What to ask a babysitter you've never met
A short checklist of questions worth asking before you hand over the keys for the first time — and what good answers actually sound like.
Booking a sitter you’ve never met is always a leap. A short pre-shift conversation — by message or phone — closes most of the gap.
Here are the questions worth asking, and what a good answer actually sounds like.
1. Tell me about a tough moment with a child you’ve looked after.
Look for: a real story, told in their own words, where they describe what they did and what they’d do differently. Avoid: generic answers (“I just stayed calm”).
2. What would you do if my child wouldn’t stop crying?
Look for: a tiered answer — comfort first, distraction, check basic needs, contact you only if it persists. Avoid: jumping straight to “I’d call you.”
3. Have you done paediatric first aid recently?
Look for: a specific course name and rough date. Most caregivers re-do this every 1–3 years.
4. Are you OK with our screen-time rules / food rules / bedtime routine?
This is more about confirming alignment than testing them. Make your rules clear up front.
5. How do you usually get to bookings?
For local sitters this is small talk. For longer drives it’s a real reliability check.
6. What time will you arrive?
Aim for 10 minutes early. Anyone who tells you they’ll “cut it close” is telling you something useful.
A 5-minute message exchange before a first booking is one of the highest-leverage things you can do. If anything feels off, decline — that’s exactly what the cancel button is for.