Schooling Your Sitter

Got one foot on the beach and one in the classroom? Start searching for a sitter!

As you gear up to hit the back-to-school sales at the local office stores with kids and cart in tow, make sure not to forget the most important part of ensuring your fall goes smoothly - a babysitter.

Why are back-to-school babysitters important? They can help smooth the bumps between summer and fall as you run errands; they can aid you in readjusting your work schedule as the kids reenter school; and they can provide you with some much-needed rest time for get-togethers and the occasional pedicure. But when booking a back-to-school sitter, be aware that you'll be competing with almost every other mother in your neighborhood, as September is the most popular month for booking care. Use the following five tips to stay ahead of the game with hiring and training, and get some rest this fall!

TIP ONE: START EARLY

Unlike a sitter for winter or spring, fall babysitters are very hard to come by if you wait too long. September's high sitter rates and sitters' back-to-school schedules can get in the way while you're trying to find your care match. Remember that 80 percent of babysitters 17 and up are in college, and while you're trying to firm up your back-to-school schedule, they will be too.

The best time to start searching for a fall sitter is a month before your kids return to school. If you start earlier, sitters will still be in summer mode and not know their schedules. If you start later, you might be too late. Post your job a month before your school starting date, and then screen your top candidates two weeks before your kids return to school. If your candidate pool is low after the first week, refresh your posting the second week to bring in more potential candidates. If you've chosen a candidate by the third week, you can pass over your upcoming schedule and breathe easy (but make sure to have a few backups, just in case!) If you still haven't found a match after week three, you still have one week to correct the problem and interview backup candidates.

If your child's school starts particularly late, and you're worried that area care might be depleted by the time you post, consider posting a "teaser" job that explains your dilemma and asks for resumes six weeks in advance. Sitters will appreciate your candor, and it will give you more of a chance to snag a great sitter whose schedule matches your own.

TIP TWO: MAKE A SCHEDULE

Fall babysitting is usually fraught with deadlines, so make your life and your sitter's life easier by creating a schedule that they can use while working for you. Consider sending it in advance of working with them, so your sitter can prepare. Will your sitter need to be driving? Note that on the schedule. What are your school's deadlines, pickup rules and off days? Add these into the schedule as well. It's helpful to supplement schedules with emergency numbers and contact names too, in case your sitter ends up in a time crunch.

TIP THREE: MAKE ROOM FOR DETAILS

As your sitter prepares her schedule, remember that she may need some extra accommodations to make things go smoothly. If your sitter will drive your car, remember to add her to your insurance and get her a key. If the sitter is moving your kids to and from school, make sure they have a cell phone so she can communicate with you. Will she be taking your kids on play dates? Give her a detailed schedule.

TIP FOUR: BE STINGY

You might see your friends scoping out your sitter after you've hired and trained her, but be stingy with your sitter. If you notice other moms approaching her or talking to her about a job, find a way to discreetly get her out of the situation, and give your friends the names of some backup sitters to get them off the hunt. Resist the urge to give your primary sitter's name to a pal in need! No matter how close your friend is, sharing a sitter (or losing a sitter to her) will cause friction. Click here to read more about sitter stealing and nanny nabbing.

TIP FIVE: PLAN CHECK-INS

Once you've scheduled your sitter and prepared her for your fall needs, schedule regular check-ins to make sure everything's running on schedule. Check-ins are great on a regular basis, but during the fall they will be especially important because you'll both be dealing with hectic days. Check-ins can take place over the phone, during a drive home or even just for five minutes after a job. If you establish these on a regular basis, you'll have a clear line of communication, and any problems or schedule changes can be dealt with quickly and efficiently. More tips on communicating with your sitter.

So get ready to enjoy the fall. If you schedule and prepare, you might even be able to sneak your sitter in for some extra jobs — so you can get that much-needed pedicure!