How to get the best babysitter for your child

Tardiness is another major babysitting gripe. Try to make it home when you say you’re going to (especially on a school night). If you are late, pay generously for the extra time. ''I babysat for one parent who ended up staying out until five in the morning,'' says Michelle. ''He finally called at 3:30 and told me to go to bed!''

Make it a point to let your sitter know how much you and your children appreciate her. ''I love getting little presents and cards from the kids on birthdays and special occasions,'' says Michelle. It’s a good idea to offer the occasional incentive, too, says Douglas. ''It could be a $100 Blockbuster gift certificate to pick up movies to watch when the kids are in bed. You want your sitter to feel valued because there are times when your kids aren’t going to make her feel that way.''

Prepping the perfect sitter
Your tween has her eye on an Xbox 360 and making the cash to get it. But before your child is ready to babysit someone else's child, you want to be sure she has the necessary skills. Here's how to help make it a safe and rewarding experience for everyone.

Be prepared
While there's no legal age for babysitting, 12 is a good jumping-off point, although some kids are clearly not ready until they’re in their teens, says Wilson. ''It depends on their maturity and the number and ages of the children they'll be babysitting.'' Experts recommend taking one of the many babysitting courses available. ''Not only does it help your kids prepare for their actual role as a babysitter, but it also gets them to really think about what it means and the responsibilities that go with it,'' says Wilson.

A sense of security is key when starting out. Marryn took jobs only in her immediate neighbourhood so her mother could help her out if need be. You also want to be sure that your junior sitter doesn’t take on more than she can realistically handle. Babysitting a six-month-old is different than babysitting a six-year-old. Your tween may feel a lot more comfortable playing Candy Land than changing dirty diapers.

Take the job seriously
Impress on your tween the importance of acting professionally. She should always arrive on time and clean up after herself and her young charges. ''I've told my daughter to put the dishes away if she’s making the kids lunch or a snack, and to make sure their toys are tidied up when the parents get home,'' says Connie Johnson, a mother of two in Dartmouth, N.S. ''I didn't appreciate it when my kids were younger and I'd come home and the house was topsy-turvy.'' Remind her to get specific information from the parents about the children's routines (bedtime, food, activities, toileting) and the house rules for computer and TV use, visitors and telephone calls.

Part of becoming a professional and safe babysitter is being mature enough to recognize your limitations and to be true to your instincts, says Wilson. ''Just because someone offers you the job doesn't mean you have to take it.'' When Connie’s 16-year-old daughter, Nicole, was asked to babysit until three o’clock in the morning, she decided to turn the job down. Neither she nor her mother was comfortable with her being out that late. ''The parent understood, and I thought it was very respectful of her to call and forewarn Nicole,'' says Connie.

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