Sitter solutions

~Whether you're searching for a regular in-home babysitter or someone to fill in on a Friday night, finding the right fit for your family isn't always easy. Here's how to find sitter success.

-- Start early. The best time to start searching for a "replacement sitter" is before you lose your current sitter. This will allow adequate time to identify and screen new candidates, check references and run background checks. Even better, this will afford you time to have your regular sitter train your new sitter on the ins and outs of the job.

-- Ask for references. Katy Hart, a mom of four who lives in Lilbourn, Mo., says finding a sitter capable of handling her children -- three of whom are 6 -- can be tough. "I need someone who can give me a good idea of whether or not the sitter is responsible and level-headed enough to take care of my kids," she says.

-- Write out a schedule. Back-to-school is a busy time for families, so it's important to work with your new sitter to create a written schedule clearly outlining the job times, children's activities and general responsibilities. Include details such as the pick-up/drop-off times at your children's school, where to pick the children up, when they should start homework and what time they need to be at soccer.

-- Cover the details. Before your new sitter starts, make sure you have thought through all of the details and provided her with everything she needs to make the job run smoothly. For instance, if she will be driving your car, be sure to add her to your insurance and get her a key. Also, make sure the sitter has a cell phone and that you know the number in case she needs to reach you or vice-versa.

-- Plan check-ins. Once you have prepared your new babysitter for the job, schedule regular check-ins to make sure everything's running on schedule. Check-ins are great on a regular basis, but very important in the beginning of a relationship when the sitter is new to the job and experiencing a learning curve. If you establish these meetings regularly, you'll have a clear line of communication and any problems or schedule changes can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Source: Staff reports and www.sittercity.com

Keep it in mind

Local hospitals offer safe sitter courses to help prepare preteens and teens for babysitting. Topics include medical emergencies like rescue breathing and anti-choking techniques, appropriate action steps and more. Contact Southeast Missouri Hospital at (573) 332-1587 or Saint Francis Medical Center at (573) 331-5107 for more details.