How to Choose In-Home Care Givers

• Step 1

  Start the search early-ideally months before the care is needed.

• Step 2

  Research parenting philosophies, especially if you are a first-time parent. Talk to other parents and read some well-recommended parenting books. Use the public library as a resource.

• Step 3

  Make a list of questions to ask potential caregivers. See the Resources below for a starting point. Have questions that require more than a simple yes-or-no answer. Ask a wide variety of questions to help you get to know the caregiver. You need to be able to trust this person completely.

• Step 4

  Develop a job description for your in-home care provider. Include the hours the job will entail, any household jobs you would like accomplished, and other expectations as well as pay and benefits.

• Step 5

  Find potential candidates. Heidi Murkhoff, parenting expert and author of the "What to Expect" series of books, suggests seeking candidates from the following: pediatricians, other parents, local churches, schools, libraries and preschools, nanny agencies, local newspaper listings, college employment centers and senior citizens organizations.

• Step 6

  Screen possible candidates with phone interviews. For candidates that seem compatible with your style, schedule face-to-face interviews.

• Step 7

  Ask the questions you developed and examine the candidate's body language and responses for clues as to what kind of caregiver she is.

• Step 8

  Check the references of the most promising candidates. Make sure you are not talking to just the applicant's friends and family. Call previous employers and other professionals. Also, consider hiring an employee-screening firm to complete a background check.

• Step 9

  If the first round of interviews did not produce a candidate you are comfortable choosing, start the process again.

• Step 10

  After you have chosen a caregiver, have your child become comfortable with her before leaving them alone together. Observe the caregiver's interactions with your child. Use the checklist found in the Resources section of this article from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development's Early Child Care Research Network to use an evaluation tool.

• Step 11

  Hire the careprovider on a trial basis. Make this arrangement clear from the beginning. If you are not happy with the care, start a new search.

• 3
• Parenting books List of possible candidates List of questions to ask Job description References to call Observation checklist
• Parenting books
• List of possible candidates
• List of questions to ask
• Job description
• References to call
• Observation checklist
• Develop a backup plan for when your in-home care giver is sick or unable to care for your child.
• Develop a backup plan for when your in-home care giver is sick or unable to care for your child.
• If you are unhappy with the care your child is receiving at any point, do not hesitate to change the situation.
• If you are unhappy with the care your child is receiving at any point, do not hesitate to change the situation.

References & Resources

• "Bright from the Start;" Jill Stamm; 2007.
• "Jo Frost's Confident Baby Care;" Jo Frost; 2008.
• "What to Expect the First Year;" Heidi Murkhoff; 2003.
• Interviewing Childcare Providers
• Interview Questions
• Positive Caregiver Checklist