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If you are hiring a babysitter for the first time, you are most likely a nervous wreck. It’s hard to leave your children with someone other than a relative, even if it is someone you know well it can be difficult to get out the door without feelings of guilt and anxiety. If you know exactly what kind of information to give your babysitter and you’ve chosen one carefully to begin with, it may be possible to have a worry free evening out with your husband. Take the time to write down what you want to talk to your babysitter about before she even steps through the door and get the information together ahead of time to provide for a stress free departure.
Emergencies. Emergencies are the main thing on your mind as you put on your good jewelry and that perfume that has been sitting around since Christmas. Think of any possible emergency that could occur. Find the numbers for the following services: Poison control (these people are extremely helpful and kind, I’ve had to use them several times), fire department, police department, the children’s doctor. Have a couple of numbers on hand for a friend or relative that can come over and help in case of an emergency and write all of these numbers down in one place. It’s a good idea to tape all of the pertinent numbers on the inside of a kitchen cupboard door or other permanent place so that the babysitter will always know where they are.
Now that your babysitter is prepared for emergencies, what else is there to tell her? If your babysitter is young or teenaged, you had better give specific instructions on anything. Young people often do only what they are told and figure the rest is up to them. Tell your babysitter what time is bedtime, will the children need a bath, what are they to have for snack and are they allowed to use the telephone. Be sure to let your babysitter know what things are off limits to your child. From experience, I know that as soon as you are out the door, your child will be putting a line on that babysitter like you won’t believe. Example, ‘Mommy lets us jump on the couch,’ or ‘We’re allowed to stay up until 11 on Fridays.’ If you arm your babysitter with the facts beforehand, your child won’t be able to put one over on her.
Fill your babysitter in on any night time rituals. If your child usually has a story, let her know. Some children may be too shy to ask for something they usually get and you may come home to a child who is awake and crying in bed because the babysitter didn’t know to leave a night light on or some such thing.
Be certain to let your sitter know exactly where you’ll be and leave numbers for any establishment you may be visiting in case you need to be tracked down. If you have a cell phone, leave the number.
Find out if your sitter needs to be home by any certain time and if you will be driving her home, be sure you are a responsible designated driver. Be sure to leave careful instructions for what the babysitter herself is allowed to do, let her know what she can eat, if she can use the phone, etc. Call to check in on your babysitter once or twice, but don’t overdo it, if you’ve left the necessary tools for your sitter written down for easy reference, you should have nothing to worry about.
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