Hiring a babysitter is a big decision. You want to hire the best person for your children without breaking the bank. In addition, you want to make sure that the person and your child are a good fit. Sometimes a highly recommended sitter is fabulous but just does not fit with your family dynamic, and this is okay. However, there are times that the sitter is great with a child but cannot stand the parents due to their disrespectful nature. To avoid being disrespectful parents, there are some babysitter etiquette rules you can follow.
Be Courteous
When making plans to hire a sitter, call or contact them as soon as possible. Some agencies may charge extra for last-minute appointments. Sometimes things come up, and you cannot offer notice, but if you know you want to go out for your partner’s birthday, friend’s promotion, or an anniversary, you should book the sitter in advance. If you are unsure if you will need to cancel, you can let them know when you book their service that you are booking in advance, but you may need to cancel if certain things change. Likewise, try not to cancel at the last minute. Let your sitter know as soon as possible if things change. Of course, as mentioned before, emergencies happen. However, too many emergency cancellations could result in the babysitter no longer desiring your business.
When describing your rules, wants, and requirements, you should be firm but kind. You can emphasize the need for specific rules to be followed without being demanding. If you treat your sitter with respect and kindness, he or she is more likely to work with you again, be flexible with you, and follow your rules exactly as they are written. Babysitter etiquette does not need to be difficult.
Pay Fair Wages
One of the first rules of babysitter etiquette is to pay fair wages. No one wants to be underpaid. This statement is true whether you are a 13-year-old sitter or a 30-year-old nanny. While a teenager does not have bills to pay and a family to consider, typically, there is a limit to what they should be required to do, especially for $8 an hour. This rule does not mean that you have to pay nanny wages for teen sitters, but you should consider how much work they are doing. If the 13-year-old is willing to sit for $7 an hour, but you also ask him or her to change diapers, take out the trash, and prepare dinner, consider a little extra per hour. Likewise, if extra children are going to come over or multiple families are involved, pay should increase. Each family should pay the hourly rate.
Don’t Overwhelm the Sitter
If you need the sitter to watch six kids, you might want to hire two sitters or tell the sitter to bring a friend to help. Too many kids at one time is dangerous and overwhelming. If you have multiple children in diapers, it can become even more overwhelming. Increased pay is not enough if the sitter is going to struggle to keep the children safe. Likewise, even if you only have three children, but one is challenging, you might consider a second sitter or increased pay. Sitters are prepared to deal with difficult behaviors in general, but if your child is an “eloper” or “runner,” $2 extra per hour is not enough. Sitters also need to be aware of any special needs your children may have before beginning work. Many sitters specialize in working with special needs children, so consider hiring someone with experience and education in this area.
Give the Sitter a Checklist
Make sure that the sitter has all of the information he or she may need. Some children have medical conditions, food aversions, or routines that need to be considered. Leave a list of medical, emergency, and related information for the sitter in a central location. You do not need an entire binder. A document printed from Microsoft Word or written on a notepad can be enough for the sitter. You do need to make sure that it gets updated as things change. If grandma is the backup contact and gets a new phone, update the list. Make sure that any handwritten instructions are legible. There is nothing worse than being in an emergency and not being able to read the information. Whether your babysitter is grandma or a paid sitter, this rule applies to all babysitter etiquette.
Be Clear
When explaining the expectations of the children and babysitter, be clear on what they mean and what the consequences are. If the babysitter is allowed to handle discipline while he or she is in your home, make sure the sitter knows what is allowed and what is not. You may discipline in one way but expect the sitter to do something different. Let the sitter know what is allowed. Also, let the children know what happens if you get a bad report from the sitter and that the sitter’s rules are to be followed. Children and sitters need to know their roles and responsibilities.
Call or Contact the Sitter if You Will Return Late
Many states have rules about who can drive after certain hours. Most of these rules do not apply when returning from work, but it can be stressful for a child if they are driving later than their license says is allowed. Be courteous to your sitter even after he or she is there. If you are going to be late, let them know. If you are going to be extremely late, let them arrange to stay all night or find someone to relieve them.
Final Words
The gist of this entire article comes down to two words: be courteous. Be kind to the sitter and pay them fair wages for their work. Do not expect them to chase difficult children without a backup plan and let them know as soon as possible if plans change. You may make a few mistakes along the way, but if the sitter sees that you are making an effort to make his or her life easier, the favor will often be returned. These are the people caring for your children. They should be treated in the highest regard. Babysitter etiquette is fundamental in hiring any sitter.
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