How to trial an evening babysitter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MBs are just uncomfortable with the role reversal when it comes to hiring evening sitters. You have lots of nannies to choose from for day job, and jobs are in demand. However evening sitting job are a dime a dozen, and if you are high maintenance, cheap, sloppy, you leave me with nothing to eat, or your kids are misbehaved, there are 10 more families where you came from. Like others have said, I have a 4 hour minimum for sitting gigs, and I'm not going to waste my time with a mom who wants me to come hang out for $20. So she can see if I'm capable of microwaving dinner and putting a child to bed? Please.

Preach.

[Anonymous]

The word "trial" is NOT a verb but a noun.

[Anonymous]

Basically this. I'm happy to have a lengthy phone conversation, provide a reference or two, and come over as early as you want. Maybe if I live nearby I'll stop by for a half hour meet-and-greet but that's it. Anything else is excessive for a job that consists of serving dinner and putting kids to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basically this. I'm happy to have a lengthy phone conversation, provide a reference or two, and come over as early as you want. Maybe if I live nearby I'll stop by for a half hour meet-and-greet but that's it. Anything else is excessive for a job that consists of serving dinner and putting kids to bed.

+1

[Anonymous]

We had our babysitter come over for an interview--maybe 30 minutes or so--and let her hold the baby, etc. We didn't pay, but we didn't have her watch the baby for an extended period of time. We discussed her experience, rates, background, etc., and also just watched how she interacted with the baby and how the baby responded to her. She came recommended by our neighbors, as well. I thought that was enough. The first job, she came early so that we could walk her through the bedtime routine, etc., and give her time to get settled with the baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had our babysitter come over for an interview--maybe 30 minutes or so--and let her hold the baby, etc. We didn't pay, but we didn't have her watch the baby for an extended period of time. We discussed her experience, rates, background, etc., and also just watched how she interacted with the baby and how the baby responded to her. She came recommended by our neighbors, as well. I thought that was enough. The first job, she came early so that we could walk her through the bedtime routine, etc., and give her time to get settled with the baby.

This sounds reasonable to me but the nannies here are saying they wouldn't be willing to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had our babysitter come over for an interview--maybe 30 minutes or so--and let her hold the baby, etc. We didn't pay, but we didn't have her watch the baby for an extended period of time. We discussed her experience, rates, background, etc., and also just watched how she interacted with the baby and how the baby responded to her. She came recommended by our neighbors, as well. I thought that was enough. The first job, she came early so that we could walk her through the bedtime routine, etc., and give her time to get settled with the baby.

This sounds reasonable to me but the nannies here are saying they wouldn't be willing to do that.

Which nannies?

[Anonymous]

I certainly wouldn't drive across town to do that, but if they lived nearby, no biggie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had our babysitter come over for an interview--maybe 30 minutes or so--and let her hold the baby, etc. We didn't pay, but we didn't have her watch the baby for an extended period of time. We discussed her experience, rates, background, etc., and also just watched how she interacted with the baby and how the baby responded to her. She came recommended by our neighbors, as well. I thought that was enough. The first job, she came early so that we could walk her through the bedtime routine, etc., and give her time to get settled with the baby.

This sounds reasonable to me but the nannies here are saying they wouldn't be willing to do that.

The thing is, I've done it in the past when I was brand new. I'd get prepared for a sitting interview the same as I would for a nanny job. I'd hand over references, have my resume ready, spend my time and gas going to your house for an interview and often unpaid trial with your kids. Then I work for you once, because you thought you'd have time to go out regularly, you thought you wanted a weekly date night with your husband, but the reality is you might go out once every month or two. That's absolutely fine and I will keep you on my roster of clients. I will not, however, waste my time on an interview and trial for a semi annual sitting job. Again, there are TONS of sitting jobs out there and your one job isn't the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had our babysitter come over for an interview--maybe 30 minutes or so--and let her hold the baby, etc. We didn't pay, but we didn't have her watch the baby for an extended period of time. We discussed her experience, rates, background, etc., and also just watched how she interacted with the baby and how the baby responded to her. She came recommended by our neighbors, as well. I thought that was enough. The first job, she came early so that we could walk her through the bedtime routine, etc., and give her time to get settled with the baby.

This sounds reasonable to me but the nannies here are saying they wouldn't be willing to do that.

If you find a sitter on Craigslist, you should absolutely expect her to come over for an interview/trial run.
If a babysitter is recommended by a trusted friend, however, having her come over 30 minutes prior to your departure is sufficient.
I only babysit for clients who have been referred to me.
I have had a few potential clients ask for me to come over for an interview. Every single client who has required an interview has been a high-maintenance, inconsiderate PITA. I just won't do it anymore.
If I come recommended, that's enough.
If your friend gave me your number, I obviously know what I'm doing.
I (and most good sitters) have a large number of clients who don't require us to run to the ends of the earth to prove that we are capable of playing hide and seek and putting chicken fingers in the oven.

[Anonymous]

*gave you my number

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had our babysitter come over for an interview--maybe 30 minutes or so--and let her hold the baby, etc. We didn't pay, but we didn't have her watch the baby for an extended period of time. We discussed her experience, rates, background, etc., and also just watched how she interacted with the baby and how the baby responded to her. She came recommended by our neighbors, as well. I thought that was enough. The first job, she came early so that we could walk her through the bedtime routine, etc., and give her time to get settled with the baby.

This sounds reasonable to me but the nannies here are saying they wouldn't be willing to do that.

The thing is, I've done it in the past when I was brand new. I'd get prepared for a sitting interview the same as I would for a nanny job. I'd hand over references, have my resume ready, spend my time and gas going to your house for an interview and often unpaid trial with your kids. Then I work for you once, because you thought you'd have time to go out regularly, you thought you wanted a weekly date night with your husband, but the reality is you might go out once every month or two. That's absolutely fine and I will keep you on my roster of clients. I will not, however, waste my time on an interview and trial for a semi annual sitting job. Again, there are TONS of sitting jobs out there and your one job isn't the end of the world.

I agree completely. Do parents know how easy it is to find babysitting jobs?
If I merely mention to a parent that I'm a nanny, they ask if I babysit. I get 2-3 emails DAILY with offers of babysitting jobs.
My time is valuable. If you require me to interview and trial babysit, you're costing me money.

[Anonymous]

What I find interesting is that the nannies can not seem to give any helpful advice specifically related to what would be best for the kids. Immediately the responses go to "what are you paying?!" Or "that's hardly worth MY time!"

If you would choose not to take a job that requires spending some (paid) time with the kids and parents first, that is absolutely your right not to. But there are people who are happy to do it. The question was not would YOU be willing to do zyz, it was what is the best way of going about this? It's really disturbing how little regard some nannies here have for the children's welfare. This sort of attitude makes me even more weary of who I will trust with my kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I find interesting is that the nannies can not seem to give any helpful advice specifically related to what would be best for the kids. Immediately the responses go to "what are you paying?!" Or "that's hardly worth MY time!"

If you would choose not to take a job that requires spending some (paid) time with the kids and parents first, that is absolutely your right not to. But there are people who are happy to do it. The question was not would YOU be willing to do zyz, it was what is the best way of going about this? It's really disturbing how little regard some nannies here have for the children's welfare. This sort of attitude makes me even more weary of who I will trust with my kids

Please! While I am babysitting, the well-being and safety of your child is my one and only priority.
The nannies who responded to this post are being honest. If you don't like it, that is your issue.

[Anonymous]

What I find interesting is that the nannies can not seem to give any helpful advice specifically related to what would be best for the kids. Immediately the responses go to "what are you paying?!" Or "that's hardly worth MY time!"

If you would choose not to take a job that requires spending some (paid) time with the kids and parents first, that is absolutely your right not to. But there are people who are happy to do it. The question was not would YOU be willing to do zyz, it was what is the best way of going about this? It's really disturbing how little regard some nannies here have for the children's welfare. This sort of attitude makes me even more weary of who I will trust with my kids

The nannies here don't care about anything other than the money. They also seem to think they can command whatever rate they want. Whatever. Everyone who lives in the real world knows better.