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BabySitter

Baby Sitter Advice

What is a baby-sitter?

Usually someone who cares for your child/children at your home in the evenings or at weekends. Usually only for a few hours at a time whilst you go out - Not usually used for whilst you're at work though.

Does a babysitter have to be registered?

There are no laws as of yet about babysitting. It is up to the parents to make sure that the person they leave their child or children with is responsble.

If the baby-sitter is under 16 yrs old, then you take full responsibility should anything happen to the children left in the babysitters care.

What should you look out for in a baby-sitter?

You should look at

• their maturity and competence
  
• their ability to cope in emergency situations
  
• their ideas on house rules, unknown visitors etc
  
• their attitudes to coping with unacceptable behaviour in young children
  
• what Television programmes they consider suitable for young children
  
• their ideas on consistency of care

What do baby-sitters need to know on the evening?

• The address and telephone number where you can be contacted
  
• The approximate time you can be expected home
  
• How they will be getting home
  
• What to do in an emergency, the contact number of a neighbour or close friend who may give you help and assistance quickly

Things about your child they will need to know

• Routine: do they usually have a bedtime story or need a certain toy?
  
• Any allergies or illnesses your child may suffer from, what to do in these situations & where medicines are kept
  
• What to do if your child/children play up or are distressed
  
• What your child/children are allowed/not allowed to do
  
• What television programmes, if any, they are allowed to watch
  
• What time they go to bed. Do not trust your child to tell the babysitter the right time else you'll find your three year old still awake at 11pm when you get home!
• Whether your child has supper and what they have.

What do you need to provide for the baby-sitter?

You may provide food or snacks for the baby-sitter
You may be asked if a friend of the baby-sitter may keep them company or not
Payment. Be clear what you will be paying the baby-sitter and for how many hours

You may be expected to make sure the babysitter gets home safely - either by driving them or paying for a taxi.

You should only leave your children in the care of someone you consider competant.

Issues which may occur with a babysitter

They may let their boyfriend into your home. Are you happy with this idea?

They may eat you out of house and home.

They may run up huge phone bills

They might open the booze cupboard and get very drunk!

Make sure you know who they are and where they live! Get a phone number for their parent and give them a ring to ask how much experience they've got.

You could ask for references off other people or their recommendations. You may find people unwilling to let you know who their best babysitter is though as they will want them for themselves!