• A babysitter is someone who will occasionally look after your children - perhaps an afternoon here and there, or in the evening, so that you can have a night out.
  
• Choosing a babysitter is just as important as choosing any kind of childcare and you have to be as rigorous in your vetting of babysitters as you would be with any nanny. They will be left in sole charge of your children and, even if it is only for an hour or so, you have to be utterly sure of their competence.
  
• The NSPCC recommend that a babysitter should be older than 16.
  
• Anyone younger than 16 cannot be charged with neglect or ill treatment of children in their care. This means that if you leave your children with someone under 16 you are still responsible for them and if something goes wrong and you are found to have left your children with an unsuitable babysitter, for example, one who cannot speak adequate English to cope with an emergency or one who is under age, you could be charged with neglect.

Basic codes for employing a babysitter:

• Check the references of any babysitter in exactly the same way as you would a nanny - check that they know basic first aid and how to cope in an emergency.
  
• Tell the babysitter where you are going. If possible leave a land line contact number as well as your mobile.
  
• Make sure you have contact details and an address for your babysitter in case one of the children is ill or upset after your return and you need to talk to them urgently.
  
• Don't just bolt out of the door as soon as they arrive, make time to show them around. They need to know where you keep bottles, nappies, first aid kit etc. If there are older children they need to know what they are and aren't allowed to do with regard to television, snacks and bedtime.
  
• Remember the babysitter doesn't know your children. If they have special words or favourite teddies and blankets that get them off to sleep your babysitter needs to be told.
  
• Leave a contact number of someone nearby who you trust, perhaps a neighbour or relative, in case the babysitter needs on the spot help urgently.
  
• If your child is unwell don't leave her with a new babysitter, as is not fair on either of them.
  
• If you don't want a babysitter to smoke make it clear before you leave.
  
• Always tell your children in the morning and keep reminding them during the day that a babysitter is coming. If they don't like being left it is still much better to tell them. Sneaking off while they are playing and hoping for the best never works.
  
• Always over estimate rather than under estimate what time you will be home. It is better to return early than leave your babysitter wondering where you are.
  
• Don't leave your children with a babysitter they don't like - take the time to find one that they get on with.

Qualifications:

• Babysitters don't have to be qualified but if you are hiring someone through an agency, who you have never met before, it is a good idea to ask for a nanny, nurse or teacher so that you have the peace of mind knowing that they have experience.
  
• The British Red Cross run babysitting courses and have a booklet for anyone who wants to be a babysitter (British Red Cross: 0870 170 7000 or www.redcross.org.uk).
  
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents also has information and advice on babysitting ( ROSPA: 0121 248 2000; www.rospa.com).

Costs:

• The cost of employing a babysitter differs around the country - prices range from £3 to £8 an hour.
  
• Agency fees for putting you in touch with a babysitter range from a yearly subscription to one-off fees. Check with a reliable, local babysitting agency (details available on bestbear.co.uk childcare search) for their prices.
  
• You are responsible for your babysitter's travel costs and, if it is late when you return, you should pay for her to get home in a taxi.
• If you want you babysitter to stay all night negotiate an overnight fee in advance.

Babysitting Circles:

• Babysitting can be very expensive so some parents join a babysitting circle where they trade babysitting time. If you are thinking of this, try to join a circle with a good number of parents involved to give yourself a chance of finding available babysitters when you need them.
  
• You can find out about babysitting circles through local playgroups, antenatal classes and the NCT. (To find your local branch of the NCT, tel: 0870 444 8707; www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com.)
  
• Mynightoff.com: Through mynightoff.com parents can ask their friends if they can baby sit for them, confirm agreement to baby sit for someone else, check the number of credits they have available or simply use the discussion box for a good old natter.

Where do I find a babysitter?

• Check bestbear's babysitter search which will be able to provide you with a recommended babysitting service near to you. Some babysitting agencies provide a service where, for a yearly fee, you can choose three babysitters, often nannies or teachers, who live near to you. You can interview them just as you would a nanny and when you have chosen your three you are free to use them over the year. This means that you build up a relationship with your babysitters, your children get to know them, and you don't have a new face each time.
  
• If you don't want to go through an agency, try a local college that runs childcare courses.
  
• Remember, even if you know someone and ask them to babysit it is still vital that you get all their contact details before you leave them with your children.

If you have any tips on babysitters please email bestbear.co.uk on feedback@bestbear.co.uk