Treat her like gold!

Ask her what she likes to eat for dinner.  Frozen pizza ok?  Do you like pepperoni?  Soda?  Treats?  Have them stocked in the house for her when she comes over to babysit.

Tell her to feel free to watch whatever TV she wants.

Tell her to make herself at home.

Make her LOVE babysitting for you and your kid(s).

Make it easy for her.  Tell her that the most important thing is that your kid(s) is alive when you come home at night.  Tell her that if your kid(s) give her a hard time she has permission to stick them in front of the TV.

Make sure that she feels comfortable reaching out to you throughout the night if she has questions or concerns.

The last thing you want to do is take your babysitter for granted or take advantage of her.

Pay her well.  Pay her extra if you come home in between hours. (So if you pay $10/hour and you leave at 5 and come home at 10:30 pm, pay her as if she stayed till 11 pm, or $60.)

Your child’s life and safety and happiness are what you live for.  They are the most important thing in your life.  Therefore, the babysitter is in charge of the most important thing in your life.

Handle her with care, so that she handles your babies with care too!