.
The purpose of the meeting is to help put you at ease, introduce the children to me so that I am not a complete stranger when I actually come to babysit, plus it helps me in being able to find the house in daylight.

So it is like you interviewing me and me interviewing you. It helps us both decide that we want to give it a go.

Oh right thanks for your comment makes me feel a lot better hearing it from a babysitter yourself.

Sounds like an exciting experience,

Will definitely give it a go now

Do you/you children go to any nursery/playgroup/toddler groups etc? Ask around for recommendations of people that others use locally.

Do your kids go to nursery? If so ask at the nursery if any of the staff also do babysitting, that way the kids will know them. Or even if they don't go if you have a nursery close you could still ask, you might feel more comfortable with one of their staff doing the baby sitting rather than someone from a website.

I think what your looking for is a babysitter not a child-minder. Child minders are Ofsted registered like a nursery or school and work from their home giving early years education and childcare, se will work as babysitters as a separate job. I would ask rather that although you know they are a child-minder you wondered if they also offer a babysitting service you will be more likely to get a more positive response, The advantage of finding a cm who does babysitting includes that they are dbs/crb or police checked and have experience first aid and training. many will not offer babysitting as they already typically do a 50 hour plus working week but some will.