Selecting Child Care Providers - CHAPTER THREE - QUICK REFERENCE KIT Part 1

All child care providers must realize that their only job is caring for your child while in their care.

It’s always a good idea to remind your child care provider if at any time they feel they cannot handle something, make the phone call for help. This should be especially emphasized to younger babysitters at home alone with your child.

The following chapter is designed to give your babysitter all the necessary information they will require should an emergency arise. It is important for you to fill out this information accurately and completely for your child's benefit -- it could save their life!

By giving this information to your babysitter you will make them feel more confident and relaxed, should a situation occur. It is also important to take the time to go over the information you have provided, with your babysitter and any questions or concerns should be addressed at that time.

Babysitter Quick Reference Kit

Write down where you will be and include the address and phone number.

Write down important phone numbers such as

Your own phone number and address
Your family doctors name and phone number
Poison Control Center phone number

Neighbors name and phone number
Friends name and phone number
Relatives name and phone number

Important information about your child, such as

Age
Medical history
Current medications
Allergies

Location of First Aid Kit

Location of Fire Extinguisher

Should a fire occur be calm
Locate the children
Stay low to the floor
Touch closed doors with the back of your hand
DO NOT open the door if it is hot.
Quickly and safely exit the house at the nearest exit

Go to the neighbours house located at _____.
Call 9-1-1

Our home address is _______.

Safety Precautions

Ensure that you know where the children are in the house at all times.

Adequately supervise the children.

Check on children frequently.

Ensure safety of children at all times. If you are unsure about something, don’t let them do it.

Keep the doors locked at all times, and DO NOT unlock the door to strangers.

If someone calls DO NOT tell them you are there alone.

Ensure the children get to bed on time.

Check the temperature of all heated foods and liquids before giving it to the children.

Never leave young children alone on change tables, not even for a second.

Make sure all safety gates are up and in place properly.

Ensure that all harmful chemicals, materials, vitamins, cosmetics are out of the child’s reach.

If you suspect a child of ingesting something harmful, call the poison control center or family doctor immediately and follow their instructions.

Beware of choking hazards. Do not give children under age 6 hard or round foods. Check the floor for small objects. Never let children wear clothing with items around their necks while using playground equipment.

Never leave a child alone in the bathtub - even in a bath ring or similar device. Empty all sinks, tubs, buckets and containers immediately after use. Store buckets upside down.

Keep cribs safe by removing all soft bedding and placing infants on their backs to sleep. Never hang anything on or above a crib with string or ribbon. Never place a crib near a window.

Parent Instructions

Show the babysitter where emergency exits, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers are located. Demonstrate how to enable and disable security systems and alarms.

Show the sitter where you keep the door keys in case your child locks herself inside a room.

Let the sitter know of any special problems your child may have, such as an allergy to bee stings, certain foods, or household products, or the need for medication at a specific time (the directions for which should be clearly explained and written down). Show the sitter where first-aid items are kept.

Teach your child the meaning of 9-1-1 and how to call for help, so that if something happens to your babysitter, your child knows what to do.

Take the time to let your babysitter know your child care expectations before you leave your home. If you'd prefer that the sitter not leave the house with your child, make that clear. If the phone and any visitors are off limits, don't hesitate to discuss the restrictions with the sitter.

Additional Safety Points

Don't give child any medicine without parents written instructions.

Don't leave the child alone in the house or yard, even for a minute.

Don't leave the child unattended whenever they are near water. Infants and small children can drown in only a few inches of water.

Don't feed the child under 4 years old nuts, popcorn, hard candy, raw carrots, or any hard, smooth foods that can block the windpipe and cause choking. Foods such as hot dogs or grapes should be chopped into small pieces.

Don't let the child play with plastic bags, latex balloons, coins, or other small objects they could choke on.

Don't let the child play near stairs, windows, stoves, or electrical outlets.

Don’t have the babysitters friends visit the house or be around the children.

Child Care Center Helpful Reminders

This section deals with taking your child to a care provider outside of your home. Most of the forms you had filled out while enrolling your child in the child care center will be on file and should include such things as

Your child’s medical history

Any allergies

How you can be reached, your phone number and where you work.

Relatives phone numbers

Neighbors phone numbers

Family doctors name and phone number

Food allergies or restrictions

If any of this important information changes, such as medications, allergies, etc. It is imperative to let the childcare facility know so they can update your child’s file.

You should have also checked to see if the child care center has the proper insurance and the correct amount of staff to children ratio.

If, at any time while dropping your child off, you feel uncomfortable about the qualifications of the staff you should not leave your child their.

Talk with the facilitator often about any concerns, even when things are going well tell them at the center, they should always welcome your feedback.

If the center is planning any trips away from the childcare center it is important that they get your permission, in writing ahead of time. Most often this will be done in the form of a flyer or letter sent home with the child for you to read, sign and deliver back to the school.

Again, if you feel uncomfortable about your child being away from the center without you being there, it is important to talk with the facilitator immediately to express your concern. Alternate arrangements may in fact be made for those children staying behind.

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