Leaving your children home with another person can be a little nerve-wracking. Whether it is a night out for you and your spouse or a regular occurrence, you can prepare your family and your home to have a safe, comfortable babysitting experience. Here are some great babysitter safety tips.
Picking a Babysitter:
- If possible, pick someone you know, either the sitter or their family.
- Utilize recommendations from friends and family.
- Meet with a first time sitter in advance. Have them over to play with the kids while you are home and watch how they interact together. This will ease both your mind and your children will be more comfortable when it comes time to leave.
- Ask for non-family references from a first time babysitter.
- Gauge the success of the night off of comments from your children. Listen and watch how they react when you say the babysitter is returning for another visit. Their input can be valuable too.
- Make sure the sitter is familiar with CPR and other first aid treatments. If not, recommend a class through the American Red Cross for babysitter training.
Tips for the Babysitter:
It is worthwhile to ask or offer the following information to the babysitter as a reminder of household protocols.
- Phone numbers for pediatricians, poison control, and close neighbors or family.
- Safe sleep guidelines for babies–always put a baby to sleep on their back with no other items in the crib.
- Introduce the sitter to any pets in the home who may be wary of a newcomer.
- Show them where the fire extinguisher is and any emergency exits in case of fire.
- Ask them to not answer the door, unless requested by you or is someone they know personally. Keep doors and windows locked.
- Inform them of safe medications and dosages for children if necessary.
- You may choose to have the sitter answer the phone, but never allow them to identify themselves as the babysitter. Simply have them state that they cannot come to the phone and take a message.
- Make sure the sitter is aware of food allergies and acceptable foods to feed young children.
- If the children are bathing, remind the sitter that they are never to be left unattended.
- How to operate the security system if needed.
- Ensure they have a safe ride home.
Protecting Your Home:
- Leave exterior lights on while you are away.
- Close blinds or curtains.
- Lock doors and windows.
- If possible, encourage sitter to keep children and pets indoors.
- Monitor via video cameras
- Notify trusted neighbors that you will be away.
With the right information, you can a safe and seamless babysitting experience. Create a sheet with all the listed information for the babysitter to review before you leave. Having this information handy will be a great safety tool for your family and child caretakers.
