Babysitters

How to hire a babysitter you can trust

A babysitter gets less vetting than any other caregiver — often a friend-of-a-friend and a quick hello at the door. A few deliberate steps close most of that gap.

By Tammy Gold, LCSW
Author of Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin)

Tammy Gold, LCSW, MSW

Columbia University

20 years in childcare placement & training

Book an hour with Tammy — $189 →

Decide what you actually need

Occasional evenings or a regular after-school sitter — the second is closer to a part-time nanny and deserves more screening
Ages and number of children — an infant needs very different experience than a nine-year-old
Driving — if yes, you need a driving record and a clear car-seat and phone policy
Teen or adult — a teen sitter can be wonderful for older kids; infants and multiple young children usually call for an adult

Screen even for a few hours

A short call first: experience with your children's ages, what they'd do if a child got hurt, and how they handle bedtime refusals
At least one reference from a family they've sat for, with a specific question: “What did they do when something went wrong?”
CPR and first aid — ask, and offer to pay for a course for a regular sitter
A paid “mother's helper” shift while you're home before the first solo night

Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer by Tammy Gold, published by Penguin

FROM THE AUTHOR OF SECRETS OF THE NANNY WHISPERER

Guidance from the therapist who wrote the Penguin book on hiring a nanny

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.

Book an hour with Tammy — $189 → Press and media

Leave written house rules

Emergency contacts, address, allergies, and medications
Bedtime routine and what's allowed (screens, snacks, outside)
Who may come to the door — and that no one else comes over
When to call you, and when to call 911 first

What Tammy does with you

Book an hour and Tammy works through whichever step you’re on — with you, and where it helps, directly with your candidate.

Define the job

Duties, hours, and the kind of person your family needs — written down before you look.

Interview candidates

Tammy joins or leads the interview as a second set of eyes and ears.

Check references

Targeted calls that get past “she was great.”

Plan the trial

A structured trial shift, and a debrief on what it showed you.

Create the work agreement

Duties, schedule, pay terms, time off, and house rules in writing.

Onboard well

A first-30-days plan, set up with your new caregiver on the call.

A NEUTRAL EXPERT ON YOUR SIDE

Want an expert's help choosing a regular sitter?

For an after-school or regular sitter, an hour with Tammy covers the job, the interview, and the house rules.

EXPERT SESSION · 60 MINUTES

$189

Define the duties and the person you need
Tammy joins the interview and the reference calls
Build the work agreement and first-30-days plan

Book an hour with Tammy →

FREE

The Nanny Hiring Kit

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.