Getting a sitter for your child can be a challenge. You first have to find someone you like and trust and agree to rates and schedules. If you are a parent who uses sitters, you probably have horror stories or have at least heard them. Sitters and children do not always mesh well, and that is okay, but one thing that is not okay is leaving a sitter without specific instructions and contacts. The easiest way to do this is a simple sitter checklist. You can buy dry erase boards and notepads just for sitter checklists, but you can also just write a note. What do you include on a sitter checklist?
Emergency Information
Emergencies can come up at any time. The first thing on your babysitter checklist should tell the sitter how to deal with those emergencies. Electrical fires and gas leaks may not have anything to do with a sitter, but there is no way to prevent them from happening while you are out. So, you need to equip your sitter with emergency information. Here’s a list of information for this section:
- Parent/ Guardian contact information- phone numbers or instant messaging apps for easy contact while you are away. Offer multiple avenues of contact. A phone number, email, and Google Hangouts screen name can all be helpful.
- Alternate contact information- If you do not hear your phone or leave it in the car during dinner by mistake, who should your sitter call or contact if they cannot reach you? Grandparents, trusted neighbors, friends, or other relatives might be listed for backup if you are unreachable. This tip is useful if you are going to be in a conference or meetings where you may be less reachable.
- EMS, Police, Fire, and other rescue information. Most cities use 911 these days, but some smaller towns may not have access. How do you contact emergency personnel?
- Hospitals, doctors, and medical information should be included. A copy of the insurance card, preferred hospital name, and doctor’s name and number should suffice.
- Address of local hospital or medical clinic. If you and the sitter live on opposite sides of town or in different neighboring towns, he or she may not know where the closest facility is located.
- Where to go if they need to leave the house and communications are compromised. An address to a friend’s house or neighbor’s name and home information can be listed.
Rules
Sitters may decide to be a little more lenient than you are, but if you have specific rules that must be followed without fail, be sure to let them know. You may also let them know which things can be negotiated and what the absolute limit would be. In addition, make sure that any food rules are specified, and if there are allergies, these are clearly marked. Sitters may not realize that you aren’t just keeping your child from eating ice cream if he or she is allergic to milk. Be specific and clear on rules and explain why the rule is in place if breaking the rule could spell trouble for the sitter. A babysitter checklist of rules does not have to be pages long, but should outline what the sitter should expect behaviorally and what you expect from him or her.
Consequences
Let the sitter know which consequences they are allowed to use and what is off-limits. Even if you spank your child, you may not want the sitter to do it. Let your sitter know what acceptable consequences are for your children breaking the rules. Time out, loss of privileges, additional chores, and other consequences might be used when they break the rules. However, if you do not want your sitter to implement certain consequences, let them know. They are not mind-readers.
You should also be specific about your consequences for sitters breaking the rules. Will you refuse to use them again, dock their pay, or report them to their agency if they are affiliated? Whatever your consequence is, your sitter needs to know upfront so they can choose whether or not to agree to the consequence. A babysitter checklist must include consequences because rules without consequences are merely suggestions.
Sitter Limits
Sitter’s activities should be included on the babysitter checklist. Sitters should know what they are allowed to do, use, and eat while they are at your house. If there is food that is not to be cooked or used, you need to let them know that. Likewise, if there is food that is free for everyone in the house to have whenever they want, this should be noted as well. Sitters who are at your home for long assignments should be given a meal/ provided with food or be compensated for placing food orders/ providing their food. If you are leaving money for takeout for the children, be sure to include funds for the sitter’s meal too. If you want individual rooms left closed off, sitters should know that too. Likewise, if they are permitted to watch television, movies, or use streaming services, let them know how to access the services.
Supplies
If your sitter is responsible for helping with homework, baths, cooking, or anything other than watching the children, make sure that he or she knows where the supplies are located. Sitters cannot cook dinner if they cannot find the pots and pans, seasonings, or other ingredients. Likewise, a bath is not easy without a towel and washcloth. Small children may not be willing to tell sitters where things are if they are tired or irritable. They also may not know where they are. A babysitter checklist is more than a list of things to do or see. It should also be a helpful tool for caring for your children.
Final Thoughts
Your babysitter checklist does not have to be extravagant and flashy. A simple checklist printed from a Word document or written on notebook paper can be sufficient. Be sure that you use a legible font or handwriting style, especially for phone numbers and contact information. The decision to use a sitter rather than a family member can be a difficult one, but a list of dos and don’ts can be a lifesaver for sitters. They will appreciate having the information at their fingertips. After you have used a sitter once or twice, ask them if there is anything they wish was on the list or other things that would be helpful. This way, you can tailor the list to meet the needs of your sitter. If your sitter is too young to drive, the emergency list can help them feel more in control when they cannot leave due to an emergency. Hopefully, your sitter will never need the emergency portion of your list, but having it all in one place is incredibly convenient.
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