how to interview a caregiver

Like many of you, one of my roles is that of a mother. I’m fortunate to be a stay-at-home mommy, too! However, that does not mean I do not need child care for The Boy on occasion. It’s nice to sneak away with The Texan for a date night without always asking a family member to take The Boy.  {Of course, they always want to, but I don’t like to ask too often.}

Making the decision to leave your child with a caregiver is a tough one. You want to know that the person you are leaving your beloved with is a good person, someone who is caring and enjoys kids. Not someone who is doing it only for the money. It is a time consuming process often filled with feelings of stress, and regret.

You should always have a face-to-face interview with the potential caregiver, in addition to doing a background check and checking references. Keeping these topics in mind, and asking probing questions,  can make the experience of choosing a caregiver more pleasant for you.

Experience:   Keep in mind that if you’re hiring who is young, he or she may not have paid experience but they may have cared for younger siblings/cousins. It’s also good to remember that just because someone is older, does not necessarily mean they’re experienced { Mrs. Doubtfire??} To get the information you need to ask questions like: What type of experience do you have with children?  What are the ages of the children you’ve cared for in the past? How many families have you worked with?

Safety:   Leaving your child with a stranger is scary. You’ll feel more comfortable knowing that your caregiver knows what to do in an emergency situation. Ask questions such as: What type of FirstAid training do you have? Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to use that training? {If your home has a swimming pool,  be sure to ask about life guard experience and water safety training. }

Fun:   You want to know that your child is going to have a good time and be stimulated while you’re away. Ask about the type of activities the caregiver does with children. Would the caregiver be willing to {insert your child’s favorite activity here}? If the caregiver seems enthusiastic about activities, and incorporates items that are visible in your home, there is a good chance that your child is going to have fun with that person.

Discipline:   Sharing your parenting and disciplining style with the caregiver is also important. If you don’t use a timeout chair, the caregiver needs to know that. It is important for the caregiver to be consistent, and ensure your child has the same rules to abide by.

If you’re going to be allowing your caregiver to drive your children around, be sure their vehicle is properly maintained, has current vehicle inspection, and that the caregiver has a safe driving record. You’ll also want to ensure that your child’s safety seat is properly installed. It may be easier for you to allow the caregiver to drive one of your vehicles.

What questions do you ask when interviewing a caregiver?

 
Author’s Note:  I wrote this as a guest post for the blog Mommas Like Me earlier this year.   I am republishing it here, in case you missed the opportunity to read it.