Amazing Tips on Finding a Reliable Baby Sitter

• a) Ask mom friends, neighbors, and your pediatrician's office for recommendations

• b) Narrow the list to those who have at least three years of childcare experience and CPR training, then check that their references are recent and impeccable.

• c) Next, set up interviews. Lisa Magaro, owner and operator of Pinch Sitters Agency, in New York City, suggests asking several "what if" questions to test how candidates would handle various childcare situations. "What if you have to entertain my 3-year-old and my 7-year-old on a rainy day?" Or, "What if my 18-month-old throws a fit when I walk out the door?" (A sitter should be able to tell you how she'd calm a fussy infant, provide comfort, keep kids entertained, and handle an emergency.)

• d) Pay attention to her behavior during the interview. Does she establish eye contact? Listen to the questions and answer them thoughtfully? Does she seem self-assured and in control? If she's resourceful and reliable, and if the chemistry's right, you've found a prime candid.