We know how hard it is for you to hand over your children to be cared for by someone else. So we at SunshineHelp offer these quick tips to help prepare you for the difficult task of selecting a caregiver, whether it be a babysitter, nanny or Au Pair.

In order to find that ideal candidate, you´ll need to determine the profile of the employee you seek. Here are some important questions to ask:

• What experience has the candidate had with his or her previous employment?
• What have they learned from this experience?
• What have they liked the most? The least?
• Why did they leave their previous employment?
• What attracts them most to the job being offered?
• What is their opinion regarding a child´s daily routine? How do they propose to engage your children in learning or playing?
• Why types of learning activities can they do with your children?
• How do they discipline a child?
• What types of meals will they prepare for the children?
• Do they smoke, drink or do drugs?
• Do they have a valid driver´s license?
• Are they engaged in any activity that will interfere with them taking care of your children or living in your home? Examples are extra jobs, finishing school, having other childcare responsibilities, etc.
• Are they able to work overtime or after hours?
• Do you have enough information on them to do background and criminal checks, which are essential.

If the candidate has satisfactorily answered your questions, the compatability test follows - see how they interact with the children. By having them spend a little time together, you will be able to see how the children react to the candidate and viceversa. The process will give you a certain peace of mind if you see they get along well.

Trust your instincts. Once you have selected the candidate, have confidence that the selection process has produced the right person for the job.

Finally, look for signs that you have made the right choice. Are your children happy when they are with their new caregiver or sad when he or she leaves? These are good indications that they are in good hands.

On the contrary, if you children are agitated, express their anger, displeausre or unhappiness, or say they do not want to be around when the new caregiver arrives, this can be a sign that something is wrong with the situation. If this happens, explore your options of replacing the caregiver with another candidate.