|
Babysitters and Helpers
How to choose a babysitter? • Get a trusted friend or family member if possible. • Get recommendations from friends. • Trade childcare with friends who have kids. • Do not hire a sitter under age 12. • Watch your child's reaction when you tell them a sitter they know is coming, and listen to what your child says about the sitter afterward. • Meet the sitter in advance, and check references. • Make sure he or she knows CPR and first aid. • Ask whether young sitters have taken the American Red Cross babysitter class. If not, encourage them to take it. If you have a sitter aged 12 to 15 that you like, offer to pay for them to take the class. • Have them spend time with you and your kids, and see how they interact with the kids. A good strategy is to hire them first as a "mother's or father's helper," and have them watch the kids while you are home getting something done. References Sitters should provide references that indicate a proven track record for showing good common sense, maturity and following instructions. First Aid Sitters should have first aid training and know the Heimlich maneuver to help choking victims. Knowledge of CPR techniques for infants and children is also important. Make sure the sitter knows where your first aid kit is located. No Surprises There should be no surprises on either side. Before a sitter is left alone with the children, fees, house rules, discipline, etc. should be clearly discussed. Emergencies Sitters should always err on the side of caution. If a babysitter suspects that a child in their care needs professional medical help, they should get it, even if it later turns out to be unnecessary. House Rules Make sure everyone understands the "house rules" in terms of what is permissible, for both the sitter and the children. Examples include whether or not guests are allowed, guidelines for telephone use, permissible snacks, etc. Once you've found a candidate, interview her as if she's being hired for a real job - which she is. Ideally the candidate you're considering should come to your house for the interview, so you can see firsthand how she interacts with your child. Find out whether she's ever cared for a child the same age as yours (if you have an infant younger than 1, you want a sitter who has experience with babies), the types of games she plays with children, and what she does when they cry or refuse to go to bed. It's not enough that the babysitter seems responsible and likes kids. It's also important for her to know how to keep kids from getting hurt and what to do in an emergency. Ask a potential sitter whether she knows first aid, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver. You can get a sense of how well she thinks on her feet by posing "What if?" scenarios, such as "What would you do if my baby were running a fever?" Finally, ask for a reference (two if she wasn't a friend's recommendation) and check it. And if you want the sitter to do any extra chores, such as folding laundry, be prepared to pay more. If the references check out and you hire her, go over house rules. Be really clear, especially with a teen. Tell your sitter to limit phone use, even after your child goes to bed, and not allowing her to have friends over. And if you're employing a teen, you might want to meet her parents for peace of mind. Before you leave, make sure you go over your child's routines together: when he goes to bed, whether he's allowed to watch TV, what to feed him. Most important, review safety and emergency information. Point out your baby's gates and your smoke detectors. Tell her where the first-aid kit, flashlight, and fire extinguisher are located. If you have an infant, remind the sitter that babies should be put to sleep on their backs. Don't forget to give your babysitter the phone number of the place you're going and your cell phone number, if you have one. At home, post these numbers by the phone: • Your child's doctor • The police • The fire department • A neighbor who can be contacted for help • The Poison Control Center's local emergency number
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
