Comments on: How to Treat a Baby Sitter

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.

on 11/22/2005 If you are trying to reach the babysitter, it is a good idea to call once and leave a message that is at least 30 seconds long. If the babysitter is screening the calls, like I always do, this is a much better way to get in touch than simply calling again. Also, if you call multiple times and just hang up when the answering machine comes on, this can get kind of creepy for the babysitter.

on 11/22/2005 Make sure that the babysitter AND the child being babysat know the rules about having the child's friends over, or going to the park with them. On many occasions, one of the children I was babysitting wanted to go play with their friends in the park, and I was told they weren't allowed, but the child was not told. This led to many arguments and a lot of frustration on all sides.

on 11/22/2005 If your babysitter does other chores such as washing the dishes, cleaning up the house, or doing the laundry, tip the babysitter a little extra. Remind them that their number one priority is the children.

on 11/22/2005 The people that I used to babysit for have a manila folder that they kept by the phone with a list of phone numbers(doctors, ect) including where they were going to be as well any other information that I would need, such as bed times for the children and basic house rules. This was very helpful. :)

on 11/22/2005 Do not ask your babysitter to keep an eye on\\make something that takes a long time to cook\\bake. She\\he will forget about it while taking care of the kids.

on 11/22/2005 Let your babysitter know the boundaries on having their own friends with them while he/she babysits your child. This also holds true for tying up your telephone and letting your children leave your home with the babysitter.

on 11/22/2005 Don't make your babysitter wash dishes that were there before he/she came.

on 11/22/2005 I write a possible itinerary for the entire time that the sitter will be with my children. I then tell the sitter that they can do as they see fit - it is only a guide of options available to them. I have had many baby sitters thank me for this!

on 11/22/2005 If you try to reach your sitter and he/she doesn't answer (for example, he/she is outside, can't hear the phone, etc.) don't leave a message on the machine - most babysitters aren't comfortable checking it. Just continue to try to reach the sitter.

on 11/22/2005 Don't say, "Timmy will show you where everything is" if he won't. (If he's too shy, can't talk, doesn't know where anything is, etc.). That is ANNOYING!

on 11/22/2005 We keep a dry-erase magnet board on the refrigerator near the phone. It tells the baby sitter where he/she is, the phone number, how to reach us, emergency numbers and any pertinent info about the children. This makes everyone feel more comfortable.