Consider asking the following questions to a potential babysitter or caregiver for your baby:
General
How long have you been a caregiver?
Do you have experience caring for a baby or a newborn?
What is your availability? Are you ever available on short notice? Are you flexible if I am running late?
Do you have a wage requirement?
Do you have reliable transportation?
Do you have any allergies that we need to be aware of (food, pet)?
Are you willing to care for a pet / cook / clean / do light housework / [insert task] while caring for the baby?
Can you share a reference?
Health and Safety
Do you understand safety standards for newborn sleep?
Do you have experience changing a baby? Are you comfortable handling a blowout?
Do you have experience bathing a baby? Are you comfortable keeping the bath safe?
Have you prepared and sterilized a bottle of breastmilk and/or formula for a baby?
Are you comfortable with BLW (baby led weaning) and/or spoon feeding? Have you spoon-fed or supervised a baby eating before? Are you familiar with foods that cause choking?
How would you handle a difficult situation, like the baby crying uncontrollably?
Are you trained in CPR? First Aid? Do you have any formal safety or child care certifications?
Are you comfortable taking action if my child is choking?
COVID-19
Will you contact me if you or someone with whom you have been in close contact tests positive for COVID-19?
Will you contact me if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms?
Have you traveled outside the area recently? Will you let me know if you do?
Do you practice physical distancing and wear a face covering or mask in public places?
Will you respect our family standards during COVID-19 (e.g. staying at home or in the yard with the baby, avoiding indoor/outdoor group settings including grocery stores and restaurants, practicing physical distancing if you take the baby for a walk or to the park, not having other visitors to the home)?
