Would You Hire This Person to Babysit?

No. Under no circumstance. You don't know her from adam. I am very suspicious of random people taking interest in my child.

Nope. No one needs a date night enough to leave their child with a stranger. She's probably a lovely young woman who would be a great babysitter - is there a way you can ask for references? Get to know her better?

For the record, it's not the traffic stop that would worry me. It's that you don't know anything about her.

I'd never use anyone I just met somewhere for baby sitting.
I'd ask other parents in your neighborhood for their sitter recommendations.
Date night can wait - safety of the kids come first.
It's part of being parents.

I do background checks for a living, mostly for employment but also for childcare. You would be shocked at how many people have the same name, so a date of birth is the go to identifier. She might not be either of the individuals you located. The databases are just terrible for getting any accurate info. The major problem is that most criminal records are not going to show up. A better way to go would be to contact your local court and ask the clerk to check for you. The case you located is a hit and run. While not good, it doesn't mean that someone was injured. It says render aid or info. She may just have not exchanged info. You may not want to use her, but please be informed when you make your decision. Good luck.

Short answer: NO!

Long answer: Let me understand this: you only know this person from a restaurant you frequent - so she's a total stranger! She shows an "interest" in your kids - creepy! You find the type of offense that may be on her record that, to me, would be a red flag. And two different birth dates - another possible red flag. AND, if it weren't for your daughter getting sick, she would have been watching your children BEFORE you did any kind of a background check - WOW!

Have you spent any time with this woman outside the restaurant? Are you in the habit of leaving your children with a total stranger? I think I'd put the date night on hold for awhile until you get to know some people around there that you can trust to watch your children.

By the way, did you check the county sex offender site????

Good luck!!

No. Regardless of a google search, you have NO idea who this person is and you are considering giving her full access to your children and home just so you can go out. No.freaking.way. JMO. Good luck.

A.:

Have you bothered to actually interview her?
have you bothered to have a conversation with her outside the cafe?
How do your children respond to her?

Would I hire her? I Might. I'd like to hear her side of the story before I pass judgement. Is she going to be driving your children anywhere? If not - the problem is what?

Does she have ANY certifications - CPR? First Aid? ANYTHING?

If you aren't comfortable - go to care.com - I think that's it or babysittercity.com and find one that works for you.

Good luck!

I would wait until you find someone you know well enough to feel comfortable without any doubts. Or at least without any major red flags.

Otherwise, look into utilizing a nanny service like sittercity.com where the company does the background checks for you.

If you have made friends, ask them who they use. Or maybe they'd be willing to trade babysitting nights so you can each have a date night.

Maybe there are two women with her name?

If you like her tell her you would like her to come over (when you guys are home) and meet the kids. Tell her you would like 3 references and ask her if you could do a background check. Treat her as if you would treat a nanny you were interviewing.

If you have to ask this question...well there's your answer:) If you felt 100% comfortable with letting her babysit then you would not be asking us.

No. I would never trust anyone to watch my children unless I knew them personally and even then it would be on a limited basis to start with. I would allow the person to accompany us on during the day to see how she interacted with my children. I would never leave my children with someone they did not know.

i'm not sure the background check means much. was she one of the parties involved?
but i'd go through a licensed bonded babysitting service, or use one that came recommended from people i knew.
khairete
S.

Probably not. Going out with my husband isn't worth being uncomfortable about who is watching my daughter... and if you're on here asking if you should let another virtual stranger watch your kid, you're obviously not too comfortable with the idea, either.

Maybe down the line after you have gotten to know her better, you'll feel more secure with the idea. Or maybe you'll meet other people, even make friends to whom you'd trust your kids for a few hours.

But if you're not positive, I wouldn't do it. Do you think you'd really enjoy your night, wondering the whole time if you've made a mistake leaving your kid at home?

I wouldn't until you know her better.

Maybe, since you get a good vibe from her, and only know her 'history' from an internet search, you could invite her to dinner or something. Ask what church she goes to, and maybe attend it for a while. (see how she is around other people, plus see how other people act around her.) Get to know her, and when you feel you have developed a relationship close enough, ASK her about the records you found. It could be a case of mistaken identity, or same name confusion. I looked myself up, and there are 8 people in my state with the same first and last name, and 2 of those have the same middle!

For the time being, maybe you can try hosting a block party or something, and find out if any of your neighbors have teenagers who would be willing to babysit. Have them come by, and watch your kids for a few hours while you are there, but not interfering. Or you could check out a website, like care.com, and try finding a professional, pre-screened babysitter.

The fact that she shows an interest in your kids creeps me out right from the start. A big "no" from me.

First off, there could be two different women with the same name so it's possible this woman did not commit a crime.

HOWEVER, there is no way in hell I would ever even think about leaving my children with a TOTAL STRANGER I met in a café. ESPECIALLY one who "has shown an interest in my kids." I understand you are desperate for a date night, but at the risk of your children's safety? I personally have only ever left my kids in the care of close friends and family, but in the very least you can use an agency with experienced sitters who have gone through a background check.

So, NO, I would not hire this person.

I would have never gone so far as to get contact information, much less make plans for someone I don't know extremely well to watch my kids.
I would let her know you've had to change your plans, thanks for the offer and leave it at that. Don't reschedule and don't leave it open ended that you'll get back to her.

How do you know for a fact it was her in the background check?

Have you talked to her or just made this judgement on your own? Have you checked her references? At least communicate with the woman, give her a little respect and a chance to talk to you about whatever it is.

If you don't feel right about it in your gut.... you won't be able to let go, relax and have a good date night. SO, if it effects you to the point that you can't go have fun... then no, I would not hire her. Also, I would tend to shy away from a stranger who appeared interested in my child.

I would at least check references. You liked her up until now so dig deep and figure out why you feel like you do. She wouldn't be out driving your child anyway, would she?

I completely agree that you need date night. When our daughter was small, we networked with our neighborhood and found good teen sitters. Daughter grew up with 1 family of 3 girls babysitting... as one would leave for college, the next would would step in. Just so you know, the going rate around here is minimum $10/hour.

My daughter babysits and gets $12-$15 an hour. She has 4 families she works with regularly.

Our neighborhood has an HOA and website. You can be on the babysitting list on the website and find sitters that way. Your neighborhood, friends, church, etc are good places to get references for sitters.

Lastly, when she was a baby... we did have a service who provided sitters and I felt more comfortable with her being cared for by a grandmother type when she was a baby. We had 1 lady from the service we loved and we always requested her.

Date night is vital. We still go out once a week and daughter is 18.

Well good you checked her out/background checked her first.

You are new to the area.
2) You/Hubby need/want a date night.
3) But still, being you are new to the area... please don't "rush" finding/getting a babysitter, just because you/Hubby are needing a date night. Meaning, sometimes, in the throes of just so desperately needing a date night... our usual reasoning gets put aside.
Like with anything... when we are rushed/so desperate for a break of any sort, we may not make the best, decisions.
So keep that in mind. Especially when one is a parent.

Or, use a licensed "sitter" company who has a GOOD track record and in which all their employees are FULLY background checked.
AND, as you get to know people, don't just "hire" anyone.

It also weird that that woman in the cafe showed an interest in your kids.

No matter, how badly you/Hubby need a date-night... I would not just leave the kids with anyone, UNTIL you are fully aware of who it is that will be watching your children.
And until you find someone, who is, credible and background checked and, has references etc.

So NO WAY, do you hire this woman.
She is a total stranger.
You don't even know her.
It is weird.

You do you have any good friends there?
You said you don't have family, but do you have any good, friends there? Who can, babysit for you and that to totally TRUST? And know them fully?

I think you can find sitters, not only through neighbors' references but by checking to see if the town offers a babysitting course and lists the names of "graduates" or by calling the high school (I know, tough now when school is out) to see if the guidance office keeps a list of kids wanting babysitting jobs. You can also start with a mother's helper, who plays with the kids while you are in another room or discreetly watching from a window while they are outside. You can use the time to get other things done (bill paying, housework, etc.) but stop now and then to peek in and see what's going on. On some level, getting references from neighbors you don't know is not much better than meeting someone in a cafe, so it's not foolproof. Also, most teachers need to supplement their low income and they get summer jobs, so sometimes you can find someone who at least is cleared to work in the schools. Again, not foolproof, but much more secure. Usually the administration and sometimes the guidance offices work during the summer so you might be able to get an answer.

No, I would not use her. I would ask other parents (in the neighborhood? At child activities?) for babysitter recommendations. I would interview a couple babysitters that are recommended and pick one that your kids seem to love. Our two best babysitters are teen daughters of friends/neighbors. They are so engaged with our kids and they have taken all the YMCA babysitting/cpr classes.

I would get to know her better first. I get my sitters through care.com, which has background checks, or a nanny agency. But even background checks don't guarantee a good, safe person. I really think you just need to get to know someone, and what vibe they give off. That's why I always use my babysitters as "mothers' helpers" first. I stay home and do chores around the house and listen to the way they interact with my kids. Of course there's no way to be 100% sure about anybody, but it gives you a good idea of whether or not they have a bad temper, have common sense, aren't on their phone all the time, etc. Try care.com; I always get dozens of responses when I post a job.

What about a church lady? Do you frequent a church?

No I would not. If she left the scene of an accident them she is sneaky. How do you know what info she would withheld from you about the kids. Go with your gut. Sounds like you're desperate for a night out- which I completely get- but is it worth jeopardizing kids safety? No way.