Whether
your child is three months old or eight years old, you want to feel
confident leaving them home with a babysitter. You deserve to go out
and enjoy yourself, and constant worrying about what’s going on at
home can put a damper on your night. Choosing a trustworthy
babysitter is extremely important, but so is providing them with
everything they need in case of emergencies. Knowing what information
to leave for the babysitter will ensure you equip them with
everything they need.
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Contact Information
The
first and most important information you should leave with your
babysitter
is contact details. The list of contact information should be
thorough and cover any services your babysitter may need in an
emergency. If you’re going out of town, it’s essential that they
can call the person required if any issues arise. Here are some
necessary contact details to leave for your babysitter:
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Your contact information
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Close family member or friend to call in an emergency
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911 (or equivalent in your area)
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Poison control
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Family doctor and dentist
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Medical information
Secondly,
you’ll want to outline, in full detail, any medical notes that your
babysitter may need to know. It could include current health
statuses, such as if they have the flu or rash, or any chronic
problems. Make sure to include drug and food allergies and any
medications that they may need to take.
Make
sure to have a photocopy of your child’s health insurance
information and a healthcare authorization form in case they need to
take an emergency trip to the hospital.
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Activity schedule
Most
parents have their kids on a regular
schedule.
They have specified times at which they wake up, eat, and go to bed.
Ideally, kids should be kept on that same schedule, even when they
are with a babysitter, or it can mess up their whole routine.
Children will expect the routine they know and could be upset if that
gets thrown off. It can be especially hard if your child doesn’t
talk yet, as the babysitter may not be able to identify what it is
that they want. Write out the timings for activities throughout the
day and include any specifics, such as watching a show in the morning
or reading a book before bed, etc.
House rules
Each
household has a specific set of rules that they follow, and the same
should apply when your babysitter is over. You don’t want your kids
to get accustomed to getting away with things with the babysitter
that they usually cannot do as it can become confusing for them.
Useful information to include are things like any rooms that are
off-limits, what to do when the kids misbehave, tv shows that they
cannot watch and how long they can watch tv in general. You can also
include any rules for household pets, such as if they are not allowed
up on the furniture or in specific rooms.
By
including all this information in a briefing for your babysitter, you
can feel confident they have everything they need to take care of
your children when you’re away.
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