Five questions to ask a new babysitter

A great sit starts before anyone leaves the house. Whether your sitter is a grandparent, a family friend, or a teenager from church, five quick conversations make the night easier for everyone.

1. The routine. What does bedtime actually look like: books, songs, lights out at what time? Write it down; nobody remembers a spoken routine at 8 PM with three kids talking at once.

2. The hard lines. Screen rules, snacks, and anything that is simply not allowed. A sitter should never have to guess where your lines are.

3. Emergencies. Where is the first aid kit, who do they call if you do not answer, and which neighbor can come over fast?

4. The kids themselves. Who needs a nightlight, who is going through a phase, what calms each child down. This is the stuff that turns a stressful night into a smooth one.

5. The money and the thanks. Agree on the rate ahead of time, pay promptly, and say thank you like you mean it. Good sitters are gold. Treat them that way and they will keep saying yes.

Bow keeps your trusted circle in one place, so these conversations happen once and carry from sit to sit.