Follow these babysitting tips to amaze parents everywhere with your childcare skills on the job.
Want to play with kids all day and get paid? If so, babysitting is the job for you. However, when parents trust you to babysit, they are putting their child's welfare into your hands. Follow these 9 steps for both your own safety and that of your charges:
1. Never travel to and from night jobs alone. It is never a good idea to walk alone at night, no matter where you are. Ask parents if they can drop you off after a job. If they cannot, call a friend. It's better to be safe than sorry.
2. Always make sure that you know where parents are going. Having contact details for a parents will prove invaluable during an emergency situation.
3. Have emergency numbers on hand. If the parent does not provide a list, make your own and carry it with you. Know the address of the house, in case it is asked for. Also, make sure to inquire about the first aid supplies and emergency equipment in the house. Knowing how to locate fire extinguishers and Band-Aids will make your job a whole lot easier. As a final precaution, know how to open door and window locks, in case you need to escape a fire.
4. Ask about any allergies/medical conditions of your charges. An unexpected allergy attack can be harmful, or in rare cases, fatal. Always make sure that you know of any special conditions associated with the children you sit for. If no allergies or medical conditions are reported but unexplained swelling or rashes appear on one of your charges, call 911 or Poison Control immediately.
5. Don't give information to strangers. Keep doors locked when inside and do not open to anyone that looks strange or unfamiliar. Leave one outside light on at night. Answer the phone as if parents have just stepped out.
6. Lock the house if you leave. Locking a house prevents burglaries. Always make sure you have a key to get back in, however, or you may have to make very good friends with the neighbors. If there is a pool, make sure that it is sealed over.
7. Stay calm in an emergency. Children will panic if you do. It may be a wise idea to review safety tips with children at the beginning of a job. That will prepare them for any emergency situations, in the unlikely event that they occur.
8. Stay alert. Even if you have an all-night job, try to stay awake for as long as you can. When you sleep, make yourself easily accessible to the children. Accidents can happen at any time, even at night.
9. Consider a sitter certification course. These courses, offered through health centers in many areas, can certify you to save lives in all emergency situations while making you a better babysitter.
