Why should parents look for a sitter now for Valentine's Day?

Valentine’s Day is one of the most requested nights for sitters. They are in high demand and go to the highest bidder. Usually young singles are available to babysit on this holiday.

When you are having a hard time finding a sitter, here a couple of suggestions. One idea is you could share a sitter or two by having the children all at one house while you and your friends go out. Another fun idea is to have a party in your own home you can set aside a room for the children with sitters so your guests can bring their children with them to the party but they are cared for in another part of the house so you can enjoy the party but you are nearby if your children need you.

How much should you pay on Valentine’ Day? Rates are higher than normal and start at $23 for one child up $30.25 for 5 children.

Finding a Safe Sitter for the night can be a challenge. You can either choose to do all the work yourself or have SeekingSitters do it for you. SeekingSitters is an on demand sitting referral service. If you choose to find your own sitter here are some guidelines to follow.

1 - Always Conduct an in-person interview with the candidates
At SeekingSitters we interview all sitters in person and perform a thorough reference check before our private investigators begin their screening process. We recommend this process for anyone hiring a child care provider.

2 - Ask the right questions
Make sure to ask questions about the sitter’s experience
- Their reason for wanting to be a sitter – is it solely driven by money or a love of children
- Ask them to describe their experience not just tell you ”yes I have experience”. Ask for details.
- Ask them how they would handle different scenarios with your children. This can help you find out if they really have a love of children or if it is just about money for them.

3 - Verify information
Confirm they have CPR and first aid certification. Of course – the internet and social media can provide some good background information so also check Facebook pages – and Instagram and Twitter as well. Check all references. This is often the most overlooked step, especially if a friend or colleague referred the sitter to you. Be sure to call at least 2-3 references. Follow your instincts when interviewing someone.

4. Perform a background investigation on the sitter

Find a reputable background screening company that screens the following for each applicant: (and screens nationwide)
- Personal character history
- Address history
- Criminal records
- Civil records.
Note: Make sure there’s an actual person – preferably a licensed private investigator - verifying information. Don’t rely on the automated online services. Even a misspelled name can bring back inaccurate or incomplete information. Often online background checks will miss items if a real person is not double checking spellings etc. Most online investigations fail to do this and can often miss very pertinent information. At SeekingSitters we have an in house background investigator doing our background screenings.

Check out www.seekingsitters.com for more services available.

Have a safe and fun Valentine’s Day.