How to Find a Caregiver Agencies, ads in local newspapers, and other parents can provide you with names.
(In fact, more names than you probably want.
) You also might get some good leads from your paediatrician, a local preschool and daycare center bulletin board, or by asking caregivers you like.
Even if you think you have found the caregiver of your dreams on the first interview, I'd recommend still seeing a handful of people.
The more people you talk to, the more perspective you will gain.
But there is a point at which too many interviews can become confusing.
Recalls one mother: "My husband and I interviewed thirty people.
I kept thinking there must be the perfect person somewhere out there.
But I got so burned out, I couldn't tell who I liked.
I ended up hiring someone who had worked for a friend of a friend.
This caregiver has turned out to be really good for us.
" It is easy to feel overwhelmed.
Many parents tell me that an ad in a local paper can bring in dozens of calls.
In this case an answering machine can help with initial screening if applicants are asked to leave their years of experience and references.
Says one father: "Of the dozens of responses I got from my ad, I called back only four people.
I crossed off many names right away because they didn't have experience or because they ignored my questions on the answering machine.
Some people also just sounded out of it.
" Of course, it can be reassuring to hire the caregiver that your best friend used.
But even this close connection doesn't guarantee that your family's needs will be met.
People have different expectations and likes.
Says one father: "We hired the caregiver of a prominent paediatrician.
We felt that if this person was good enough for her, she would be perfect for us.
Guess what? Not only did we find the caregiver's personality grating, but we really didn't trust her.
She seemed forgetful and lazy.
" Keep in mind when you call past references that many people give unjustified rave reviews.
Why? Perhaps they feel guilty because they fired the person, or perhaps they think he or she was good enough.
You have to be very specific with a former employer to get a true perspective.
Try asking how often the caregiver was late or sick, what his or her favourite activity with the children was, whether the caregiver made playdates, whether he or she was flexible about staying in the evenings, if the caregiver came to work cranky or was bothered when a child wouldn't listen, and if the parents found it easy to talk to the caregiver about their children.
Don't rush to make a decision.
If you lose a caregiver because you didn't hire him or her on the spot, so be it.
There is another person out there for your family.
You want to give yourself ample time to feel comfortable and satisfied.
Sample Advertisement Looking for a warm, loving, honest caregiver to live out/in.
Must have experience working with toddlers.
English a prerequisite.
Recent references with phone numbers.
Nonsmoker.