You’ve worked hard all week and you deserve a reward. Enjoying a relaxing night out with your spouse sounds ideal, perhaps catching up over a quiet dinner followed by the latest Hollywood thriller. The only thing stopping you is that little responsibility called parenting. But parenting shouldn’t cause your relationship to go stale. It’s important that you learn how to balance being a good parent with continuing to nurture your relationship with your spouse. Getting a night out now and then can prove difficult if you don’t live near close family, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles. If you don’t have family members who can watch over your little one(s), it’s probably time to consider hiring a babysitter. Finding the right sitter can be challenging, so here are three tips to get you started:

1. Know Their Background

Perhaps the most important quality you should expect from your babysitter is that the person you entrust with the care of your child be trustworthy. One way you can ensure this is to look at your potential babysitter’s background. A good background check company will be able to show you if the person applying for this important position in your home has any criminal history or incriminating public records, such as protective orders filed against them.

2. CPR Licensure

Your future babysitter should be licensed in CPR. This is the most important certification your babysitter can possess. If something goes wrong, for the safety of your child time is of the essence, and a babysitter skilled in first response could be the difference between disaster and a happy future. Never leave your child in the care of a professional who doesn’t possess the proper training from an accredited institution such as the Red Cross.

3. Get References

You want to hire someone with experience. With that experience comes references. Be sure your potential babysitter provides you with at least three references and then call them. Ask them if they’ve ever had any issues with trust or safety. Also, ask them to rate their work on a scale of 1 to 10. Anything scoring 6 or below should be a red flag.

Leaving your child with a new person can be stressful, but getting to know the person who will ensure the safety of your child when you’re not at home should give your comfort. Knowing their background and trusting they can perform CPR are good starts. Now, how about that dinner?