Deciding who minds your children while you’re at work or enjoying time away is not an easy task. New parents especially have a hard time leaving their children with “just anyone.”

The selection process for a babysitter should be thoughtful. Recommendations are great, but there’s really no way to truly know what goes on when you leave your child in the care of someone else. Spare yourself the hassle of setting up a nanny cam while you’re away and use your instincts.

Here are some things we look for when we’re qualifying a really good babysitter that you may want to consider!

She gets really happy to see your kid

It’s relatively easy to sense whether your babysitter loves being around your child or not. Do they seem excited to see your child or does their disposition seem unchanged when your child walks into the room. Her love for spending time with your son or daughter should shine through at a glance.

Your child seems to take a liking to your sitter

As your child spends more time with his or caregiver a relationship will start to develop. Pay attention to how your child is warming up to their sitter. This is a bigger indicator of how much your child trusts and loves his babysitter than any testimonial you could ever receive. If your child doesn’t seem comfortable after a few sessions, this could be an indicator that their personalities don’t mesh well.

She wants to stay connected

Good babysitters present ways for you to reach them when you’re away and she keeps you in the loop every chance she gets. She may leave notes or give you a written recap of what they did while you were gone. This shows how dedicated she is to caring for your child. She may even tell you about problems your child is facing and present areas that need improvement. This is a sign of a truly invested babysitter. If she isn’t giving you updates, that’s not always bad either. Some babysitters fear stepping on the parent’s toes. If you have questions, be sure to ask!

She’s punctual and responsible

It’s very important that your babysitter respects your time and takes her job seriously. Your sitter should be arriving on time and respecting any boundaries you may have set. If she isn’t, this could be a sign that she’s not qualified.

If your babysitter is displaying these signs, you shouldn’t worry. You’ve probably got yourself a keeper. If not, perhaps you can get a head start on installing that hidden nanny-camera system after all! Tell us how you found your babysitter on our Facebook page ! 

Written by Alicia Overby - Founder & President of Baby Elephant Ears

Alicia is wife, mother, and creator of Baby Elephant Ears. Baby Elephant Ears was created out of parental concern, not financial desire. In 2005, when their second child was an infant, he cried all the time and just couldn't seem to get comfortable.

After seeking advice and suggestion from the medical community and alternative medicine, they eventually ended up in the chiropractors office where their baby was successfully treated for asubluxation, discomfort most likely the result of the strain during labor, which was now being exacerbated by the normal lack of infant neck strength. Only proper neck, head, and back alignment would offer him relief. When they couldn't find a product to give their baby the necessary support, Alicia took matters into her own hands and crafted her own infant support pillow. The first Baby Elephant Ears was born!

For more information, visit www.babyelephantears.com.

Interested in writing a guest blog for Baby Elephant Ears? Send your topic idea to pr@babyelephantears.com.

All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Baby Elephant Ears makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, current-ness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.