The One Thing Every Great Babysitter Needs

What’s one of the most important things a babysitter needs to bring with her on a job?

It doesn’t cost any money.

It doesn’t take up any space in her tote bag.

But every parent is looking for it.

A good attitude!

Watch this short video to find out the top 3 tips to having a great attitude about babysitting.

Once upon a time, before there was an amazing training program for babysitters, I hired a babysitter for my children — and I just didn’t feel good about it.

Don’t get me wrong. I had left my children with other babysitters before, but there was just something about this one babysitter that made me wonder. I didn’t know her as well as I knew our family’s favorite sitters. Was she really there to provide excellent child care for my kids? How would I know?

The only thing a parent has to go by is the first impression a babysitter gives and — if they’re lucky — recommendations from other parents.

And this sitter’s first impression wasn’t great. Unfortunately, she wasn’t very cheery and she didn’t really act interested in my kids.  While she was a neighborhood girl, she just didn’t know a lot about talking care of children.  (And in her defense, she was the youngest child in her family — she just hadn’t had much practice yet!)

Needless to say, I didn’t stay out long… So, what was I looking for in that first impression?

Top 3 Things a Babysitter Needs to Be Great

Here are my top 3 attributes that I think every babysitter needs to be great, and it’s what I personally looked for:

1. Attitude

Attitude is everything. Jane and Michael Banks had it right… I wanted someone babysitting with a smile and a cheery disposition, a sitter who I was sure wanted to be there with my kids.

2. An Engaging Personality

I wanted a babysitter who’d bend down on her knees to meet my child eye to eye. When I see babysitters do this, I am confident they are there for the right reasons.

3. “Baby-Player”

Now, I know we call them babysitters, but I actually wanted a caregiver who would be a baby-player — a guy or gal who would sit and play dolls with my little girl or crash dinosaurs with my little boy.  Not someone just sitting around watching my kids play, but a babysitter who actually plays with my kids!

There’s a lot more to babysitting than you might think, and that’s why I wrote the babysitting certification program Babysitting 101.

Do you have a nightmare babysitting story to share? What characteristics are you looking for in a great babysitter? Tell us in the comments!

READ NEXT: 5 Babysitter Tote Bage Must Have’s to Make You Great with the Kids!

About Julie Hunt
I’ve lived a full life with many unimaginable joys and heartache like you wouldn’t believe. Our blog exists to encourage folks to slow down, chill out, and love more.