Safe Sitter, a national organization devoted to training adolescents on becoming safe babysitters, strongly recommends that sitters have had some babysitting training - including knowing what to do if a child begins to choke, or need first aid or CPR.
To make sure you or your teen is ready for any situation, having a detailed checklist like this is essential.
Family name:
Phone number:
Address:
Children's names and ages:
Children's allergies, medical history, and daily medicines:
Cell phone number of parents or guardians:
Address and phone number where parent or guardian can be reached:
Neighbor's name and phone number:
Local emergency phone number:
Healthcare provider's name and phone number:
Poison control center number:
What time the parents will be home:
Ashlee Offord, Clinical Educator with Community Health and Wellness, recommends if the child being babysat is close to age 12, the sitter should be quite a bit older. "Having that age difference will help the children see the sitter as old enough to have authority," says Ashlee.
Ashlee also recommends sitters do their homework on what's expected of them before the parents head out. "Make sure you're clear about the rules of the house up front," said Ashlee. "Parents may have a list of additional responsibilities they would like you to handle while they're gone, like doing dishes or picking up toys."
Other safety tips include:
- Keep infants and babies away from stairs; make sure all baby gates on stairs remain closed.
- Keep all cabinets closed, and know where all medicines, household cleaners and bleaches are stored, so you can keep them out of reach.
- Turn pan handles inward on the stove, so children can't reach them.
- Do not give young children foods that can cause them to choke, like candy, grapes, peanuts and popcorn.
- Never leave a child alone while they are eating, or in the bath.
- Put away choking hazards like small toys, pins and coins.
- Always check the temperature of formula, or milk, on your wrist before giving it to an infant to prevent burns.
- Check on infants and children while they sleep to make sure they are not crying, covered up or in danger of suffocating.
Keeping these things in mind will help make your babysitting experience less stressful and more fun for the children. It could also mean more repeat jobs and money in your pocket!
Lakeland Health offers Babysitting with Confidence and CPR for Babysitters classes for those looking to learn the basics of first aid and caring for small children. Click on our events page for a look at upcoming classes, or call Community Health and Wellness at (269) 556-2808 or toll-free, (866) 260-7544.