Moms Talk: What's Your Advice for Finding a Good Babysitter?

For working parents whose kids aren't yet in school, finding quality day care can be one of the most important decisions they have to make. While cost is of course a factor — and daycare can be very, very costly — parents want to be assured that their child is in a caring and safe environment while they're away at work.

For parents of kids who are in school during the day but aren't yet old enough to stay home alone, finding a babysitter for the weekends, snow days and summer months is also an important issue. 

If you've lived in town for awhile, chances are you have friends or family that can refer you to an esteemed babysitter, but if you're new to Harrison, how do you go about searching for a babysitter whom you can trust to make sure the kids eat dinner, do their homework and are in bed on time?

So, you veteran Harrison parents, as a helpful resource for newbies, why not share your tips for finding a good babysitter or daycare arrangements in the comments below?

Would you refer your current babysitter or daycare provider to parents who just moved to the area? What are the qualities of a great babysitter, as opposed to someone who's just mediocre?