When a babysitter comes over to watch your kids, you want everything to go smoothly. Do you really want to be struggling to remember all the little details you need to share as you’re walking out the door? Instead plan ahead by creating a babysitter box!
It was an idea popularized by a blogger named Kristen on The Happy Housewife and it’s ingenious. Grab a box or container you have lying around the house and fill it with all of the things your sitter may need. Then hand over the box, review the contents and head out the door.
Here are 10 things to put in your babysitter box:
1. Contact information
When putting together a babysitter box, the first thing you should include is your contact information. Write it on the front of the box so it’s always handy. That way, if the sitter needs to call you, they don’t have to search for anything, shares Tara Boyd, a blogger at Boyd Meets Girl. Also include an emergency contact sheet, with information like your pediatrician’s phone number, vet contact information and the number for Poison Control. Print out and fill in this child care emergency template.
2. Child-specific information
You should also include information specific to your child including weight, any allergies or sensitivities and, anything that a 911 operator might need to know, says Boyd. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Also consider including a list of details about your child, like specific fears, favorite toys, favorite foods, etc.
3. A suggested schedule
Boyd leaves a schedule for the time the sitter will be there to make everyone’s life easier. You can go out and enjoy yourself and trust that the sitter knows what to do with the kids. “I write it all down so she won’t forget,” she says. You can even write these ideas on a small dry erase board, so you can reuse it the next time a sitter comes over.
Don’t be too specific with the schedule — your sitter should have some freedom depending on kids’ moods. Note the things the sitter should be doing and when, like bedtime, snack time, etc.
4. Activities list
A list of your child’s favorite activities is a must and can become a go-to resource when kids get bored or restless. You might also want to toss a coloring book, game, DVD or craft supplies into the box, along with this awesome list of Things to Do When Kids Say “I’m Bored”.
5. First aid and emergency supplies
If there’s an injury, it’s easier for your sitter to run to the box than scramble through your supply cabinets. Add common things like bandages and antiseptic or a general first aid kit. Include a reminder of your child’s weight for medications like Tylenol and Benadryl. Add in a flashlight, extra batteries and a copy of your emergency plan.
6. Snacks for babysitter
Even if you tell your babysitter they’re welcome to eat anything in your home, it can still be awkward for them to rummage through your cupboards. Instead, offer snacks right in the box that they won’t feel guilty for eating. Or write up a list of suggested snacks and where they’re located (fridge, pantry, counter, etc.)
7. Food/snacks for kids
Cover all of your bases when it comes to food. If you have a baby, include clean bottles, formula (or instructions to retrieve breast milk from the refrigerator) and food jars or pouches. If you have a toddler, add age-appropriate snacks or instructions on where to find them. If the babysitter is watching your child during dinner time or other meal, leave them a note indicating where the food is and preparation/feeding instructions.
8. Pajamas
Don’t make the sitter dig through drawers. Include the kids’ pajamas, towels, etc. right in the box.
9. Bedtime musts
Does your child have a favorite blanket they need for bedtime? Do they use a pacifier? What happens if there’s a bedwetting? This is important information to include in the box to save your sitter’s sanity and to make your kids as comfortable as possible in your absence.
10. Comforts of home
Make your babysitter as comfortable as possible. Once the kids are in bed, they might want to do some work on their laptop or even watch some TV. Include your WiFi login information, the TV remote (and any operating instructions), magazines, etc. in the box to ensure they can maximize their time while your little ones sleep.
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