5 signs you probably need a new babysitter, according to the CEO of a childcare-provider network

• A babysitter glued to the phone is probably not paying enough attention to the kids.
• It may be a warning sign if your kids don't get excited about the babysitter coming over.

I'm the CEO and cofounder of WeeCare, the largest network for caregivers to find babysitters and day cares for their children. Our team works with lots of parents who are looking for babysitters.

I'm a mother myself — which is to say, I've spent some serious time thinking about the people we call on to help care for our families. I've learned that not all babysitters are the best fit.

Here are five signs that you may want to begin looking for a new babysitter.

Your child isn't excited for them to babysit

Let's face it, your kids probably need a break from you every once in a while just as much as you might need one from them. Usually, a good babysitter represents a fun change of pace for children, and your little one should be eager for them to come over.

There may be extenuating circumstances, like a young child who is still very attached to their parents, a kid who views their sitter as too strict, or simply a poor personality fit between children and their sitter.

But by and large, kids get pretty excited about the novelty of someone else watching them. If that's not the case, it could be time to seek out a new sitter.

Their references are shaky

In a perfect world, anyone hired to watch our kids would have stellar references and personal recommendations from someone we trust. In the real world, a babysitter's references might not be all they're cracked up to be. If they have a friend pose as a reference or provide a phone number that doesn't check out, that's not a great sign.

Although your babysitter's references don't need to be perfect, they should at least pan out and give you some confidence in their ability to care for your children. When in doubt, trust your gut and hire a sitter you're comfortable with.

They lack proper safety training

As parents, we hope nothing goes wrong when we're away, but we also know the realities of having kids. There's always the possibility an emergency will come up that will require your babysitter to make quick decisions for your child's safety.

It's ideal to find a sitter who has their infant and child CPR and first-aid certifications, just for your peace of mind. To take one worry off parents' plates, WeeCare prioritizes health and safety standards for our providers so parents know their kids are in good hands.

Their social-media accounts give you pause

Although it's not our role to judge the social-media habits of others, when it comes to inviting someone into your home to care for your children, a little extra caution can't hurt. I'd advise against snooping on your babysitter's Instagram as a general rule, but if a particular post or troubling activity is brought to your attention, it shouldn't be ignored.

Setting social-media boundaries with your babysitter can be beneficial as well. Let them know if you are OK with them posting pictures of your kids or your home, for example. Getting ahead of potential issues and communicating about these topics transparently goes a long way.

Tread carefully around sitters' social spaces, but don't overlook something that doesn't sit right with you.

They immediately ask for the WiFi password

It's a legitimate question. They have a phone and will likely want to connect to your WiFi. If you're going to be out late and the babysitter will have time after they get the kids to sleep, it makes sense they'd connect their device to the internet.

Although there's nothing wrong with hopping online once they're done watching the kids, that shouldn't be their main priority while working in your home. If your kids are old enough to notice and report the babysitter was glued to their phone the whole time, it's definitely time to find a new babysitter.