| Babysitter Checklists: What your sitter needs to know |
By: Nicolette Zanzibar, Childcare/Babysitting Columnist
On 10/29/05
It's the day before the big annual office party, and your regular sitter cancels. It’s time to hit the phones, praying that you will find a great replacement fast.
| "When the sitter arrives, take him/her on a tour of the house, list in hand, and give a rundown of what she'll need to know." |
A friend recommends a neighborhood teenager who she's used before. Fantastic. The sitter says that she is available, and can come over twenty minutes early to get the rundown from you. A no-brainer... considering that you already have your handy Babysitter Checklist ready to go.
The checklist contains a rundown of all the important information your sitter will need, from emergency contact numbers to what time your children go to bed. It's a great introduction for a new sitter, and a valuable resource for someone who's been with you for a while. You'll likely find it will come in handy for you and your family as well -- I recommend keeping a copy in a folder next to the phone, and laminating a brief list of contacts to keep in your wallet or purse.
It should always include the following:
1. Emergency Numbers: Your cell phone or pager; contact information for a nearby neighbor; fire, police and poison control; your child's doctor and the number of the closest hospital.
2. Important information: Child's insurance card number (or location of the card); date of birth; allergy and prescription information; and a copy of an emergency medical consent form (you can find a sample here:
www.osysa.com/forms/MedicalReleaseForm.PDF.
Include warnings for the sitter not to tell callers that they are alone with the children, and never to open the door to strangers.
3. About your kids: Child's full name, age, and grade (if already attending school); nap and bedtimes; preferred foods/restricted foods; and any medications or special needs. It's also great to give a short bio of your child, especially if they're shy. Knowing what your child's favorite colors, books, and hobbies are can help a sitter to break the ice.
4. Instructions: Specific activities for the day/evening; videos or television shows that are okay to watch; meals the babysitter may need to prepare, and when you’ll be home. This section can also be a reminder to you, since it’s kept current, to tend to any specifics on your end, such as cash for activities, medication that need to be put out, etc.
When the sitter arrives, take him/her on a tour of the house, list in hand, and give a rundown of what she'll need to know. Be sure to point out where the fire extinguisher is, the thermostat (and whether you like it left alone), light switches for the common areas, and where the first aid kit is kept. Any specifics for your house are also important: how to safely use the stove, lock front and back doors, arm and unarm alarm systems, and what areas of the house, if any, are off limits to children and the sitter.
The checklist should be saved on your home computer, so that you can update it quickly (e.g. if your child's medications change, or to include specifics on when you'll be returning home) and print out additional copies as needed. Keep it brief, but thorough. Remember to keep the list updated and current, and have a fantastic evening out!
A free, printable babysitter checklist is available at:
http://www.printablechecklists.com/babysitter.shtml
|
|
|
|
