Babysitting Tips
Whether you are young or old, a few babysitting tips can help you be a success. Children left in your care are a very big responsibility and there is nothing more important than keeping the child or children left with you safe and sound.
One of the best babysitting tips is, if at all possible, to only babysit for people you know or who have been recommended by friends or relatives. Posting a notice that you are looking for babysitting jobs on bulletin boards in public places can lead to issues of safety.
Make sure that you have discussed your role with the parents so that the expectations of everyone involved are clear. The parents should be very up front with both the sitter and the kids as to what the rules are that must always be obeyed. As the babysitter, it is up to you to make sure the parents have left you with written information on where they will be, the phone number where they will be, their mobile phone number, and the time at which they will return. The phone number of someone else to contact in case of emergency is also needed in case for any reason the parents cannot be reached.
If this is your first time babysitting for the parents, make sure extra time is available before they leave to take you through the house to show you where everything is and how it works. For instance, especially if you are in an apartment building with many stories, you should go over how to exit the building in an emergency. You also need to know such details as where the smoke alarm is located as well as the fire extinguisher. It’s a good idea to become familiar with where the switches are and how to turn on the lights in each room.
Other important babysitting tips include: don’t let strangers into the house, don’t tell anyone that you and the kids are the only ones home, and if you should answer the phone, don’t say the parents are out--instead say that they cannot come to the phone right now but you will be happy to take a message. When you babysit, don’t talk for long periods of time on the telephone and don’t invite friends over to visit. This is a job and must be treated like a job. Your responsibility is to focus exclusively on the children.
If you should babysit during the day, and are going to take the children for a walk or to someplace like the park or zoo, make sure with very young kids that they hold your hand when crossing the street or in crowds and that they never get out of your sight for even a minute. Make sure that you have a house key so that you can lock the house before you leave and know it will be safe upon your return.
If you are babysitting and anything suspicious happens, such as you return home from being out and the front door is ajar, a stranger is bothering you at the door, or you have any other reason to fear for your safety or that of the children, don’t be afraid to dial the police. Most departments in the U.S can be reached by dialing 911. If a child should be seriously hurt or sick, call the parents and call 911. If you like kids and wish to continue as a babysitter regularly or make it your permanent job, take some first-aid classes so that you can learn to give CPR and so you will know what to do should medical emergencies arise.