Hiring a babysitter to watch your children can be a nerve-racking process for parents. You need to go to work or have a date night, but you want to make sure your kids are safe and that the sitter knows what to do in case of an emergency.
Once you’ve hired a sitter, have an open, clear, and informed conversation with them about safety. Let them know that safety rules are crucial to you and an important part of this job.
First and foremost, we recommend checking their references and conducting a criminal background check, too.
Here’s what else to do to make sure your children are in safe hands:
1. Give the babysitter a tour of your home
Once your sitter is at your home, address safety concerns and discuss the items on the checklist below:
- Demonstrate how to use all safety devices that you have installed (e.g., gates, latches, locks, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, etc.).
- Point out where you store important supplies, such as torches, first-aid kits, and fire extinguishers.
- Identify any areas of your home that are off-limits to your children.
- Clue them in on your kids’ favourite hiding spots.
- Familiarise the sitter with your fire escape plan.
2. Provide specific safety information
Take away any guesswork by doing the following:
- Write down everything that you discuss with the sitter so that they have reference materials in your absence. If your sitter is hired on a permanent basis, incorporate a section on safety expectations into your contract or written agreement.
- Explain the dosage and instructions for any medications; write these down clearly so there’s no confusion.
- Tell the caregiver about specific foods the child eats or shouldn’t eat, especially allergy triggers.
- Explain the child’s bedtime and naptime rituals.
3. Explain your expectations thoroughly
You can do this by laying out your rules, writing them down, and discussing them with the babysitter before they even take the job. For example, your rules might include that they’re not allowed to have friends over and that there’s no smoking in the house or sleeping on the job.
Here are a few things to consider discussing or including in a babysitting contract:
- Set rules for the use of devices. Tell your sitter to avoid texting, talking on the phone, or using the internet, unless it’s absolutely necessary—if they’re distracted, they’re not safely watching the kids.
- Communicate that the kids need constant supervision. Emphasise that children should not be left alone for even one second.
- Set rules prohibiting the use of social media. Remind the sitter that they should not post details of any babysitting job on social media, and they should never post photos of your family or home.
- Encourage regular communication. Encourage the sitter to ring if they have any questions.
- Go over rules for leaving the house. Is your sitter allowed to take your kids to the park? Can your kids play in the backyard? Is the sitter allowed to drive your kids anywhere? If so, clearly communicate protocol for car seats and seat belts.
4. Offer a refresher on important safety rules
Be sure potential sitters are up to date on baby and child safety rules.
- Remind the sitter to place a baby on their back to sleep at night and at naptime.
- Reiterate that there should be nothing in the cot but the baby. Use sleepwear and a wearable blanket or sleeping bag.
- Review non-accidental head injuries (shaken baby syndrome) and their dangers.
- Check that the sitter has taken classes on CPR, first aid, and child safety; if not, you can inform them how to get first aid and CPR training.
5. Devise an emergency plan
In case of an emergency, go over the following:
- Discuss how the sitter can reach you in case something happens.
- Arrange for a neighbour or other trusted adult nearby to be available if there’s a problem; introduce this person to the sitter.
- Put your contact information and important emergency information up on the refrigerator.
6. Leave parting instructions
Before you head out, do the following:
- Review last-minute instructions, written down along with all your other guidelines.
- Remind the sitter to keep doors and windows locked, and to turn outside lights on in the evening.
- Instruct the sitter to never open the door to anyone unless you specifically ask them to.
- Make sure the sitter knows your plans and when you will return.
- Finally, as you go, reiterate, “Don’t hesitate to ring me.”
When hiring a new sitter, consider having paid trial days before offering the job on a permanent basis. This will help identify any problem areas or safety issues that need to be addressed.
Once your sitter becomes your permanent employee, keep the lines of communication open and address any matters that come up, as well as any ways to improve things from both a safety standpoint and an overall care standpoint. This will help to uncover any distress or dissatisfaction. After all, a happy sitter will lead to happier children.
