Feed the children healthy food. It is not good babysitting to just allow the children to eat whatever. Tell them before they get crackers they have to eat a piece of fruit. These things include apples, carrots, grapes, and oranges. Be sure the child doesn’t have something they are not allowed to have (such as a cookie or ice cream) too often.
End-of-day routines help kids wind down and signal their bodies that it’s time for sleep. Ask parents what they usually do before bedtime. Maybe they have rules like no TV or computer time for an hour before bedtime. If they typically read, talk quietly, or listen to music before bed, follow the same routine. [1] X Research source Go through the basics. Take a child to the bathroom (or put on a nighttime diaper). Help the child brush their teeth. Find out from parents what else is necessary before the kid hops under the covers. [2] X Research source Always put babies (and children) to bed in their designated sleep space (be it a bed, crib, bassinet, etc. ) This is especially important for babies, who can be injured if their sleep space isn’t how it should be. Remove padding, pillows, stuffed animals, and other items from the crib, if these items are present. Be sure to lay babies on their back when putting them to sleep. It helps reduce the risk of suffocation. Give the child any comfort items, such as pacifiers, stuffed animals, or blankets, that they usually sleep with. Do not give stuffed animals and similar to babies. [3] X Research source If a child calls you/wakes up, wait a minute before going in. They may fall back asleep on their own. If a baby can’t go back to sleep, stroke them gently on the arms or belly. If the baby uses a pacifier, that can also help. Find out what calming tactics the parents use.
Be an entertainer. Parents love babysitters who help kids have fun and learn while still reinforcing rules and keeping discipline. Ask kids to show you their favorite toys. Find out from parents and other babysitters what games kids of different ages like to play. Get the kids outdoors if you can. Playing with toys, board games, and activity-based games are all good options for older children. Ask what their favorite thing to do is. You can also bring a few of your favorite games and toys from when you were their age, like Monopoly, Life, Candyland, Uno, or other card games. Stay off screens. Parents are paying you to watch the kid, not put them in front of a television all day.
Making something will feel productive, pass the time, and give the kids something to be proud of.
If you can’t leave the property, play outside in the yard, if possible.
Tarzan Finding Nemo Tangled Wreck-It Ralph
How many kids will I be babysitting? How old are the kids? What time will you be leaving and coming home? What do you expect from a babysitter? Will I need to feed the kids? Put them to bed? Do the kids need help with brushing their teeth or using the restroom? Are the children allergic to anything? What should I do if there’s a fire?
The children’s parents Neighbors Their doctor Poison control Fire and rescue Police
Bring the checklist every time you babysit so you can easily fulfill your duties. That way, you can focus more on having a great time with the kids.
Your babysitting checklist. Tips for babysitting. Age-appropriate games. Age-appropriate toys. Art supplies. Books. Puzzles.
Your shoes are probably the most important part of your outfit. Wear shoes you can run in without tripping or losing a shoe.
You could text them things like, “I can’t find the extra toilet paper,” “How many snacks did you say they could have?” or “Where can I find Kiley’s favorite stuffie?” On the other hand, call the parents if something more serious happens, such as a child getting sick or a child who won’t stop crying.
Always ask the kids what they want to do. You’ll have a much easier time if you play with their favorite toys or play games that they like.
You might say, “Your mom said we can’t throw balls in the house, remember? Let’s play a different game. ” You could also say, “It’s not okay to hit. Why don’t you say you’re sorry so we can go play some more?” If the behavior continues, you may have to contact their parent.
If you put the children to bed, continue to check on them every 15 minutes. [16] X Research source Make sure they’re still in bed and sleeping peacefully.
Don’t tell strangers you’re the babysitter. Just say that it isn’t a good time. You could say, “Right now’s not a good time for us. You can come back tomorrow if this is important. ”
Sometimes you just can’t stay late, such as when you have a curfew. Tell the parents before they leave so they’re home on time.
This applies even for older children, unless the parents gave you explicit directions stating that they could be home alone for a small period of time.
It can be tempting to invite a friend over late at night while the kids are asleep, but even this is off limits unless the parents have approved.
Always clean up after yourself. If you and the children make a mess, pick up before the parents arrive. Play cleaning games with the kid. Say whoever picks up the most wins or makeup a silly game that includes cleaning. Usually there is a mess when you get there, pick it up. Everyone appreciates it when they come home to a house cleaner then when they left it.
Know when to say no and when it’s OK to let something small go like letting children stay up 5 minutes past bedtime on occasion. Children will challenge you. Pushing boundaries to see how much they can get away with is a normal way kids (even toddlers) learn and figure out where they stand. Check in with parents to find out what the rules are, then follow them, even if you don’t agree with them! The best babysitters think of the job as a responsibility first, with having fun, or earning money, second. Few things are as rewarding as knowing you’ve earned a child’s trust and affection. Always feel free to call the parents if you feel you need to. It is better to be safe than sorry, and most likely the parents will appreciate your concern.
Get all relevant information regarding emergencies before the parents/guardians leave. This could be emergency numbers, where the main “Home” phone is kept, where a spare door key is, etc. Try not to come off as nosy, and the adult(s) will realize that you are just attempting to help. In this way you can be sure of what to do in an emergency and get the children out. [21] X Research source In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, drop everything and get the child or children and yourself out of the house. Do not reenter the house, do not let go of the children and call emergency services as soon as possible.
Have the parents show you the location of first aid supplies and medications. Get a list of medications that each child may need to take, or is able to take in case of injury or illness (such as Tylenol for growing pains or a headache). Write down the child/children’s schedule. Most families have a general (or sometimes more specific) timetable of events in a child’s day. This typically includes meal times, the times for certain chores/homework periods, and bedtime. Getting this written down in advance will mean that the child (if they’re older) won’t be able to pull the wool over your eyes once their parents are gone.
Assume you are not allowed to take photos or video or the children. Ask if you are allowed to take and/or post pictures of videos of the children if you have a valid reason for doing this. Find out what you are allowed to do when the children are sleeping, if applicable. For instance, you may want to ask if you can use social media, watch TV, or, on rare occasions have friends over.
Clarify about any foods that aren’t allowed; these are typically candy and dessert-related goodies that the kids might ask for when their parents aren’t supervising. Kids, especially toddlers, may not want to play the activities you have planned. Be sure to come with backups and don’t worry about staying too close to the activities part of the plan, as long as they don’t use electronic devices too often.
A parent could also say that you are not to punish them, and instead should report all misbehaviors to them.
Carefully observe the parents as they perform tasks you haven’t done before or are uncomfortable with. Ask for help learning skills you feel uneasy about, such as bathing a baby. Also, note your strengths, such as helping children with homework. These things can be included in your resume which will be explained in fuller detail later.
Try reading books about babysitting. These will answer many common questions about the care of infants and children in day-to-day and emergency situations.
Creating a color-coding system may be helpful in organizing your ‘busy’ days on the calendar. Update your schedule frequently so that you don’t accidentally double-book yourself. Having a standard schedule with all of your other activities, sports, etc. can also be helpful for parents.
Flat rate hourly wages typically range from $9-$15 per hour, but can be significantly more or less depending on the household and the area in which you or the family lives. [25] X Research source Per child wages range from $7-$10 per child, per hour. However, to get a better idea of the competition and to see what is suitable for the conditions, get an overview of what others in your area are charging for a family the size of the family you are sitting for.
Poison control Police station Fire department Nurse hotline A trusted person who has children (like an aunt or parent) to contact in case of a minor case of confusion Any other relevant numbers Forms for the parents to fill out.
It’s always best to babysit for someone you know or someone you’ve heard about from a friend. If you’re new to babysitting, you may choose to only babysit for those you know. If word of mouth doesn’t work, consider advertising in your neighborhood. You can use flyers delivered to homes in your area or send out an email if your neighborhood provides a list of residents. If you decide to advertise, check with your parents first. They need to know when you put out personal information. Put a flyer on any community notice boards. Put together a résumé outlining any specific skills, experience, and training you have. If you are old enough, register yourself on babysitting websites. Keep in mind that some of these won’t accept you unless you are a certain age.
Just as you’ll be finding out if the job sounds good, the parents will be looking to learn as much as possible about you. Tell them about yourself, your family, your school, and why you want to babysit. Be prepared with a list of questions so you know what’s expected of you. Write them down so you don’t forget to ask anything. The answers you get to questions like these will help you decide if it’s the right job for you. If you’ve interviewed the family and met the kids but still want to learn more, suggest another visit so you can spend more time with the kids. Most parents will be happy that you want to find out as much as you can.
Tell the family you need to talk it over with your parents before committing to the job. When you know what you want and what to expect, babysitting is a better experience for both you and the kids. If you don’t feel like you have the skills to look after a newborn, don’t take the job. If you’re allergic to certain animals, you may need to turn down a job if the family has pets. Get to know the children beforehand to know if you are ready to babysit them. This also might help them see you as an authority, and prevent the tears when the parents leave.
Do you enjoy spending time with children? Are you prepared to take care of kids? Do you have an awareness of young children’s needs? Have you taken a babysitting course? Do you have experience taking care of younger siblings or relatives? What can you offer to the kids and their families? Do you want to babysit occasionally or find a regular babysitting position? If income is a concern, will the hours and payment meet your needs? How many kids will you be taking care of? What are their ages? The amount of care needed differs with age. Do the kids have any special needs? Special diets? Does the family have pets? A pool? What are the hours you’re expected to work? What are you allowed to do in the home (e. g. , use their computer, help yourself to food and snacks or bring your own)? If you have your license, are you expected to drive the kids?
