What Your Babysitter Needs to Know

Most importantly, you should be sure your sitter has taken a babysitting course that teaches first aid and care of the choking infant or child.  Also you need to: 

• Be sure to tell your sitter where you can be reached and when you will return home. 
• Leave list of emergency numbers next to your phone. Include the phone number for emergency services (fire, ambulance, police), a phone number for an immediately available adult, and the Poison Center (911 or 800-222-1222).  Include your phone number and address with clear directions on how to locate your house. 
• Be sure your sitter knows what to do if there is an emergency.  Always have first aid supplies and a first aid chart available for easy reference.  (A first aid chart may be obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics by calling 800-433-9016.) 
• Discuss any special health conditions or medication that the sitter needs to know.  Write down instructions for medications - how much, how often, and how to give.  
• Take the babysitter on a tour of the house to locate all entrances and exits, fire/burglar alarms, first aid supplies, fuse box, flashlights, and off-limits areas.  Discuss what to do in case of fire - escape route, where to go call for help, and any escape routines you may have practiced with your children. 
• Review feeding, naptime, and bedtime routines. 
• Discuss house rules on use of phone, television, and Internet.  Be clear that smoking, alcohol, and parties are never allowed.
• Give instructions for comforting child and tips for managing behavior. 
• Once you have oriented a new sitter, subsequent pre-departure briefings will take less time.  You should allow 15 - 20 minutes each visit.  Not only does that allow you to give last minute specific instructions, but it also gives your child a chance to adjust to your departure and warm up to the babysitter.