Hiring a Teen Babysitter

[Anonymous]

I'm a single dad in my mid-30s; my son is about to turn two in a couple of months. I recently moved to a new neighborhood in Silver Spring and a high school-aged babysitter in the neighborhood was recommended to me by my next-door neighbor. My neighbor, a woman, gave me the girl's number so I can contact her about possibly babysitting in a couple of weeks.

I assume (perhaps wrongly) that the number is the girl's cell phone since all the teens I see in the area have them. Question: Do I reach out to the girl via text and ask about her availability? It seems slightly odd, but maybe I'm being overly cautious due to recent events in the news. What's the proper protocol here?

[Anonymous]

Text her and tell her who you are and how you got her number. Ask her if she is free to babysit on the dates you need. If she is, arrange to meet her so she can meet your kid, etc.

[Anonymous]

Hi Jena? I'm Tim - Regina Philange gave me your # - she said you're a great babysitter. I have a 2 yr old boy - can you tell me your rate if you're interested?

[Anonymous]

You might also want to include your email address and your last name in case her parent wants to get in touch with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might also want to include your email address and your last name in case her parent wants to get in touch with you.

+1 Specifically say, “ In case your parents have any questions....”.

Also, I’m glad you’re so sensitive to the situation.

[Anonymous]

Still ask her for references and talk with her parents so they know who you are. And make sure she shows you her ID card from the American Red Cross babysitter training.
How will she get to your house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still ask her for references and talk with her parents so they know who you are. And make sure she shows you her ID card from the American Red Cross babysitter training.
How will she get to your house?

OP here. Thanks for the advice everyone. My house is easily walkable from hers.

[Anonymous]

BTW OP - there are no such thing as landlines anymore. And your two year old will want a phone by the time he's four.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely make sure her parents are in the loop! When I hired teenage babysitters and their parents did not know what was going on, they often did not show up. If the parents knew about the babysitting job, the kid always showed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a single dad in my mid-30s; my son is about to turn two in a couple of months. I recently moved to a new neighborhood in Silver Spring and a high school-aged babysitter in the neighborhood was recommended to me by my next-door neighbor. My neighbor, a woman, gave me the girl's number so I can contact her about possibly babysitting in a couple of weeks.

I assume (perhaps wrongly) that the number is the girl's cell phone since all the teens I see in the area have them. Question: Do I reach out to the girl via text and ask about her availability? It seems slightly odd, but maybe I'm being overly cautious due to recent events in the news. What's the proper protocol here?

While using a teen is fine I would also look into using adults as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW OP - there are no such thing as landlines anymore. And your two year old will want a phone by the time he's four.

Yes there are. Plenty of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW OP - there are no such thing as landlines anymore. And your two year old will want a phone by the time he's four.

Yes there are. Plenty of them.

We have one. And my 4 year old didn’t know what a cell phone even was!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still ask her for references and talk with her parents so they know who you are. And make sure she shows you her ID card from the American Red Cross babysitter training.
How will she get to your house?

OP here. Thanks for the advice everyone. My house is easily walkable from hers.

Make sure she understands that you will not be walking with her home at night since you are a single dad and will be staying on your property with your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still ask her for references and talk with her parents so they know who you are. And make sure she shows you her ID card from the American Red Cross babysitter training.
How will she get to your house?

OP here. Thanks for the advice everyone. My house is easily walkable from hers.

Make sure she understands that you will not be walking with her home at night since you are a single dad and will be staying on your property with your child.

Because it would be impossible for him to walk her home and bring the kid with him?

[Anonymous]

OP - I think you may also want to put out your feelers for a college or young adult sitter. Also, Silver Spring is a variable area even within a couple of streets so you need to consider the safety of a teen walking home alone and not be out late at night when you use her. Just how far is her home from yours?
We are up there often to see our daughter.