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The Babysitter Next Door
Choosing a Responsible Tween or Teen Sitter for Your Baby or Toddler
By Kelly Burgess
"My only requirement of a sitter is that they play with the kids and have fun," Masson says. "Since the kids are getting so much attention they rarely act up, so discipline really has never been a problem."
It's not unusual for children to cry when their parent's leave, so this isn't necessarily a bad sign. However, if you receive a lot of complaints about the child from the sitter, or the sitter from the child, this may indicate that it's not a good fit. Masson knew she had the right sitter because her children cried when the sitter left.
"One of the things I do is ask the kids if they want to give the sitter a hug before she leaves," Masson says. "If they do, then I figure she's doing OK. If they don't, then I may question why. I always ask what they've done and if they had a good time, and at this age they are pretty honest about it."
Last, but not least, be prepared to pay a good sitter well. While part of the training Currin imparts covers the entrepreneurial nature of being a babysitter, including setting an hourly wage, it's important to be sure that wage is fair. After all, this person is watching over your most important possession, so she's worth it.
