How to Introduce a Baby to a Sitter

Even the most devoted and doting parents need a night out once and awhile. To ensure your baby receives top-notch care while you're away and to ease your mind about your little one's well being when you're out trying to enjoy yourself, it's important to take the right steps to introduce your baby to his sitter.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Interview at least a half dozen sitters to find the one person both you and your baby are comfortable and happy with. Create a list of questions to ask the sitters so you can gauge how qualified they are to care for your baby.
2. Invite the sitter over a few days prior to your night out to introduce her to your baby and so your baby can get to know her. Allow the two of them to play alone for a short time, and observe how the sitter and your baby interact with each other.
3. Show the sitter how to care for your child. Introduce your baby's favorite toys, walk him through your baby's routine and talk to him about your household's safety routines and emergency plans.
4. Observe your baby playing with the sitter for a short time on the night you're going out. Stay in the room for a few minutes and then quietly leave the room and observe your baby's interaction with the sitter.
5. Leave a detailed list of phone numbers where the sitter can reach you, the contact information of a close family member, friend or neighbor she can reach if she's unable to contact you and the number of your baby's pediatrician in case of an emergency.
6. Give your baby a hug and a kiss when you're leaving and don't sneak out when your baby is preoccupied. Stay positive, even though you may feel apprehensive about leaving your baby. If your baby sees you upset, she may cry or become wary of the sitter who is taking care of her.
7. Let your baby cry if he becomes upset when you try to leave, even though it's difficult. Most babies will calm themselves in the arms of a capable sitter after about 5 minutes. If you were to rush back to him, it would only be harder to leave him the second time.
8. Prepare yourself to experience feelings of guilt and separation anxiety the first few times you leave your baby with a sitter. These feelings are normal, and should pass once you become accustomed to enjoying some time apart from your little one.
9. Phone home to talk with the sitter once while you're away to make sure everything is going smoothly and to answer any questions the sitter might have. It's natural to want to check in and see how your baby is doing with a new caregiver.

Tips & Warnings

• When your baby learns to talk, listen to how she speaks about the babysitter and how she reacts to her presence. Your baby's behavior toward the sitter will tell you quite a bit about their relationship.
• Ask the sitter for references and contact them to see what they have to say about the sitter you've chosen for your baby.