1. How can parents find a babysitter when needed? How hard is it?
It depends. In some neighborhoods its very easy. In others not.
2. What range is the going rate for a babysitter?
$5 – $10 per hour.
3. Is it okay to hire a neighborhood boy to babysit?
If he wants to.
4. Please share whatever babysitter horror stories you know.
I don’t know of any in my neighborhood.
5. How late is still normal to arrive back home to the babysitter?
Again it depends. In Lakewood, during the school year, it is 11:00 PM (as I have been told). Personally, I used to ask the babysitter what time we should be home so that the babysitter won’t be sleepy the next day. We allow our daughter to babysit later if there is no school the next day.
6. How does the babysitters age affect your relying on her to be responsible?
Again, it depends. We had babysitters as young as 14 or 15.
7. What else is important to know?
What nosh and drinks the babysitter likes to eat. Make sure they have your cell phone number.