Questions when interviewing a babysitter

We are meeting with a SAHM today who has a 1 year old son who will possibly be watching my 2 kids (1 and 4) one day a week. She will need to bring DD (4 year old) to pre school and pick her up.

We've been having a family friend watch them for the last 4 years so I am not quite sure what i want to/need to know from this person. She's coming to our house today and then I figured we'd want to see her house too because that's where my kids will be.

TIA.

Re: Questions when interviewing a babysitter

I guess I would be most concerned if she could logistically handle 3 children at once both at her home and while she is transporting everyone for your DD's school. I would want to observe her with all 3 kids to see how she handles it.

Not sure how you found her, but also talk to several personal references and anyone she has babysat for in the past.

Ask about her discipline methods and make sure you're comfortable with that.

Re: Questions when interviewing a babysitter

Usually when a new mom is looking for me to care for their child(ren) we usually just meet at my house and I show them around - the playroom, where we eat, nap, etc. I usually give them all of my information in writing (kind of like a contract, but not legal) as well as my experience, policies, basic day schedule. Usually by the end of it, they don't have too many questions since I already answered most of them. The few I did have though was how I handle the food (they bring their own, so if I'm willing to prepare/cook food - which I am). They also ask me about how I discipline, if I'm CPR certified, how I would handle a specific emergency (whatever applies to their child). Basic stuff like that. I've never been asked for a reference though, mostly because the woman that come to me already got my name through a friend. Personally, I'd want to know her experience in childcare. I know you said that she has a 1 yr old, but that doesn't mean that she knows how to handle a 4 yr old, let alone 3 in her house vs 1. I'd kinda want to know if she's ever babysat or worked at a daycare/preschool before.