A great babysitter is a precious resource – and one that’s highly coveted by other families. When date night comes along, or if you have to go out for any reason, making decisions about with whom you can entrust your kids is important. Of course, leaving the kids with a relative is ideal in most cases when they’re nearby, but what if you’ve just moved to a new area? Once you get set up with a pediatrician, you may ask her if she knows of sitters in the area. As you settle into your new neighborhood and get to know your neighbors, ask the parents of teenagers if their kids babysit and are experienced. Likewise, ask the parents of smaller children for the contact information of the sitters they use. If you feel like you’d be more comfortable with an older sitter, then you might try the yellow pages to find a service that pairs up sitters and families. There are many online services that do the same thing; however, vetting and background checks vary, so check into how they check out your sitter before hiring. There are a few ways to tell if your sitter is a keeper.

She doesn’t leave messes, which is not to say she scrubs the house from top to bottom. If your home and children are the same way you left them – or perhaps a little cleaner – then the sitter has done her job. Communicating your housekeeping needs before you leave is ideal so that everyone is on the same page. But don’t expect her to want to come back if you leave a to-do list that is less Mary Poppins and more Molly Maid. Good sitters don’t allow avoidable accidents to happen, like babies falling out of highchairs. Tumbles happen, but a good sitter will safeguard your child as best she can, ensuring that safety gates stay closed and the like. She’ll have respect for your time, and she’ll account for your children’s time by documenting their activities or simply telling you about them. Discuss her payment, leave her important information, like your contact information, and the way you expect your children to behave before you leave, so there’s no doubt as to what’s expected – either by you or your sitter.