Category :

Babysitting Vetting Guide

Tags: ,
Babysitting Vetting Guide babysitter sitting with child reading.

Babysitting Vetting Guide for traveling families.

Destination Sitters is a babysitting resource for ON-THE-GO families. Whether you are traveling for leisure, business a wedding or an event this time you can bring your children. We only refer pre-screened and trusted sitters at your travel destination – we come directly to your hotel, vacation rental, Airbnb or event venue! Our screening requirements below or call 888-SIT-KIDz (888-748-5439)

Babysitting Vetting Guide for home sitting.

If you are looking for local sitters, a great place to start might be your own neighborhood. If any of your neighbors have teen-aged kids, they would probably love extra spending money; it is a win-win situation for both of you.

However, there are some requirements to think about:

Especially if you have younger children, make sure the babysitter you entrust your children to is capable of taking care of them. It does not matter how responsible a teenager is, a 4-month-old baby will likely be a challenge.

Having a sitter who is first aid and CPR certified will allow you to relax a little more when you leave your children with them.

Make sure you leave your sitter with all the information they would need – snack information, meal information, allergies, bath times, story times, bedtimes, and of course, contact information in case of an emergency.

Rules are also important for the sitter to know – no ice cream, no TV after 8:00 PM, whether or not the sitter can drive your children anywhere, etc.

It is important to remember that, especially if you have a young sitter, these babysitters do not have children of their own, and may not have had young siblings. Some people are naturals with children, but for others, what is a mother’s common sense does not even cross their minds. Being explicit in directions, particularly if using a sitter for the first time, is imperative.  

Written instructions are best.

The YMCA and Red Cross both offer babysitting classes that provide tips on sitting for children of different ages. Finding a sitter who has taken a class like this is a bonus.  If someone is going to be a regular babysitter for you, suggest they take the class! Maybe you even pay for it!

Of course, your own personal vetting process is needed for your sitter, and you may decide to be as thorough as we are. At the least, you should consider interviewing them and/or their parents, or neighbors who have known them longer, to see if there is anything you should know about before asking them to take care of your children. we hope these suggestion help in the process of finding a sitter that meets your family’s needs.

REMEMBER – if and when you are traveling with your children Destination Sitters is here for you!

We performs ALL the screening for you!

Destination Sitters are:

  • CPR certified
  • First Aid certified
  • background checks,
  • drug tests
  • TB negative
  • reference checked – personal & professional
  • before being selected for our referral list.

Our screening standards Give Parents Peace of Mind® when traveling with their children. We think it is important to fully screen all of our sitters before asking them to sit your children.

We don’t sit, we play! ®

Our Service Areas: San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Greater Palm Springs, San Francisco, Silicon Valley/San Jose, Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando Florida to serve your family travel needs.

Suggestion for traveling with your kids, National Child Abuse Prevention

Share This Article!

About the Author: Yvonne Wonder

As the founder and managing director of Destination Sitters, LLC, a national hotel and event babysitting service, and the mother of two children, I strongly believe that family comes first. I personally needed babysitting when I moved to San Diego 14 years ago. Like most parents, I assumed there were standards for temporary babysitting; in reality, there are no state standards or licensing requirements for temporary babysitting. The idea for Destination Sitters was born! I wanted to Give Parents Peace of Mind® when traveling with their children, so I created strict screening requirements for the sitters we refer. There is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from getting great professional help to care for your children, especially when traveling away from home. I and my partners, along with our office staff, have that one goal in mind with everything we do. Through the years of working with children, I have been inspired to write three books, and this blog for parents’ and children’s wellbeing. I believe the best way to teach a child is leading by example, with love, honesty, integrity, compassion, perseverance, and personal responsibility. Learning these values and teaching children that all women and men are equal will encourage them to dream big to be anything they want to be! An entrepreneur for over 35 years, I previously spent years running a construction and design company with two offices in California and built million-dollar estates and remodeled existing ones. For three and half years, I was one of the primary designers on HGTV’s Curb Appeal. I have also been published in books, magazines and newspapers, and have been a featured designer in multiple showcase houses.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get helpful tips and advice for traveling with kids.