Parenting & New Baby Advice Blog

Posts Tagged ‘hiring a babysitter’

When heading out for an evening without the kids, make sure that your babysitter has a list of "Do's and Don'ts" while you are out.  Be sure to include emergency information as well as nightly routines and special notes.  The list below is a good guide:

1)  Emergency Information - Include your cell number, a neighbor or close friend's number and the number for Poison Control (800-222-1222).  Write down specific directions for getting to your house in case the sitter has to call 911.

2)  Escape Route and Emergency Items - Walk your sitter around the house and show him or her all entrances and exits.  Make sure they know where the fire extinguisher, first aid kit and flashlights are located.

3)  Medicine Cabinet - Explain any medication that your children are taking (or allowed to take - such as cough medicine or aspirin).

4)  Food and Drink List - I'm a pretty lenient parent so when I have a sitter there are no food or beverage restrictions.   However, you may not want your child to have caffeine or chocolate before bedtime.  If snacks are allowed, show your sitter where they are and establish a limit.

5)  Your Child's Routine - The younger your child is, the more they will benefit from sticking to their normal routine.  If your infant always has a bath at 7:30, followed by a bottle and story, lay out the necessary bath items and your baby's favorite book.  If your toddler goes to bed with his favorite baby blanket every night, make sure he knows where it is before you leave the house.  It's amazing how one break from their routine can cause a major meltdown!

6)  Expectations for your Sitter - If you want the house to look as it did when you left, make sure the babysitter knows you expect them to pick up after the kids.  I don't think this is too much to ask, especially if the kids will be in bed long before you arrive home.  Let your sitter know what time you will be home, and call them if this changes.  If your child wants to call to tell you good night, tell the sitter whether this is allowed.  I allow my babysitters to eat or drink anything they find in the house, but you may want to set out specific snacks.

If you use more than 1 sitter or your expectations change from one evening to the next, you may want to pick up a Babysitter Notepad like the one shown above.  They can be found at most discount stores or online (the item pictured can be purchased at Amazon.com).

More Babysitting Advice:

• Choosing the Right Babysitter
• First Babysitters

When we moved to our new home 5 years ago, the last thought on our mind was finding a new babysitter for our 2 year old son.  But once the dust settled and we had unpacked enough to feel comfortable, my husband and I were yearning for a night out to explore our new town and take a break from the stresses of relocating with a toddler.  Since we had no friends in the area we didn't know how to even start searching for a babysitter, but luckily our daycare provider pointed us in the right direction.  In case you find yourself in a similar situation, here are a few suggestions when you are searching for a babysitter:

1)  Check with the local schools - whether it's high school, community college or a university, ask if they have a Community Relations department and see if they have any recommendations for you.  Speak to the Community Education Department of your local school district and see if they offer babysitting classes.  If they do, some departments will keep a list of students who have passed this course and will give out names and numbers.

2)  Ask your neighbors - if you haven't already, this is a great reason to get to know your neighbors.  They may recommend their babysitter, they may have a child of babysitting age, or they may be willing to babysit themselves!  Maybe you can strike up a deal with your neighbor to trade off babysitting services so you can both enjoy some "adult time" now and then.

3)  Contact your local church - speak to the youth group adviser or religious education leader and ask who they would recommend.

4)  Place an ad in the local paper or on a local website such as Craigslist - although this option may produce numerous results, the responses will be quite varied.  Be sure to screen the applicants carefully and check references before hiring someone.

Once you've found a few potential babysitters, the next step will be to interview and even give them a "trial run".  We'll discuss this more in my next post.

Photo courtesy of lovetojazz.com

Once you've found an amazing babysitter, don't forget to show your appreciate for him/her with a thank you gift. Caring for your precious cargo is one important job! Make sure they know that you're appreciative.

Related Articles:

• First Babysitters
• Choosing the Right Babysitter