Choosing the right person: what to ask at the first meeting

A verified profile tells you the document is genuine and that two references were called. It doesn't tell you whether that person is right for your child. You only find that out by meeting her, and it's a step you should never skip.

Before the interview

Arrange it at your home, with the child present for at least part of it. How the two of them behave with each other in the first five minutes tells you more than half an hour of conversation.

Useful questions

• «Tell me about a difficult moment with a child and how you handled it» — someone with real experience always has an episode ready. Someone without it answers in the abstract
• «What do you do if my child doesn't want to go to bed?» — look for a concrete answer, not reassurance
• «If she gets hurt, what's the first thing you do?» — the right answer always starts with «I call you»
• «Have you done a paediatric first aid course?» — if so, ask when and with whom
• «How much notice do you need? And if you're unwell?» — better to know now than on a Friday night

The criminal record certificate

You can ask to be shown the criminal record certificate — in Switzerland the special extract for private individuals, created specifically for people working with minors. On AlpenSitter every sitter commits to showing it to you before the first engagement, freshly issued.

A recent document, shown to you in person while you're deciding, is worth far more than a file uploaded to a site a year earlier.

Actually call the references

Even if the written reference is already on the profile. Two minutes with a family who had her in their home are worth more than any badge. The best question is the simplest: «Would you have her back?» Hesitation is audible.

Trust the feeling

If something doesn't convince you and you can't say what, don't force it. You don't owe anyone an explanation: you're choosing who stays in your home with your child.