You don't need an hour-long interview for a sitter. You need a handful of questions that show how they think when something goes wrong.
Specific and calm. A good sitter describes steps — “I'd put pressure on it, check how deep it is, then call you” — rather than reassurance. The best sign is someone who knows the limits of what they should handle alone and says so.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Before a first solo night, pay for a short shift while you're home. Ten minutes of watching how a sitter talks to your child tells you more than any answer. The full babysitter hiring checklist.
An hour with Tammy: the right questions for your children, and a read on the candidate.
$189
Screening call, reference questions, clinical interview, and trial-day checklist.
Download free ↓Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 · info@caremapmethod.com
Tammy is not an agency and has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any sitter service. Legal, tax, visa, and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or agency.