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Sitters for Newborns
Finding the Right Babysitter for New Babies
By Katherine Bontrager
Also, you need to be explicit about your expectations and your child's needs, Cooper says. "Tell her what you expect and set the standards politely," she says. "Always be respectful of this person, as moms and dads know what a difficult job taking care of their child can sometimes be. This person deserves to be treated like a member of your family as they are caring for your most precious gift(s)."
Among the traits that Cooper says she looks for are responsibility, maturity and lots of energy. And the telltale signs that the match is right? "Kids give a great read on babysitters," she says. "If they just don't make a good match, they just don't ... so simply move on. Some candidates are great with little ones, while others do well with older children. We recommend that the parent spend some time with the babysitter and the kids – in other words, stay home the first couple of times she comes over to get a real feel for how she is with your children. You want to watch the interaction closely. This is something that is hard for someone to fake. Your gut is usually right. If the child or baby is crying every time she comes over, then it's not right."
Once you've found that special someone who excels at the special care a newborn requires and seamlessly fits with the family, treat her (or him) kindly and respectfully – what you've found amounts to gold! Cooper says that the going rate for sitters ranges from $10 to $20 an hour, depending on their responsibility level (how many kids, etc).
"I tell every mom, if you love her, pay her well," Cooper says. "She absolutely deserves it. Babysitters are not an area to skimp on."
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