Babysitting Tips
Some Helpful Babysitting Tips
Here are some helpful babysitting tips, to make your job move more smoothly.
First, don't travel out to do night jobs by yourself. Even if you're babysitting at a home in your own neighborhood, you just never who is out there. Have your parents or a friend who drives take you and pick you up. It's always much better to err on the side of caution.
Be sure that your parents know where you are babysitting, and make sure you know where the parents you're sitting for are going. Contact information is a little easier now, so as long as you have both parents' cell phone numbers, it's not quite as important to know where they are. In case something happens and cell service is interrupted, it's still good information to have – keeping information handy is one of the most important babysitting tips.
Make sure that all the family's emergency numbers are posted somewhere where they are easy to locate – also the number for poison control. In other health instances, 911 would be called. Have the address of the house where you're working handy. Most 911 systems know where you are when you call, especially if your cell phone has 911 GPS enabled, but if you live in a small town or a rural area, you may have to tell the dispatcher where you are located. Locate any fire extinguishers in the house and make sure they're charged. Have the parents take them to be charged, if they're not. First aid kits are important, too – make sure you know where their supplies are. Make sure you can unlock all doors and windows quickly from the inside, in case there is a fire and the front door cannot be reached.
Ask the parents if their children have any medical conditions or allergies that you need to be aware of. Allergy attacks can be harmful, or even fatal. Make sure you know about any unusual conditions that might affect the children you're babysitting for. This is an essential on your list of babysitting tips. If one of the children you're sitting develops what look like allergy symptoms, even if the parents don't KNOW of any allergies, call 911 or poison control immediately, and then call the parents.
Make sure not to give ANY information out about you or the family you're working for. Keep doors and windows locked and don't open the door if it's anyone you don't know. Leave outside lights on, to discourage would-be thieves. When you answer the phone, speak as if the parents have just stepped out and will be right back. Keeping a good head on your shoulders should be high on your list of safe babysitting tips.
If you and the children go out (I'm assuming this would be during daylight hours), lock the house. You need to protect the house from break-ins. Know which neighbors have extra house keys, in case you would need one.
If you have an emergency, remain calm. Children will be more upset if you panic. Review safety tips with your charges when you arrive. Then they will be prepared for emergencies, as will you.