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| |    Finding a Babysitter by Susan E. Davis reviewed by Connie Harvey When it comes to babysitting, I've encountered parents who never could leave their child in the care of another-even a family member-for more than a couple of hours without wallowing in fear and guilt. I've also known others who routinely tap the nearest available neighborhood teenager without knowing anything about her character and credentials. Most parents, I suspect, lie somewhere in between: They'd like to get out with their spouse, friends, or even on their own from time to time, but they'd also like to make sure that their children will be in good hands while they're gone. A leap of faith Finding someone you trust with your kids is a tall order. After all, this person must safeguard, entertain, and care for your children in your absence. There will probably be meals and snacks to serve, diapers to change, baths to give, and rules to enforce. You worry that your kids will miss you when you're gone. You worry that the house will catch on fire or that your child will be accidentally injured and the babysitter won't know what to do. You worry that the sweet-faced teenager waving bye-bye with Baby in her arms will turn into a neglectful or even abusive fiend the minute you pull out of the driveway. Still, you know that you can't hover over your child every moment like some sort of guardian angel, and that it's healthy for both parents and children to have a little downtime from each other occasionally. So how do you find a sitter who is kind, competent, and compassionate? Family members and friends can mind the domestic front sometimes, of course, and you may be lucky enough to live in an area where parents swap babysitting services. Sometimes staffers from your child's daycare or preschool facility are happy to sit during evening hours. But most parents end up using local preteens and teenagers to care for their children. Read on to learn the art and science of choosing, preparing, and employing a young person to care for your little ones.
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