If you've never hired a babysitter before, the first action you have to take is locating one. A babysitter won't just knock on your door when you feel the need. You will have to get up and begin an organized search.

The good news is that they aren't exactly hard to find. There are many places to look that will most possibly yield positive results.

The easiest option is to ask people you know. Perhaps some of your relatives have teenage children who are looking for a part-time job. Girls who are at least in middle school or high school often babysit in their free time. The good thing about this is that you are already familiar with their background, and it may even be similar to your own family situation. Friends can also recommend sitters they hire in the past or still regularly hire. You can ask them about the babysitter's personality and tips in dealing with them as well.

Schools are another treasure trove of babysitters. They usually have bulletin boards or newsletters where you can put up a job posting with your contact number. Many colleges have student placement services. You could also hit colleges that offer an early childhood education course. You will be likely to find someone who is genuinely interested in kids and is even going through training in dealing with them. They would love the opportunity to put their learning into practice.

If you don't want a young babysitter, try a senior center. A lot of retired senior citizens would be grateful for the opportunity to work part-time.

The local community church may have a youth group. Some of the members of the group or congregants are eager to take up such jobs in service of the community. If there is a community newspaper, you can put up an ad.

Finally, you can check the Internet. There are online babysitter sites where hiring one is just a click away. The added bonus is that you can even check their background and profiles yourself in a matter of minutes.

When you find yourself some likely prospects, invite them to your house first for a pre-babysitting interview and meeting.