DR. WALLACE: I'm a single parent and have a two-year-old son. When I needed a babysitter, my mother was available. Grandmother has now moved with my stepfather to Canada and won't be returning. I now need to find a reliable sitter for Jason. What should I look for when I hire a sitter for my baby? — Nameless, Providence, R.I.

NAMELESS: Finding the "right" babysitter can be a time-consuming chore, but it is well worth the effort when you find an excellent sitter. But always remember that you will be entrusting the care of your son to someone you barely know.

Celeste Stuhring, author of "Kid Sitter Basics" (Westport Publishers), offers some tips to help you find and keep good sitters and have peace of mind when you leave your child in the care of a sitter. For instance:

1. Ask your friends and neighbors for referrals. The junior high school may keep a list of young teens who babysit. Local daycare centers often take drop-ins, and baby-sitting agencies are a source for older, more experienced sitters.

2. Be alert to baby-sitting classes offered in your area. Most graduates of these courses make good sitters and understand the basics of child care and first aid.

3. Select a responsible sitter. Take the time to interview the sitter and assess how he or she responds to you. Ask about the sitter's experiences with small children, and check the sitter's references. If possible, select a sitter who has attended a course in baby-sitting, child care, CPR and/or first aid. It is a good idea to meet the sitter's parents before making any arrangements.

4. Reach an understanding with the sitter on job requirements, wages, hours, privileges and duties before the job begins. Establish a wage for the sitting engagement before you leave to avoid uncomfortable situations for both of you. Most baby-sitters prefer to be paid in cash.

5. On the sitter's first visit, introduce him or her to infants, children and pets. Discuss the layout of the house and show the sitter how to work appliances and where you keep the first-aid kit.

6. Let the sitter know how you expect the house to look when you return. Don't count on the sitter to clean your whole house for you; his or her job is to be with the children and pick up after them. If your house is cleaner than when you left, consider this a bonus.

7. If you are using a new sitter, call at some point while you're out to see how things are going and to answer any questions that may have come up.

8. Make sure the sitter has the house key, emergency phone numbers and a number where you can be reached. Don't assume the sitter will automatically call 911 or notify you in an emergency. Make certain the sitter understands your preferences before you leave.

9. Leave clear, written instructions for bedtime, meals and other activities, so the sitter will understand your expectations.

10. Be home at the stated time. If your plans change, contact the sitter. (Ask about the sitter's flexibility before you leave, just in case.)

11. Make sure the sitter can get home safely at the end of the job. Walk or drive him or her home. If you've been drinking, make other arrangements or call the sitter's parents.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.