How Do You Find a Reputable Babysitter?

I used to post notices at DePaul University in the student center, at Sheffield and Belden. If you live in the city, bring two copies, one for the office and one for the board. Then I discovered sittercity.com and had much better luck. I think because you can contact other mom's for feedback, and the sitters know this, so they're especially good...usually. I would just suggest that you get references from a Mom who has a child old enough to talk. I did have one bad experience, then after speaking with the Mom who referred her, she said the sitter had asked for a reference and because she had an infant she really didn't know much about her behavior, but felt bad not giving her a good recommendation.

Word of mouth.
Or any good friends, relatives.

I has also heard of www.care.com as being good.... and they are supposed to be background checked....

When I was taking classes for my daughter's baptism, the youth group leader gave me a list of the good babysitters in her group. They're high school girls who've taken the recommended red cross babysitting course. We found 2 that we like and use when we want a night out. (not both at the same time)

Well, I run a home daycare, and post my info on sittercity.com and care.com Both of those seem to have more of the full time positions on there. When I was looking for my "night out sitter" I looked on craigslist.org. I have always had great luck on their site. You can click on the childcare section, and then put in your city and see if anything pops up from there. I live in the Dekalb area & usually look in the Rockford section. I'm not quite sure where Grayslake is, but I assume you'll be checking in the Chicago section. It is then narrowed down to the area of Chicago.
My only suggestion is to ask for references you can call on...I usually do & then narrow it down based on the reference checks.
Good luck!!

I was a professional nanny for twenty years and a mother. I know how hard it can be to leave your children in the care of good hands.

First, I would ask around friends, family and neighbors.
Second, if you go to a church ask the youth group leader
Third, try posting at local colleges
Fourth I would try care.com

I would interview the person at your house, just ask questions you want to know. Make sure she/he '"feels" right to you. Then have her/him play/interact with your children. It's okay for you to be in the house while they are there.

If you want the same person you need to be good to them. Make sure that you can give them dates ahead of time so they can plan out their nights/weekend. Always thank them for a wonderful job. Leave great instructions, like if sad favorite toy is ....., what tv or movie could they watch if needed, what is there favorite book. just make sure that the instruction are no longer on one page. Make sure that the person that comes over is only babysitting, don't leave toys out for them to pick up later, and bathe your children the night before or early that day. If they need to feed the kids dinner make sure you have food either order(and for her too), or several choices for her to choose from at home.

One thing I found out when you need a great sitter if you treat them great, they will always want to sit for you. That doesn't mean you need to pay them way over the top, just thank them and treat them like you would want to be treated.

We used sittercity.com and found 2 good sitters that way. I went through the applicants and only responded to those that had verifiable local references. I narrowed it down to about 6 sitters (all had background checks), and then a quick phone conversation & then we met at a local starbucks for an interview. I didn't like everyone knowing where I live, I wanted to meet them first. After that interview if things clicked, they came to our home & met my child & hubby. One sitter was with us about 8 months, she helped me during the day as we were remodeling another home. The other sitter has been with us for over a year as a 'date night' sitter. I agree with the previous post, treat your sitter like a human being, pay her decent & a small gift on holidays/birthdays & thanking her for being a part of your child's life. Good luck!

I am in McHenry county and they have 4-C of McHenry County, there are other in different counties. If you go to www.four-c.org you may be able to find this service in other counties.

Talk to your neighbors... who do they use? Do they have kids looking to make extra money? Or talk to people at your church.

Any site that has a background check, care.com... Ask friends and relatives.

The only way I have been able to do this is through discussions with friends and church members. I have just asked who they use and sometimes even neighbors can be helpful. I have a few friends that have tried various people by having them come while you are still around or maybe only gone for an hour or so during the day. Depending on the ages of your children, you can usually get a good feel from them if they liked them. I have not ever used someone that wasn't recommended or used by someone I know.

I have had great luck with care.com and have also used sittercity.com Good Luck!

We found ours at church. They had a babysitting bulletin board. Usually there are teenage helpers in the Sunday school too. They might be able to babysit or would likely have a friend who might like to babysit.

I found mine on sittercity and had plenty of responses to my ad for some that were interested if I ever needed a night out or weekend sitter. I did setup just so I would have someone but the sitter I did find for during the week was also wiling to watch for evenings. If she is unavailable should we finally go out, I can call the others.