Leaving the Kids at Home: Baby Sitter Prep List & How to Hire a Nanny

Leaving the kids at home is tough. I know, because I don't do it very often. But if you take the steps outlined in the following articles, you'll have a lot more peace of mind. Maybe you'll even be able to take some time for yourself (hmm, a spa mani-pedi might be in my near future).

• BABYSITTER: Before you leave your kids with a babysitter, check out this article for things to do ahead of time. Item #1 (a list of emergency contacts) is especially key. The next list, about hiring a nanny, also has some good tips if you're using a sitter you don't know very well.
• NANNY: This article is full of tips on how to find a great nanny, including getting the qualities you're looking for and how to run a background check. It even concludes with a list of what not to do once you've found the perfect nanny. Once you've hired a nanny, you may also want to consider attaching a "How's My Nanny?" license plate to your child's stroller.