Verification tells you a sitter is who they say they are. We check a government photo ID, a proof of address and a selfie, and a person on our team reviews all three before that sitter can be booked.
That is the whole of it, so be clear about what it is not. We do not run criminal record checks. We do not check references, qualifications or first-aid training either — a sitter may mention any of those on their profile, and we have not confirmed them. Our safety page sets the same thing out in full.
So verification does not tell you whether a sitter is right for your family, and no badge on any website will. That part is a conversation, and it is worth having before the first booking rather than at the door.
About their experience
How long have they been sitting, and for what ages? Someone brilliant with teenagers may not want a colicky newborn.
Have they looked after children with allergies, asthma or medication before?
Do they have first-aid training? We do not verify this, so ask, and ask when they last renewed it.
Ask for two families they have sat for, and phone them. Nobody else has — checking references is yours to do.
About the practicalities
How will they get to you, and home again afterwards? A sitter without transport at 11pm is a problem you both want solved in advance.
What is their cancellation habit? Life happens — you want to know how much notice you can expect.
Who can they call if they cannot reach you?
About your children
Tell them the routine, the bedtime, and the thing that always goes wrong. A sitter who knows your four-year-old will ask for a third story is a sitter who has an easier night.
Say what you are strict about. Screens, snacks, and whether the dog is allowed on the bed.