Even the most dedicated parents will eventually come to terms with the fact that adults need a little rest and relaxation time without kids. In the movies, families have a babysitter on call. When mom and dad want to go out to dinner, they pick up the phone and make a call. A babysitter, usually a teenage girl they have known forever, knocks on the door almost immediately and the fun begins. But how do these parents find the babysitter they have on speed dial?

Friends and Family
Ask around to see if any friends or family members have a regular babysitter or a child ready to make a few extra dollars babysitting once in a while. Remember some preteens are more mature than teens, so interview (or at least have a talk with) the babysitting candidate before calling them for date night.

Local Day Care
Local day care businesses are full of professional child care providers. You may be surprised to find a few part-time workers willing to babysit for extra cash. Talk with the employee’s supervisor before making the final call, if possible.

Babysitting Websites
The majority of homes in the United States now have an internet connection and computer. With the explosion of the internet came a vast number of websites offering to connect parents with prescreened babysitters. Choose a trusted website with years of reviews and practice safe contact using the email system on the website prior to meeting face to face.

Social Media
You have more than 500 friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – how many of those friends live in your local community? Contact friends using social media for leads on local babysitters with a stellar record. You may find a friend has an older child ready and willing to babysit as needed.

Before the advent and popularity of the internet, parents had to ask around in hopes of finding a trustworthy babysitter for a date night or late night business meeting. These days, the internet can provide instant background checks and websites designed to screen and advertise local babysitters; finding the right care providers is literally now only a few seconds away. Even though finding a babysitter online is quick and easy, you must follow safety rules prior to meeting the babysitting candidate for the first time. Always meet in a public location a good distance from your home and never give out your address or personal contact information before checking references and background information.

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