Selecting Child Care Providers - CHAPTER TWO - WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW Part 1

What Makes a Good Babysitter?

A good babysitter will realize that the most important job they have is the responsibility of caring for your child.

Maturity, good judgement, and someone who likes children are the basic requirements you are looking for in a babysitter. You are also looking for someone who will entertain and do fun activities with your child.

The babysitter should also know something about child behaviour, be able to handle basic needs of your child such as meals, putting the child to bed, and have the training to deal with any problems or emergencies that may arise.

Entrusting someone to care for your child can be a difficult thing to do. Finding a qualified babysitter requires time and effort, but your reward is assurance that your child is in capable hands.

The recommendations of people you know and trust are your best bet for finding a reliable and capable babysitter. If you're new to the area and don't know how to go about finding a sitter, ask your neighbors or co-workers for recommendations, or inquire at your place of worship.

Interviewing prospective sitters and checking their references will give you peace of mind. You may want to invite the sitter over for a "dry run" while you are at home so you can familiarize her with your household and observe how she interacts with your child.

Your Responsibilities as a Parent

As a parent it is your responsibility to know who you are entrusting with your child. You need to know you can depend on this individual to give the best possible care to your child. Listed below are some considerations you should keep in mind when choosing a babysitter for your child.

Select your babysitter and also have a list of two or three other qualified babysitters in case of last minute emergencies.

Ask your friends, relatives or neighbours if they can recommend someone they have found to be reliable.

Get to know your babysitter, before hand and have them visit your home to meet and get comfortable with your child.

State exactly what you expect of your babysitter and make a list or emergency kit of instructions for them to follow.

Discourage your babysitter from inviting and entertaining their friends in your home.

Discourage your babysitter from using your telephone for lengthy personal calls. In an emergency situation you want to be able to contact them, not get a busy signal.

Do not accept the services of any friends of your babysitter, should they be unavailable. You cannot be sure that they will be suitable if you have not had a chance to get to know them yourself.

Make a list of emergency numbers as well as the number you can be reached at and place by every phone in your house.

The age of your babysitter is recommended to be at least 16 years. Depending on your state laws, it could be illegal to leave children in the care of someone under 16 years of age.

Have a new babysitter meet you and your child in your home before their actual work night. This will give you a chance to go over important information as well as give your babysitter a chance to meet your child.

Provide a list of instructions about the usual bedtime routine, including the time you expect your child to be in bed, and any other information about your child they should know eg. medicine, medical conditions etc.

Show your babysitter around areas of the house they will need to be familiar with such as the main power shut-off switch, all exits from the home, and where they can find things such as clean clothes, nappies, and bedding.

Your Responsibilities as the Employer

When you hire a babysitter you automatically become an employer. Few parents realize this fact and even though you might not have to pay additional taxes you are still liable under the employment act.

The responsibilities of employing a babysitter is to inform them of all emergency contacts and procedures. This will help ensure that your babysitter is confident in knowing what to do, should an emergency arise.

Make sure your babysitter knows when to use 9-1-1 if it applies in your area.

Ensure that you show your babysitter where all of the doors and windows are located and how to lock/unlock them.

Show where the first-aid supplies are kept, and ensure your babysitter knows how to use them.

Brief your babysitter about allergies, medications or other medical information about your child.

Indicate what TV programs, music or computer games are allowed/not allowed.

Establish rules regarding visitors, whether it be your babysitter's or your children's friends.

If required, explain how to use certain appliances.

Overall, ensure your babysitter, understands the routines of your household. Some examples include, bedtimes, snacks, chores, activities and homework.

Arrange transportation to and from home for the babysitter.

Let your babysitter know what time to expect you home, and ensure that you phone if that changes.

Call your babysitter at least once while you are out and make sure all is well.

Employing a Babysitter

It is important that you feel confident in your babysitter’s abilities and maturity level to handle any situation. You should also be aware of important information you need to give your babysitter.

Check all references of a babysitter in exactly the same way as you would a nanny.

Check that they know basic first aid and how to cope in an emergency.

Tell the babysitter where you are going. If possible leave a land line contact number as well as your mobile phone number in case there is a signal problem or, if you are going to a party, it may be too loud to hear your mobile phone ringing.

Make sure you have contact details and an address for your babysitter in case one of your children is ill or upset after you return and need to talk to her urgently.

Don't just bolt out of the door as soon as the babysitter arrives. Make time to show her around and give any last minute instructions or details. If there are older children she needs to know what they are and aren't allowed to do with regard to television and snacks and what time they go to bed.

Remember the babysitter doesn't know your children. If they have special words or favourite teddies and blankets that get them off to sleep your babysitter needs to be told.

Leave a contact number of someone nearby who you trust, perhaps a neighbour or relative, in case your babysitter needs on the spot help urgently.

If your child is unwell don't leave her with a new babysitter, it isn't fair on either of them.

If you don't want a babysitter to smoke make it clear before you leave.

Always tell your child in the morning and keep reminding them during the day that a babysitter is coming. If they don't like being left it is still much better to tell them. Sneaking off while they are playing and hoping for the best never works.

Always overestimate rather than underestimate what time you will be home. It is better to return early than leave your babysitter hanging.

Don't leave your child with a babysitter they don't like - take the time to find one that they get along with.

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