Babysitting Tips for Children
Babysitting is a demanding profession because a babysitter takes on the responsibility of ensuring the health and protection of a child or children. Sometimes babysitting can be a real hassle, especially when the babysitter is a child herself, just a few years older than the child for whom she babysits. Babysitters should take as many precautions as possible to ensure a child's safety and health as well as her own.
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Safety Precautions for the Child
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Babysitters are not perfect and do not know if their babysitting will be flawless. Also, accidents occur. Knowing basic first-aid techniques and concepts is essential in case an accident happens. Ask the child's parents whether the child has food allergies. Even if you take precautionary measures to ensure food is safe for a child to eat, he may begin to choke while eating. If you cannot clear his air passages, call for emergency services, which is 911 in the United States. Also, never leave the child alone, especially in a bathtub or pool. Drowning can occur in seconds. Red Cross classes teach first-aid concepts and techniques, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Stress-Free Jobs
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Do not overload yourself. Earning money by babysitting is good, but do not let the thoughts of monetary accumulation cloud sound judgment. Accept only babysitting jobs that you can handle. You are responsible not only for your life but for the life of the child or children you babysit. Babysitting can be hard work at times, depending on the child and the expectations of the child's parents. Start babysitting by taking care of only one child.
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Safety Precautions for Yourself
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If you have a cellular phone, keep it near you while you babysit. Let your parents know where you are, including the full address and telephone number. Also provide the names of the people for whom you babysit. It's best to babysit for only people you already know or for people your parents know. Understand all terms and agreements before you start. Also know when the parents expect to return. The child's parents should know exactly how much you charge for babysitting.
Alertness
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Napping prior to babysitting will help you stay awake on the job. Be very alert and aware of your surroundings. Keep the volume of audio devices to a minimum, and don't wear headphones or other devices which would obstruct you from hearing the child or unusual noises. For safety, lock all doors and windows, and do not open the door for strangers, unless the parents tell you that someone is coming over or you contacted the authorities because of an emergency. Do not use the telephone for personal reasons, such as conversing with friends or your boyfriend. Such distractions give a child ample time to get into trouble. Babysitting is a real job and must be treated as a real job.
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