When a Reliable Babysitter is Needed!

There comes a time when every parent faces the fact that he or she needs a babysitter. Even if these parents are surrounded by friends and family who are more than happy to care for the child in question on a regular basis, there will come a day when everyone is busy or otherwise engaged and he realizes that a there is a babysitter needed.  What should you do in times like this?  What do you do when you've asked your friends for recommendations and nobody is available?  How can you find a babysitter when you are in desperate need of one?Some parents will hastily post a "babysitter" needed ad online at local web-based bulletin boards like Craigslist or Kajiji or the boards for their local government websites.  Some of these parents will start calling the numbers that have been posted on similar ads that advertise babysitting services.  It is important that, if you take the internet route to finding a babysitter, you take extra precaution to ensure that you and your children are not victimized by a predator or scam artist.  One of the best ways to do this, when you find that you are in a "babysitter needed" situation is to start contacting your local babysitting or nanny placing agencies.  A lot of these businesses advertise online and have websites and, most importantly, some specialize in always having a sitter or nanny available to help out parents who need a babysitter on a last minute basis.  The nice thing about utilizing one of these companies is your ability to thoroughly check it out.  You can make sure that the company is registered with your local governmental authorities.  You can do a check through the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed.  You can even do a search for reviews of these companies that have been made on personal blogs and websites.  It is far easier to check out a babysitting or nanny placing agency than it is to do a background check on a single individual applying to fill your "babysitter needed" position.  Single entities can lie about their personal information and catching them in that lie can be almost impossible.    Of course not every person who answers a "babysitter needed" ad is out to get you but in this day and age when danger seems to be everywhere, it is a good idea to thoroughly check out all of your prospects. Ask every babysitter you are considering hiring for resumes, personal and professional references and, if you are so inclined, permission to do a background or criminal records check.  If the babysitter is offended or refuses to give permission simply move on to someone who does not refuse.  Any babysitter who is worth hiring will understand why you are being so thorough and will be happy to comply.  It wasn't that long ago that people felt comfortable leaving their kids with the neighbors when they couldn't find a sitter or even leaving them at home alone if the kids were old enough.  Now, when parents find that they need a babysitter, they need to be much more careful about whom they hire.