Baby Sitter Guidelines
If possible, it is a good idea to interview a potential baby
sitter before letting him or her care for your children.
The interview is a great way to make sure you find the right
person to care for your children.
It helps to go over some guidelines with baby sitters, both
at the interview and when you leave the house. This gives
the baby sitter a better idea of what you expect. Take a
tour of the house and point out where to find first aid
supplies, fire extinguishers, toys, clothing, snacks, and
other items. Talk about the fire escape plan and emergency
exits.
Here is the information to provide to anyone who will take
care of your children while you are away:
- Your family name, phone number, address, and the nearest
cross street.
- Where you will be, how you can be reached, and when you
will return.
- Important phone numbers: police, fire, poison control
center, hospital, children's doctor, ambulance. Post
near the phone.
- The name and phone number of a nearby friend, neighbor,
or relative.
- Children's names, ages, weights, and any food allergies
or medical conditions.
- Rules about friends visiting, TV and computer use, how to
answer the telephone, outdoor play, smoking, and snacks.
(Talk about rules that apply to both the children and to
the sitter.)
- Warnings about not opening the door to strangers and
hanging up immediately on crank callers.
- Special instructions about such things as child's fears,
favorite play activities, or family pets.
- Bedtime routines such as brushing teeth, washing hands,
favorite bedtime story, light on or off, door open or
closed.
- How to handle misbehavior.
- Rules for play and places the children should avoid, such
as the garage, basement, office, or swimming pool.
Make sure that the sitter never leaves young children
unattended, especially while the child is in a high chair,
walker, bath, or stroller.
Written by Donna Warner Manczak, PhD, MPH.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.