Can I Run a Background Check on My Babysitter? Your Complete Guide to Safe Childcare in Houston
Every parent faces this moment: you’ve found someone who seems perfect to watch your children, but that nagging voice in your head asks, “How well do I really know this person?” The answer is simple—yes, you absolutely can (and should) run a background check on your babysitter. In fact, it’s one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family.
Whether you’re hiring a full-time nanny, occasional babysitter, or vetting candidates for your home daycare in Greater Houston, professional background screening through Go-Biometrics has never been more accessible—or more necessary.
Why Every Parent Should Run Background Checks on Babysitters
The statistics are sobering: according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 90% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the family knows and trusts. While the vast majority of caregivers are wonderful, loving professionals, thorough screening helps you identify the rare individuals who shouldn’t be around children.
Beyond safety concerns, background checks also reveal:
- Criminal history including theft, drug offenses, or violence
- Sex offender registry status across multiple states
- Previous employment verification and reference authenticity
- Driving record if they’ll be transporting your children
- Identity verification to ensure they are who they claim to be
What Shows Up on a Babysitter Background Check?
A comprehensive background check searches multiple databases to paint a complete picture of your potential caregiver:
Criminal History Searches
- Federal criminal records through FBI databases
- State criminal records in Texas and previous states of residence
- County-level searches for local arrests and convictions
- Traffic violations and DUI/DWI records
Sex Offender Registry
- National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) searches
- State registry checks across all 50 states
- Address verification to ensure accurate location history
Identity Verification
- Social Security number validation
- Address history confirmation
- Full name and alias searches
Legal Rights: Can You Legally Background Check a Babysitter?
Absolutely. As a private individual hiring someone to work in your home, you have the legal right to conduct background checks on potential babysitters. However, there are important guidelines to follow:
What You Can Do:
- Request background checks as a condition of employment
- Use professional screening services for thorough results
- Verify identity, criminal history, and references
- Require fingerprinting for FBI-level searches
What You Must Do:
- Obtain written consent before running any background check
- Comply with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requirements
- Provide adverse action notices if you decide not to hire based on results
- Follow Texas state laws regarding background check procedures
Important Note: While you can run background checks, you cannot discriminate based on protected characteristics under federal and state law. These include race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, pregnancy, and sexual orientation. Focus solely on job-related criminal history and safety concerns that directly impact childcare responsibilities.
Mobile Background Checks: The Modern Solution for Busy Houston Families
Gone are the days of driving across town to crowded fingerprinting centers or waiting weeks for results. Mobile background check services bring FBI-quality screening directly to your home, office, or anywhere in Greater Houston.
How Mobile Fingerprinting Works
Step 1: Schedule Your Appointment Book online at go-biometrics.com or by phone with flexible scheduling options, including evenings and weekends. Service areas include Pearland, Manvel, Rosharon, Friendswood, League City, Alvin, Texas City, Baytown, and throughout Greater Houston.
Step 2: On-Site Professional Service A certified technician arrives at your location with FBI-approved mobile scanning equipment. Clean, clear fingerprints are captured electronically—no messy ink or paper forms.
Step 3: Secure Digital Transmission Fingerprints are encrypted and transmitted directly to FBI and state databases. Everything is fully digital, traceable, and compliant with all federal requirements.
Step 4: Rapid Results Delivery Within 24-48 hours, receive comprehensive background check results via secure email. Reports are court-admissible and accepted by all licensing agencies.
Understanding Background Check Results: Red Flags vs. Minor Concerns
Not all background check findings are deal-breakers. Here’s how to evaluate results:
Immediate Red Flags
- Any crimes against children – automatic disqualification
- Sex offender registry listings – never acceptable for childcare
- Recent violent crimes including domestic violence
- Drug trafficking or distribution charges
- Identity fraud or falsified information
Consider Case-by-Case
- Minor traffic violations from several years ago
- Non-violent misdemeanors with demonstrated rehabilitation
- Financial crimes unrelated to childcare (depending on access to valuables)
- Charges that were dismissed or resulted in not-guilty verdicts
Documentation is Key
Always request certified court documents for any criminal findings. Ensure you understand the full context before making hiring decisions.
Cost and Logistics: What to Expect
Professional Background Check Pricing:
- U.S. Citizens: $90 service fee
- Non-U.S. Citizens: $110 service fee
- Travel fee: $2 per mile (round trip)
- Weekend/evening appointments: $50 surcharge
DIY Options: While free online searches exist, they’re often incomplete and unreliable. Professional services access databases that public searches cannot reach, providing the comprehensive results needed for childcare decisions.
What a Professional Background Check Covers
Our FBI fingerprint-based background checks provide comprehensive criminal history searches that go far beyond basic online searches. Here’s exactly what you’ll receive:
What Our Service Includes
- Complete FBI criminal database search across all 50 states
- Multi-state criminal history including previous locations
- Sex offender registry verification through national databases
- Identity confirmation through fingerprint matching
- Court-admissible results accepted by all agencies
What We Don’t Provide
Our service focuses specifically on criminal background screening through FBI databases. We do not include employment verification or reference checks—allowing you to handle those personal aspects of screening directly with your potential caregiver.
When to Re-Run Background Checks
Background checks aren’t one-time events. Consider re-screening when:
- Annual renewals for regular caregivers
- After extended absences (6+ months away)
- Following concerning behavior or policy violations
- When expanding responsibilities (overnight care, transportation)
- Before recommending to other families
Convenient Service Throughout Texas and Beyond
We understand that finding reliable fingerprinting services can be challenging, especially for busy families. That’s why we’re willing to travel up to two hours from our office location to bring professional background check services directly to your home.
This means families throughout Texas—from Houston’s suburbs to rural communities—can access the same high-quality FBI background screening without the hassle of traveling to distant locations or waiting in crowded offices.
Meet the Co-Owners: Professional Screening You Can Trust
Mitsuzi Green, RN and certified doula, co-founded Go-Biometrics with her husband Cleon Green after experiencing the fingerprinting process across multiple states for her nursing licensure. As both a healthcare professional and mother who has personally hired babysitters, she understands the critical importance of thorough caregiver screening.
Cleon brings extensive IT and network security expertise to ensure all data transmission remains secure and compliant with federal requirements. Together, they completed formal mobile fingerprint training to bring reliable, professional background check services directly to families throughout Texas.
While Mitsuzi handles most in-person appointments and fingerprinting services, Cleon focuses on the technical infrastructure that keeps your sensitive information protected throughout the entire process. Their combined expertise ensures families receive both professional service and complete data security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I run a background check on my babysitter without their knowledge? A: No. You must obtain written consent before conducting any background check on a potential employee.
Q: How far back do background checks go? A: Most criminal background checks cover 7-10 years, though serious felonies may appear indefinitely. Sex offender registry searches are comprehensive regardless of timeframe.
Q: What if my babysitter refuses the background check? A: This should be considered a red flag. Professional caregivers understand that background checks are standard practice and protect both families and their own reputation.
Q: Are background checks required by law for private babysitters? A: While not legally required for private arrangements, they’re strongly recommended and considered best practice for child safety.
Q: Can I use the same background check for multiple families? A: Background check results belong to the employer who ordered them. Each family should conduct their own screening.
Take Action: Protect Your Family Today
The question isn’t whether you can run a background check on your babysitter—it’s whether you can afford not to. With mobile services making professional screening more convenient than ever, there’s no excuse for skipping this critical safety step.
Ready to ensure your family’s safety? Schedule your mobile background check appointment today. Visit go-biometrics.com or call to book flexible appointments throughout Greater Houston and beyond—we travel up to two hours to bring professional screening directly to you.
Your peace of mind is worth the investment—and your children’s safety is priceless.
