To run a background check on a babysitter, get their written consent, then order a background check through an FCRA-compliant background check company that searches county criminal records and the sex offender registry. Add reference checks, a CPR certification check, and a driving record if they'll drive your kids. A background check takes about a day and is one of the simplest ways to protect your family before you hand someone the keys.
The tips in this guide are best practices, not legal advice. Screening rules and requirements vary by state, so it's worth confirming what applies to you.
A babysitter background check verifies a sitter's identity and searches their criminal history before they care for your children. A professional check typically includes:
For a closer look at each section, see what's in a background check report.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a background check company can't run a check on someone without their written consent. Tell candidates upfront that you screen every sitter. A qualified sitter will expect it.
Not every background check searches the same places. A basic check searches criminal databases across many jurisdictions. A more thorough check adds direct searches of county court records in every county the sitter has lived in. For someone alone with your children, the more thorough search is worth it.
With a Bchex background check on someone else, the sitter receives a secure link to give consent and verify their identity, and you get the results by email, typically within 24 hours.
A professional background check includes a sex offender registry search. If you want a quick first look before ordering one, the National Sex Offender Public Website lets anyone search state registries for free.
Call at least 2 families the sitter has worked for. Ask specific questions, such as how long they babysat, how they handled an emergency, and whether the family would hire them again. If the sitter lists CPR or first aid certification, ask to see the card and confirm it's current.
If your sitter will drive your kids, ask them to request their driving record from their state DMV and share it with you. Most states let drivers order their own record online for a small fee. Look for recent accidents, moving violations, and license suspensions. Learn more about what a driving record shows.
Review every record carefully before you decide. Not every record means a sitter is unsafe, and a record could belong to someone with a similar name.
An arrest is not the same as a conviction. Weigh how serious a record is, how long ago it happened, and whether it relates to childcare.
Before you make a final decision, give the sitter a copy of the report and a chance to explain or dispute it. Records can be wrong, and the FCRA gives people the right to dispute inaccurate information.
The more time someone spends alone with your children, the more thorough your screening should be.
Yes. Under the FCRA, a background check company needs the sitter's written consent before running a check.
It depends on the provider and how many searches are included. Free options like the sex offender registry are incomplete on their own, so a professional check is worth the cost.
Most Bchex checks are completed within 24 hours. Some county court searches take longer. See how long a background check takes.
You can, but a teen usually needs a parent's consent, and juvenile records are generally sealed. References are especially important for younger sitters.
Many do, but what they search varies. Ask exactly which searches were included before relying on a platform's check.
Yes, for regular sitters and nannies. Re-screening every year or so catches records that appeared after you first hired them.
Any sex offender registry match, convictions involving violence or harm to children, and dishonesty about their record are the clearest reasons not to hire.
Running a background check on your babysitter takes a few minutes of your time and about a day for results, and it's one of the simplest ways to protect your family. Get their consent, choose a check that searches county court records and the sex offender registry, verify references and certifications, and add a driving record if they'll be driving your kids.
Bchex background checks for individuals use the same professional-grade databases employers use, with potential records verified at the county court level.