Babsitters you trust are hard to come by. Often it is stressful enough to leave your  little one, if you're lucky enough to find someone you feel comfortable with you can go out and enjoy an evening to yourself once in a while. Remember though, keeping the babysitter happy is important to make sure that you will have a helping hand when you need a little time to yourselves. There are some basic principles that if ignored could compromise having a relied care taker for your children.

Here are some basics to follow for parents:

• Plan ahead, if your child is not up to being left and your plans allow it, reschedule; leaving a crabby or sick child with a sitter is stressful on the sitter, as well as the child itself.
• Make sure you include everything your child needs, from necessities like diapers, milk, and a change of clothes for younger children; or snacks, and entertainment for the older child. Also, if your child is young, or prone to missing the parents, include any comfort objects like special blankets, toys or pacifiers.
• Find out ahead of time what your sitter would like you to do for meal times, if your children will be there for a meal, and feed the sitter too, it gives them energy to run after your children!
• If your child has been feverish, or gassy, include a fever reducer, or simethicone drops, along with written instructions on dosage and the time the child can take it again.

• Include phone numbers (or cell phone numbers) and locations you will be going, as well as show times, if you know them.

• Give notice, at least 24-4 hours, to the sitter so they know what time to expect you, or what time to be at your residence.

• Don’t change your plans without notifying the sitter. If you say you will only be gone 2 hours, don’t change it to 4 or 5 hours without letting them know. An impromptu visit to the diner for steaks and eggs after a late night show may be fun, but remember, as parents, your responsibility to your children come first… and your sitter may not be too thrilled about your change of plans also.

• Pay your babysitter and pay them as well as you can afford. It is rude to expect someone to baby sit for free or very cheaply. Lots of teenagers are more than willing to baby sit and many don't really care what they make. They are happy for the responsibility and a little spending cash. Regardless, you should still pay them decently. Consider it training for them for a "real job" some day. Also consider that they are taking care of your most precious possession - your children, how much is that worth? It is right that they expect to get paid for their work.

Sometimes, when parents offer to pay someone for their work, they don't want to take the money,  that's alright. Write a thank you note (or have the children write one), and then save some extra money to get a little something for them for Christmas just to let them know you appreciate their thoughtfulness and kind ness towards your family.

What happens if you don't treat your baby sitter well? You will become the family no one wants to work for. If you don't really need to go out on a date with your spouse ever--well, that's okay! However, if you want your kids well cared for, and you need to hire a baby sitter--treat her well and she'll likely be available for you when you need her!

Remember, sitters are people too and deserve a little common courtesy.