Parents say that good babysitters are hard to find, according to a new American Red Cross poll.

The poll found that in the past 24 months, 55 percent of parents surveyed decided to stay home because they couldn’t find a babysitter. The survey also found that nearly a third of parents rejected a potential babysitter because of safety concerns.

Parents want to entrust their children to babysitters trained in first aid, CPR and childcare skills, and more than 80 percent of parents believe that teenaged babysitters should be paid more if they have these skills. However, eight in 10 parents have looked to adult relatives, while nearly half have relied on adult friends to watch their children.

Carl Baker, Executive Director of the Mid-Illinois Chapter, says it can be hard for parents to trust someone to care for their children when they’re not at home. He feels it’s only natural to want someone who isn’t just a loving playmate but who is also trained in what to do during an emergency. He adds the Red Cross babysitting courses help teens feel fully prepared to act quickly to aid a child if needed, which parents really value.

The Red Cross babysitting, CPR and first aid courses teach teens how to care for young children and handle emergency situations. The American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training course gives youth the knowledge and confidence to care for infants and school-aged children.

A majority of parents believe sitters should be paid more if they are trained to help a child who is choking, recognize potential emergency situations, identify items that could be hazardous to small children, and give first aid for minor cuts and bruises. More than three in four of parents with children younger than 17 feel teenagers should receive some training before they begin babysitting.

About half of Americans rely on unpaid babysitters, and nearly a quarter pay between $6 and $10 an hour for someone to watch their children. Ten percent pay between $11 and $15 an hour; while four percent pay between $16 and $20 an hour, making babysitting a potentially lucrative option for qualified teenagers.