The first 2 days of an illness are days that kids need a parent. And their moms (or dads) need to take responsibility for such things as visits to a doctor or taking temperatures. As the child recovers, the parent is frequently in need of a sitter. Usually these children need extra care such as wiping noses, giving medicines, longer naps, or earlier bedtimes. Many times the children are more grumpy than usual.
Before you say yes, ask your own parent to help you make the decision about whether you should babysit for the child or not. It's likely your parent will want to talk to the child's parent to decide if the child is contagious. You'll also need to know what needs to be done and what kind of a mood the child is in. If you accept the job, you'll need to allow extra time before the parent leaves for specific instructions, especially about medications. If the job sounds like too much, say that you think it would be better to wait until the child is better. Don't be shy about saying "no."
This falls under the category of "Am I able?" You are responsible for asking about transportation before accepting the job. When the employer is a single parent, it may be inconvenient (because of naps or bedtime) to take the children along on the babysitter's ride home. The employer may request that you provide transportation to and from the job. You need to check out arrangements with your own parent. If you can't arrange transportation, you need to tell the employer you are not able to accept the babysitting job. In a very special situation, such as a close relative, your parents may allow you to spend the night as a solution. In all situations, your safety is the #1 priority!
You should never assume a family pet is safe. Family pets or pets of neighbors cause the majority of dog bites in children. Follow these 5 rules to keep children safe:
