How do you start with a new babysitter?

[cricketwife]

We have one sitter that DS loves; she is his favorite teacher at daycare. But we need to have more than one person we can call.  We know another girl who would be fantastic, but DS doesn't know her. Do I pay her to come over for a few hours before I hire her? And how often would I need to use her for DS to know /remember her from time to time? We don't really go out much. The cheap part of me just wants DS to meet her when we need her to sit fir us, but that seems kind of traumatic, no?

DS is 16 months. 

[soso]

We talk up a new sitter a few days out - typically they've already briefly met C. Then, the first time we use a new sitter it's for a random night out for a shorter period of time - meaning if we have to come home it is no biggie. We typically have them come up about 30 minutes before we are set to leave and also have an activity they can do while we go to another room to get ready. Then, it's a fast goodbye. When we used to get tears, we'd check in by text and they were fine in about 5 minutes after we left!

I don't think it would be traumatic. Everyone is new at some point!

Good luck.

[Deleted]

We just dive in. It's never been bad. We will do a non-bedtime outing (either leave after kid is asleep, or come back before they go to bed) for an easier start for everyone.

[annieh22]

We just go for it. It's been fine every time so far. I prep the kids that it is someone new and they are always excited about showing the sitter where everything is and their rooms, etc.

[pacificrules]

We have the new sitter over a few days before to hang out and get to know our kids. And, like PP said, the first outing (if we can swing it) does not go over bedtime.