Babysitter Checklist

A babysitter checklist is usually placed on the refrigerator or in several other easy-to-find locations in the home and is an excellent way to eliminate worry for a parent who has to be away from a child. The first thing that should appear on the checklist is the phone number and address where the parent can be reached. This should be followed by contact information for a relative or neighbor, in case the parent cannot be reached in an emergency.

Get Acquatined
Introduce a new babysitter to your children and acquaint her with your home at least 30 minutes before you leave. This will give you and your children enough time to become comfortable and confident with your new sitter, and give the sitter a chance to familiarize herself with her surroundings. This also will give you a chance to make sure all instructions are delivered in an unhurried manner and nothing is left to chance or forgotten.

• Give the sitter a tour of the house and let her know what is allowed in each room and what is not.
• Explain which toys and areas are safe to use in your absence. This would be a good time to explain that the swimming pool, if you have one, is off limits, regardless of what the children might say once you leave.
• Bring out the child's favorite toys.
• Explain how you would like your baby to be placed in the crib (on her back, on her side, etc.), how to burp her, what she is allowed to eat, how many bottles she requires, the best way of calming her and putting her down for a nap and where the diaper station is located.

Areas to address
If your child is on medication, do you want your sitter administering the medication or would you prefer to do it yourself when you return? If medication must be administered before you return, would you prefer having a relative or trusted neighbor give the medication? If so, make sure these instructions are relayed to the sitter and they meet the person who is to administer the medication before you leave.

Show the sitter where she can find:

• Phone
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Fire alarm
• Flashlights and candles

Also, show her how to lock and unlock the doors and windows, and take her on a walk-through of your fire escape route. If you have a storm shelter in your home or nearby, make sure the sitter knows how to get to it and use it.

If your children are older, you will want your sitter to know if they are allowed to play with the neighborhood children or if neighborhood children are allowed in your home in your absence. Is the sitter allowed to have company? Whatever you decide must be relayed to the sitter in person. Never depend on your children to relay the correct information.

Things to include on your checklist

1. Phone number and location where parent(s) can be reached
2. Time when parents expect to return home
3. Home address and direction to the home from the nearest crossroads and nearest highway, in case this information needs to be relayed to an ambulance, fire truck, taxi, etc.
4. Phone numbers: home, work, cell, pager
5. Money in case of an emergency (electricity goes out and sitter has to use a pay phone to call you or order a pizza due to a power outage)
6. Contact information for nearest neighbor, second neighbor and a nearby relative
7. Emergency numbers for hospital, doctor, dentist and poison control
8. Health information:
   • Child's full name
   • Birth date
   • Height
   • Weight
   • Allergies
   • Foods not allowed
   • Medical condition(s)
   • Medication(s)
   • Bedtime

Remember that you will want to add your own personal instructions as they pertain to you and your family. The important thing to remember is never to leave your children with a sitter unless you have a detailed babysitter checklist available for those questions that will most definitely arise in your absence.