5 Key Traits to Look for in a Full-time Sitter

I remember before my husband and I got married we decided to do a few sessions of marriage counseling where our pastor asked us what we would do if we had kids. I was working as a hostess at a restaurant and my husband was working construction- both part time while we were going to college. We just laughed and said it wouldn't happen any time soon... We were pregnant 7 months after we got married. The universe has a funny way of making a fool out of us sometimes doesn't it?

 After my first daughter was born I stayed home with her for six months before I started a job at a gym part-time. My husband's aunt's and mother were able to watch her while I worked 6 hour shifts. We didn't have too much trouble finding a sitter until I started my first full-time job at a local hospital. We've been through several sitters since then and LOVE the one we chose. I've put together 5 Key Traits to Look for when you choose one:

1. Look for a sitter in your general area- I drive about 15 minutes out of my way daily and I wouldn't necessarily drive anymore than that. (Any extra driving time is just less time you get to sleep in!) 

2. Look for a sitter that comes highly recommended- Having a first-hand account from someone you know personally can give you a lot more peace of mind than you would think. Reach out to your Facebook friends and I promise you'll get more than a few suggestions. (I think three people tagged the sitter I ended up choosing on a single post- that really stood out to me)

3. Choose a sitter your child enjoys being with- It may sound like a given but I haven't always appreciated how much my child loves her babysitter. We have tried more than one other sitter but Zoey has never been happier than the sitter she has now. Her face actually lights up when I say she gets to go there, and there is no better feeling than knowing she is genuinely happy where she is.

4. Find a sitter with LOTS of experience- Especially if you have newborn- Everyone knows newborns cry... Mine personally cried basically all day everyday so finding a sitter I knew could handle him and his sister at the same time seemed impossible. If you're babysitter is seasoned in their game they've probably seen their fair share of colicky babies. I literally cried the day before I sent Sonny for the first time thinking my sitter would have him for one day and decide she couldn't handle him but (thankfully) my sitter is patient and has been doing this for a good while! (It also helps that my sitter has a helper!)

5. The biggest key to a good sitter is DEPENDABILITY- If you're like me and you don't exactly have a super "flexible" job you probably know what it's like to have to call into work or scramble for a last minute sitter just to get to go to work. I have to work to get paid and in order to work I have to have a sitter. One of the best things about my sitter is that there hasn't been a time where she's last minute called and said she couldn't sit. Unless you've had a sitter who isn't- you have NO idea how hard it is to have an unreliable sitter. I can't stress it enough how important this is. 

Leaving your kids with anyone who isn't yourself is hard enough. I personally have this irrational fear of some crazy natural disaster happening while I'm at work and my kids not being taken care of... Of course we can't live in fear but trust me when I say that finding a good sitter is one of the most important decisions you'll have to make as a working mommy. We have been so blessed to have an awesome sitter and amazing family too for backup! 

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