How to Treat a Baby Sitter

Turning a new baby sitter into a trusted child care provider is easy if you communicate well and always consider his or her needs as well as your own.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• First Aid Kits
• Spiral Notebooks For Emergency Information
• Other Games
• Chidren's Toys

1. Pick up the baby sitter on time.

2. Show the baby sitter around before you leave the house. Indicate where necessary items for the children are, where the telephone is located, where the TV is and how it works, and how to lock doors.

3. Warn the sitter if there is an expected problem with a child (for example, "Johnny always cries for 30 minutes after we leave").

4. Give the baby sitter some idea of what your children would like to do, to eat or to watch on TV as well as a list of things you do not want your children to do.

5. Reiterate any safety precautions, such as "Don't tell anyone who calls that we are not home," and "Don't open the door to strangers."

6. Tell the baby sitter the children's bedtime and explain the bedtime routine (bath, brush teeth, etc.).

7. Leave a phone number where you can be reached.

8. Have something in the house for the baby sitter to eat and drink, and tell the baby sitter those items are for him or her.

9. Tell the baby sitter ahead of time that you don't want the baby sitter to fall asleep no matter what time you get home, if this is the case.

10. Tell the baby sitter what time you will return, and return at the promised time.

11. Check in with the baby sitter at least once to make sure all is well.

12. Pay the baby sitter immediately once you return - unless you have agreed otherwise.

Tips & Warnings

• Baby sitters are not responsible for following your wishes when you haven't expressed them.

[pennyearner777]

on 11/5/2008 If you have a babysitter that only comes every now and then, consider doing pizza for the kids and call it in as the babysitter arrives that way you can see what she would like as well.

[ojiugo]

on 7/17/2008 Great Article!I have a parenting blog at http://lifeasafirsttimeparent.blogspot.com

on 12/16/2005 While you are still home (with your babysitter there) let your child know that the babysitter is the one in charge. This will prevent your child's ignoring the babysitter's rules and requests and deferring to you on all disagreements. Letting the babysitter take over while you're still home. This helps maintain the balance of power in her relationship with your child, and will allow you to continue getting ready in peace.

on 11/22/2005 Even if you don't like your children to watch too much TV, consider allowing them to do so with the sitter. Treat baby sitting as a fun time to do special things. Also, always leave information like your address and phone number so the sitter knows where he or she is. It makes things so much easier for the sitter!

on 11/22/2005 The family I babysit for makes a sheet of paper before each session and writes down everything that they have already done with the child before I came. They also write down all of the child's feedings, diaper changes, naps, and medications given. This is a great idea if you babysit for babies or toddlers who don't speak yet. If they start crying and you don't know why, check the list and see if they have already done the activity before you got there.