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Maybe you've been babysitting forever and have lots of neighborhood families on your list. Maybe you just landed your very first job babysitting for your cousin. Whether you're an old pro or just starting out, babysitting is a fun way to spend some time with kids while making some extra money.
Being a babysitter is all about responsibility. As long as you're on the job, you're in charge. Not only do you have to make sure the kids are happy, you have to make sure they're safe and that their needs are taken care of.
If you're new to babysitting, check out this guide to learn how to be the best babysitter around. Been babysitting forever and think you have it down? Read on for a quick refresher course in babysitting basics, just to be sure.
Rule #1: Be Prepared
We borrowed this motto from the Boy Scouts, but we knew they wouldn't mind: It's the rule for anyone who wants to know what to do in an emergency. Most babysitting jobs are a breeze and nothing goes wrong - except maybe for an occasional fight over the last orange popsicle. But for the rare times when an emergency does happen, you want to be ready to handle it. Be sure you know the following:
Emergency numbers. These include:
* the local emergency number (911 in a lot of areas, but check to be sure)
* the number for the fire department that covers the area in which you're babysitting (if different from the local emergency number)
* the number for the police covering the area in which you're babysitting (if different from the local emergency number)
* the number for the local poison control center
A lot of parents have these numbers posted by the phone or on the fridge; if not, ask.
Other important numbers. Ask parents to also leave these numbers:
* parent's cell phone or beeper number (if they have one); if not, the number for the place they'll be
* phone numbers for a few trusted neighbors
* phone numbers of any relatives who live in the area
* phone number for the children's doctor
Ask the parent which number he or she wants you to call first. If there's a serious medical emergency, the best practice is to call 911 first, but if it's a less serious situation, such as cuts or scrapes, a parent may want you to call him or her before calling the doctor. Find out what the parent's preferences are.
Medical information. Is a child taking medicine? Do any kids have asthma? What about allergies? Parents should give you information about a child's medical conditions so you know what to do in an emergency. For example, if the child is allergic to bee stings, you will want to know where the parents keep the kid's epinephrine shot (a pen-like device that gives a shot of fast-acting medication that can save the life of someone with severe allergies). The parent should also train you in how to use the shot on the child - it's easy if you know how to do it.
Where you are. Sounds basic, but it's so basic that many people forget to make sure they know the correct address of the house they're in. You may know it's the green house four houses down from yours, but that won't help the fire department in an emergency. It's also easy to forget small details like a street name or number when you're caught up in an emergency - some people even forget their own address. Many parents post their address and phone number with the emergency numbers, but if you don't see it, ask. You won't sound stupid, and they'll appreciate how on the ball you are.
Fire safety procedures. Every family should have a fire escape plan with more than one exit from the home, as well as a designated meeting place outside the house or apartment building. Be sure that both you and the children know them.
Practicing fire escape plans can be a good activity for the children and, like school fire drills, it never hurts to run through a family's escape plan regularly. Make sure the kids know not to hide; to stay low to the ground; to feel doors and doorknobs for heat before opening them; to stop, drop, and roll if their clothes or hair catch fire; and to not go back into the house for any reason. Even preschoolers can learn and understand fire safety procedures. Check out the National Fire Protection Association's Sparky the Fire Dog site (click on the Resources tab at the right) for some family fun activities.
Another activity to do with kids is testing smoke alarms. You can never test them too often, and that way you know they're working for your own peace of mind - and you can tell the family if they're not. Finally, ask the child's parents to show you where they keep fire extinguishers.
Lifesaving techniques. It's a good idea to learn basic first aid (which includes the Heimlich maneuver for choking) and infant and child CPR before embarking on your babysitting career. Discuss this with your parents, because you'll have to attend courses and make a real commitment to learn these lifesaving procedures. But it's worth the trouble to feel confident that you're trained to help in an emergency. Plus, having these skills could give you an edge over other babysitters who don't: Parents really like these qualifications. Check with your local hospital, YMCA, or Red Cross; they often offer babysitting courses that include training in these areas. Some high schools do, too.
Rule #2: Know What to Expect
Every family you babysit for will be a little different. Having an idea of what to expect can make your babysitting experience safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Know the family and the neighborhood. Your safety is as important as the safety of the kids you'll be watching. If this is a first babysitting job or you're just starting out, make sure you or your parents know and trust the family you're babysitting for. Give your parents the address and phone number of where you'll be.
It can feel strange to be in charge of an unfamiliar home, so help yourself feel more secure by locking windows and doors after the parents leave. Don't answer the door to strangers and never tell telephone callers that you are alone. If there is an answering machine at the house where you are babysitting, use it to screen callers you don't know.
Know the kids you'll be babysitting. Of course, babysitting a 2-month-old baby is pretty different from babysitting a 10-year-old kid. Know the ages of the kids ahead of time. If you don't feel comfortable babysitting a newborn, for example, then don't take the job. You need to feel you're in control, and if you're unsure, it's better to wait for the next job.
Know how many kids you'll be babysitting. You think you're babysitting for the Simon twins, but when you arrive you also see their two 5-year-old cousins and a 7-year-old friend. Perhaps you're not ready to take care of five small kids at once. Most adults aren't! So ask ahead of time how many kids there will be - including friends and relatives. If you arrive and there are too many kids, say something to the parents. They may let you call a friend to help, or they may call and ask another babysitter to come and join you. And if you get loaded up with too many kids again, cross the family off your babysitting list.
Know how you'll get home. Make sure that you have a ride home from your babysitting job. Don't wait until the last minute - check before you leave your house to make sure that a parent or sibling can pick you up at the right time. If the parents you're babysitting agree to take you home, that's great, but don't assume that they can or will. If you live within walking distance but it's after dark when the parents get back, ask someone to walk you home.
Eating, bathing, homework, and other fun stuff. You need to know exactly what's expected of you. It's not unusual for parents to want you to feed the kids, give them a bath, or help them with their homework before you put them to bed. Plus, make sure you know if the kids have any special requirements. For example, parents should tell you about any food allergies or nutrition needs a child has before you start whipping up dinner.
Rule #3: Stay Focused on the Kids at All Times
It doesn't matter how short or how long your babysitting assignment is. As long as you're in charge of children, your job is to babysit - and nothing else. Naturally, this doesn't mean that you can't go to the bathroom. But otherwise, you should be with the kids every minute they are awake. It can be pretty tempting to leave them in one room while you watch TV in another room, but kids can get into trouble pretty quickly. Keeping an eye on everyone means you'll be less likely to need those emergency numbers.
This rule is especially important if you're giving kids a bath. Never leave a child unattended in the tub, even for a minute; small children can drown in as little as an inch of water. If the phone rings, let the answering machine pick it up, or let the caller call back. And if you have a bashful kid who's embarrassed to be naked, draw the shower curtain to give him or her some privacy. You could also bring a book or magazine into the bathroom with you and "read" while the child takes a bath, covering your face if you have to.
Once the kids are in bed, you are free to do what you want - within the parents' guidelines. Most parents will say it's fine to watch TV or movies or to talk on the phone. Just remember to keep calls from the family's phone local and short, in case the parents try to call and check on the kids.
Some parents may say it's OK to have a friend come over after the kids are asleep, but you should definitely ask if it's alright to have a friend visit beforehand to avoid problems. If you don't ask and the parents come home early and find you and your pal hanging out, they may not ask you to babysit again. Some parents may think you're too distracted by the friend to focus on the kids, others may not like the thought of someone they don't know in the house. Just as you want to know what to expect, so do they.
Even if a child is in bed, be aware that he or she may need you. It's a good idea to check on the kids every half hour or so. Don't get so involved in other activities that you miss a child's call or an unusual noise. Nightmares, a drink of water - anything that wakes a kid and gets him or her out of bed is something you need to be there for.
After a night of successful babysitting, you'll have more than a heavier wallet and a great referral. You'll have the satisfaction of a job well done - and you'll have learned more about what's involved in taking care of kids!
Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: May 2004
Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD, and Kim Young-Conner, RN
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