Ask A DFW Expert: Find The Perfect Babysitter

Parents need babysitters, but unless they have family members willing to donate their time, many have no idea how to find one. When looking for a babysitter in the DFW area, Kim Winblood, the owner of the Mom's Best Friend Agency nanny service, has some important tips to consider.

Kim Winblood
Mom's Best Friend Agency
2125 North Josey Lane, Suite 100
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 446-0500
momsbestfriend.comKim Winblood is the owner and COO of the Mom's Best Friend Agency, a nanny agency serving the DFW area since 1994. She also operates agencies in Vail, Beaver Creek and Aspen and serves on the board of the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA), a professional organization that establishes and enforces standards in the nanny industry. Winblood has a master's degree from the Dallas Theological Seminary, where she worked her way through school as a nanny before working as a teacher in Dallas for seven years.  With the Mom's Best Friend Agency, one of Winblood's key tasks is to use a selective service to find the best nannies and babysitters in the DFW area. Winblood said that less than 10 percent of all applicants are actually sent out by the company to serve as a nanny. Here are five tips she provided to help find the perfect babysitter.

Understand Your ExpectationsIt is very important, before ever looking for a babysitter, to understand what exactly it is that you want from them and what you expect them to do. While a teenager might be a cheaper alternative, will they really give the child the attention and support that they need? If you want someone who can help the child with homework, feed, bathe and put kids to bed, make sure the person you choose is qualified for that. Also, if you are someone who wants to make sure that the babysitter understands how to deal with emergencies, an older babysitter might be the better choice.  When it comes to the babysitters and nannies that Winblood's agency chooses, they make sure that they have completed some childhood education classes. "In addition to meeting your children's basic needs, they will read books, make crafts and play inside or outside games with your children, and will completely avoid watching television," Winblood said.

The Level Of TrustWinblood said that the first time she left her child with a babysitter, her daughter was two months old. Even owning a nanny agency, she was still anxious to leave her baby with a new babysitter. That made it important when it came to the screening process, because it helped her feel more confident that the babysitter had 12 years of experience and references. "Feeling secure depends on each family, and this factor plays a significant part in narrowing down whether you will go with a word-of-mouth babysitter or an agency," Winblood explained. While some parents have to have someone that they know, others will be happy to have a babysitter who comes recommended by other families. Understand which babysitter you feel more comfortable trusting.

Where To Find A BabysitterOf course, with Winblood as the owner of a nanny agency, she understands how important it is to find quality babysitters who are reliable and trustworthy. She said that one of the first things a parent can do is ask around to friends and family members first. A church community is also a great place for parents to ask around. However, the biggest warning that Winblood has is to avoid Craigslist and online babysitting services. She said that, when it comes to online services, they almost never meet the babysitters, and there is no screening process. If a person can't find a babysitter through word-of-mouth, Winblood says to stick with an actual agency. The sitters who are sent out by agencies have been screened and have willingly gone through a long screening process, meaning they are serious about this career. "Make sure that any agency you use is a member of both the International Nanny Association and more importantly, The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies which enforces standards of professional industry practices," Winfred adds.Related: New Survey Finds Average Amount Paid For Babysitters

Do The LegworkAs mentioned earlier, Winblood believes that a parent needs to understand what she expects from her babysitter, and needs to make sure to get a reliable one. This means that a person looking for someone to care for their child needs to really make sure that the person they choose is the right one. This is important, whether the parent is using someone based on a referral or they are choosing an actual agency. Outside of just meeting the babysitter and interviewing them in person, it also means checking references, seeing actual certificates if they claim to be CPR certified, checking their driver's license and doing an actual criminal background check. "Make sure you always do a criminal background check, even if you use a babysitter that is a friend of the family or a friend of a friend," Winblood said. "Commit to making that a family policy." Winblood recommends using PFC Information Services, which is who she uses.

How Much To PayFor many people, the big question once the babysitter is found comes down to how much to pay. Babysitter rates have risen over the years, and when it comes to professional babysitters, this is their job so a babysitter deserves minimum wage at the least, but many expect more. Winblood said that it is alright to pay the local neighborhood teenager around $8-9 an hour to watch the kids. However, when it comes to a professional adult babysitter with experience and references, expect to pay no less than $11 an hour and even as much as $18 an hour in some cases. Winblood also says that tipping is always a good idea.Related: Despite Economy, Babysitters In Big Demand