When hiring babysitters to care for a child or children it is helpful to put together some vital information so that they have all the facts to make the job easier and in case of emergency. So what items need to be on babysitter checklists?

If the sitter is caring for an infant, what are the feeding times? Where is the food located? Is the food or formula prepared, or is this something babysitters need to do? Make sure this information is included on babysitter checklists. Make sure that the babysitters also know where to dispose of dirty diapers, where to find clean diapers, and the location of clean clothes.

Does the child have any allergies? If the child has a pet allergy, food allergy, or is allergic to bee stings, let the babysitter know just in case, and include this item on your babysitter checklists.

Does the child take medicine? And if so, what is the proper dosage and administration time? Let the babysitter know about any medication the child needs to take, and make sure that they know how to administer the medicine properly.

What about bedtime? Most babies and small children rely on a consistent bedtime for comfort and optimal health. Make sure that the babysitter is aware of the child’s bedtime and any bedtime routines that the child expects. If the child has a favorite book or stuffed animal that is part of their bedtime routine, make sure this is on hand for babysitters.

In case of a babysitting emergency, what is the contact number for the parent or parents? Always include a cell phone number so that the babysitter can call a parent just in case.

Before you leave a child in the care of a sitter, make sure that they are aware of all the items on the list. It may seem elementary, but go over the list with the sitter personally so that communication is clear and direct. Place the babysitter checklists in strategic locations around your home either posted on the refrigerator or by the telephone.

These lists make the babysitter’s job easier and can help parents feel more at ease with leaving their child in the care of someone else.

When getting a sitter, no one will do and be everything. So figure out what is most important and hire towards that criteria.

Babysitters just are not perfect. That is simply the truth of the situation. Everyone who has hired a babysitter wishes that the perfect candidate existed, but the reality is much different. You cannot expect to find someone who fits every single one of your desires.

You are going to have ridiculously high standards when it comes to your child, of course, and you should. However, you should not let these standards keep you from hiring a good babysitter. The following babysitter hiring tips will show you how to sort the good babysitters from the bad.

What you need to keep in mind, first of all, is that you need to make a list of priorities. This is the first of the babysitter hiring tips. You need to decide what is the most important thing to you and put it at the top of the list. Do you want someone who seems to be fun, who your children will like?

Do you want someone who is responsible, who will keep your children safe? Do you want a babysitter who does not charge much money? Ideally, you could find babysitters who fit all of those different qualifications, but the odds are high that you will have to choose.

The next one of the babysitter hiring tips is that you want to start out with that thing that is most important and work from there. If it is crucial that you have a babysitter who will keep your children safe, for example, cross off everyone who does not seem responsible.

If it is valuable to you that they do not charge a lot, cross of all of the expensive options. You may have to let some people go who have other good qualities, but you need to sort through the potential babysitters this way so that you do not get someone who does not fit your main objective.

The next of the babysitter hiring tips is that you just need to see, out of those babysitters who are remaining, who fits the highest number of your secondary criteria. Maybe you have twenty different attributes that you are looking for.

If you find someone who fits fifteen when you can only find other babysitters who fit ten, you probably want to go with that babysitter. You could also rank the attributes and see who fits the highest amount in the top ten as opposed to the highest total.

How much should you pay for a good babysitter?

How much to pay for babysitter service depends on a number of factors including location, number of children requiring care, age and experience of the babysitter and the day of the week services are required. Special requirements, such as helping children with homework or transporting them to sports practice, will increase the price. Even the child’s temperament may enter the equation. Babysitters may demand a higher price for a difficult child.

The older and more experienced the babysitter, the more parents can expect to pay. Babysitters aged 11 to 14 may be happy with $4 or $5 an hour. Parents should add a couple of dollars an hour if they live in a larger center. Parents employing sitters in this age group should be easily reachable by phone. Each additional child requiring care will add another dollar or two an hour to the fee.

Fifteen- or 16-year-olds will command at least $6 or $7 an hour. Babysitters in this age group are usually more experienced and can prepare simple meals and clean up after themselves. Since kids in this age group are eligible for other employment, parents must be prepared to offer competitive rates when deciding how much to pay for babysitter care.

Babysitters aged 17 and over will require $8 to $15 an hour, depending on their level of experience and whether they will be responsible for transporting children. Babysitters in metropolitan areas will expect closer to $15 an hour. Parents should also pay extra if they require babysitters to do the laundry or other household tasks. Parents should offer 50 percent more on holidays like Valentine’s Day.

If parents are still unsure how much to pay for babysitter service, family members, friends and neighbors can be good sources of information. Parents can also go straight to the sitter; however, they must be prepared to pay the rate the sitter names. If parents cannot afford to go over a certain amount, they should inform the sitter of that rate and make sure it is acceptable.

Parents should also keep in mind that a babysitter who is well compensated and appreciated will be more accommodating when it comes to scheduling and performing extra chores. The well-paid babysitter will most likely be available at short notice. Above all, parents should remember the importance of the job of childcare and price accordingly when they determine how much to pay for babysitter services.

Becoming a babysitter means taking on a big responsibilities, ensuring the safety and well-being of other people’s children. Babysitters face many challenges, from simply keeping children engaged to handling real emergencies. Success can be achieved from learning the Babysitter Do’s — How to Be a Great Babysitter.

Do be prepared.

First and foremost of the Babysitter Do’s — How to Be a Great Babysitter formula is to be prepared. Take advantage of one of the many training classes available for would-be babysitters. A babysitter needs to know basic first aid, including how to rescue a choking infant or child.

Do be safe.

The personal capabilities and safety of the babysitter is also important. Babysitters should make sure they can handle the number and ages of the children, as well as the length of the job. A babysitter should feel safe with the family, the home, and the neighborhood.

Do listen to parents.

Babysitters should arrive early for work, to allow time with the employer for instructions. Tour the home with the parent, taking note of the location of the children’s rooms, phones, any security system, first aid supplies, and emergency evacuation routes. Learn the eating, bedtime, and toileting routines of the children. Ask about house rules for television, computer, and phone use. Include a discussion about rules for discipline and snacks and meals.

Do write down phone numbers.

Babysitters not only need to have the phone numbers of the parents at hand, but a phone number of another adult who can be available immediately if needed. The phone number for the Poison Center should be posted in addition to 911 emergency services.

Do keep the house safe.

Always keep doors and windows locked, as well as keep any security system engaged. Never open the door to strangers.

Do watch children at all times.

One of the most important of the Babysitter Do’s — How to Be a Great Babysitter is to remain in control of children, for their own safety. Injuries are the number one cause of death in young children. Setting limits and boundaries for children will help babysitters prevent misbehavior, and will help children feel more secure in their parents’ absence.

Do have fun!

Engaging with children can be extremely enjoyable. Follow the Babysitter Do’s — How to Be a Great Babysitter formula and your clients, as well as the children, will reward you with love and respect.

For many babysitters, the first babysitting job may be their first real paying job. And with any job comes the first real job interview. Job interviews can be tricky beats. Even when you know you are more than qualified for a job, you may not get it if you don’t present yourself well during the interview.

Here’s some tips to be sure to put your best foot forward:

1. Even though you will be entertaining little kids, when talking with the parents, you must act overly mature and responsible. While a parent wants their children to be happy, way more important is their safety.

Whether they speak with the parents on the phone or meet them in person, you need to prove beyond a doubt that you’re able to take care of their children. Be sure to act, mature, speak confidently and articulately, and prove to be a responsible individual.

2. Be polite and friendly! One of the biggest reasons why good candidates are not hired is when they come off as hard to work with — even if they are the best person for the job. A parent needs to feel secure that if they call you at the last minute and have to cancel the babysitting job that you won’t get too upset or make their life harder than it already is (parenting truly is the toughest job there is, ask ANY mom!)

During the interview don’t accept a lower rate than you deserve or agree to hours that are unfair, but do agree to most things if they are in the future. IE: “Would you be willing to come over if we call at the last second?” Oh course that is a lot to ask, but you would be better off just saying yes – once you get the job you will have more ground from which to dictate terms.

3. Come to the interview prepared. Parents will have to make sure that you have some intelligence and will ask some what if questions. Such as “what would you do if our child got in an accident?” Before the interview think about the answers to these and go over them several times so that if the questions do come up, you will come off as someone who is truly reliable and in control.

4. Leave the baggage at home. The biggest complaint of babysitters is that they focus more on their boyfriends/cellphones/televisions than they do on my child. During the interview it would be best not to mention much about your outside life. While you don’t need to lie about your interests, don’t stress that you have an amazing boyfriend and you talk to him 7 hours a day and you will get married soon, etc…

That kind of talk is certain to throw up red flags to parents.

In summary, think about it this way – if you were hiring someone to take care of something which you love dearly, such as a pet or your brother or your house while your family is gone, what traits would you most like to see in that person. Be that person; be reliable, trustworthy, honest and intelligent. And you’ll be a babysitter before long.

Babysitters often have a difficult time feeding the children they are caring for. While some children are great eaters, others give their babysitters a hard time. It is important to go into mealtime with a plan of action. The following guidelines may not work for all babysitters, but as a general rule, they will help make dinner-time easier for everybody.

The first step is for the babysitter to approach dinner-time with a positive attitude. If the babysitter seems excited about eating dinner, the kids may feel the same way. The babysitter should announce dinner-time in a lively tone and make sure not to interrupt the kids in the middle of doing something fun. Even if the parents have instructed to serve dinner at a certain time, the babysitter can wait 10-15 minutes for the children to finish up what they are doing. Babysitters are often seen as a fun alternative to mom and dad, so letting the kids eat a little bit late is usually fine.

Babysitters can also try to present the food in a fun manner. For example, referring to broccoli as trees, and arranging them in a “forest” can make the vegetables more appealing. If the kids don’t seem thrilled by the idea of eating their dinner, the babysitter can even add food coloring to make it more fun. Most kids will be thrilled by the idea of eating blue macaroni and cheese.

Once the children are seated at the table, the babysitter should keep the focus on a lively discussion. Hopefully the kids will eat while enjoying themselves. If they refuse to eat, a good incentive is for the babysitter to tell them about a new game and offer to play with them if they eat their dinner. The rules of the game can be explained while they eat and then the game can be played as soon as everyone is done.

While most babysitters won’t have a problem getting the children to eat, some kids may downright refuse. In this case, it may be a good idea to move on. Kids are often leery of new babysitters and causing a conflict can exacerbate the problem. Babysitters are not parents and it won’t harm the child to miss out on one dinner. However, the parents should be notified when they get home and asked how the babysitter should handle a similar situation in the future.

Being the babysitter, you do not have the liberty to discipline the children you are babysitting as you would your own. Many babysitters face this dilemma, as toddler tantrums can be quite problematic if other children are in the house while the toddler throws a fit. If you go to a home to baby sit, the parents should tell you if their child is in this stag of their life as it is very troublesome and frustrating, especially if it was something unexpected. Here are a few tips on how to deal with toddler tantrums for babysitters that work with toddlers often.

Ask the Parents
When you agree to be the babysitter for anyone, you should always ask the parent how they would like any problems handled. Toddler tantrums should not be tolerated, but since you are the babysitter and not the parent, often times discipline is often postponed, giving the toddler the negative image that their tantrum is okay. Since most babysitters styles are different when it comes to disciplining a child, making sure that you do what the parent asks is most important to give the child consistency.

Calm the Child
As the babysitter, you are seen as a friend as well as an adult. The child looks to you for guidance and support. If you get frustrated and start yelling or going into hysterics as some babysitters do when they have to deal with tantrums, then you are doing nothing more than encouraging this bad behavior in the toddler. Try to calm them enough that you can rationally talk to them about what they are feeling or why they are throwing a tantrum.

Rationalization
As the babysitter, it is okay to rationalize with the toddler to let them know you would be upset to and that it is okay that they have these feelings that they do. Most babysitters forget the importance of validating feelings because they are so worried about doing what the parent says. Letting the child know that having these feelings are okay is a very important job as a babysitter.

Make a Deal
As the babysitter, you hold special powers to a child that their parents do not. Babysitters have the special power of being the friend and someone that is there to protect them as well. Because you have the role of friend on your side, you can use this to your advantage. Babysitters get to make deals with children that parents cannot. Compromise is often the babysitters best tool. As the babysitter, you can make small compromises that do not hurt the child but also do not go against a parent’s wishes, such as watching a favorite cartoon again if they pick up their toys.

Babysitters are childcare professionals, who typically care for one family’s children for a few hours at a time. While it may not sound like a glamorous profession, these professionals are valued and trusted family employees, and as such have an enjoyable and well paid job. Here are some of the top reasons to become a babysitter:

- A driver’s license is not required: While many babysitters are able to increase the fees they charge by chauffeuring school age children to and from school, and to extracurricular activities, they do not need to be able to drive. The parents pick up the babysitter from her home (or another agreed upon location), and drop her off after wards.

- Flexible hours: While some babysitters have set jobs, where they babysit for the same children each week at an appointed time, most take jobs as their schedule permits. If the children’s parents call to request a babysitters time on an evening, and the babysitter is not available until later in the evening, often time, the parent will acquiesce to the babysitter’s schedule.

- Free time: While some babysitters will tell horror stories about their charges running them rampant during their time babysitting them, the truth is that most children who require babysitters are young, and go to bed early. They also take afternoon naps. This means that while babysitting, babysitters have significant free time to watch television or read. Babysitters who are in high school, college or graduate school, enjoy this opportunity to study.

- It’s fun: There are not many jobs that will pay you to play hide and go seek, do finger painting, or eat ice cream, but babysitters routinely get to do all that. They also have a built in reason to watch Disney movies, play video games, blow bubbles, and read children books. Babysitting is a job for those who are young at heart, and are ready and willing to embrace that side of themselves while working.

- Find out if you want to have children of your own: Before signing on to have their own children, many babysitters, both current and former, draw on their past experiences working with others’ children to decide whether it is right for them. If the answer is yes, they then remember all of the lessons they learned – good and bad – from time spent working with children, which makes them a better, and calmer, parent.

The difference between babysitters and nannies is not a simple matter of definitions. In large part, the job description varies from situation to situation. However, there are several differences that are largely applicable.

Babysitters, for one, usually watch children when they are needed by the family. They are typically employed on evenings or weekends and are friends of their “employers”. Babysitters are usually neighbors or friends of the family. The extent of babysitting may vary. Some sitters perform more tasks than other individuals. Regardless, nannies typically have more responsibilities.

Babysitters do not reside in the home of the family but usually come to the household as needed. Although some babysitters are adults, the majority of them tend to be teenagers or students who are looking to make some extra cash and augment their income. There is typically no training required to become a babysitter although knowledge regarding child and infant CPR is often a desired asset.

Nannies, in contrast, usually live in the family’s home although this is not required. Nannies who live in the house have a room and usually a private bathroom as well. The nanny’s responsibility is to take care of the children within the home although they may also have other tasks such as cleaning, laundry, shopping, and cooking. They interact with the child and entertain them and also often help them with their homework as well and make sure that their room is clean. It is also common for these nannies to have specific certifications and childcare training. In fact, many parents consider that a requirement for being hired. Unlike babysitters, nannies usually work with one family only instead of having multiple families that they sit for.

Au pairs, which are similar to nannies, are typically foreign and work for the family in exchange for housing as well as a stipend.

Babysitters are usually paid by the hour whereas nannies are typically paid with a salary although an hourly rate may be negotiated before they are hired. The payment amount is determined on the extent of work that is required by the family. A nanny may also receive paid vacation or health insurance whereas babysitters do not receive this as a rule.

The taxing process is also different between the two. A babysitter is required to file taxes on their own as a free-lance employee whereas a nanny is considered to be an employee of the family for which he or she works.

Qualified Babysitters are Well Trained

Although seemingly simple, child care is a complex job that requires careful preparation. A babysitter should not take the responsibility lightly. Babysitters should not only be mature and focused, but should partake in child care training such as classes offered by the Red Cross. Becoming a babysitter is not just watching over the activities of a child but taking responsibility for his or her safety and well being; ensuring he or she is nourished; and troubleshooting problems that might arise with the child or even with the facility in which the babysitter is working.

A parent that seeks a babysitter will be more likely to hire babysitters who are trained. Qualified babysitters should let perspective employers know that they have been trained as well as provide references including the person or organization that trained him or her.

The Red Cross offers a one-day class for babysitters from the ages of 11 to 15. The emphasis of the class is safety. The participant will learn how to handle emergencies like sickness or injury. The class will prepare a care giver to take the proper actions during household emergencies. The participant will also learn about basic child care for children and infants. The Red Cross will teach babysitters how to use decision-making and problem-solving skills. The care giver will leave the class knowing how to be a role model as well as a good leader.

The Red Cross babysitter training class not only prepares babysitters for the job but also offers tools for getting assignments. Like with all jobs, it takes intelligent marketing to find good assignments. Although old fashioned word-of-mouth is effective, today’s competitive babysitter job market is tough. Any babysitter who wants to get ahead needs to know where to find the work and how to demonstrate that he or she is best prepared for the job. Babysitting is a business and a good training class will show babysitters good business techniques.

A key element that is a result of babysitter training is confidence. Babysitters who are trained will be prepared to make quick decisions and have the confidence to follow-through on those decisions. The most important result of babysitter training is a safe child.

Red Cross Babysitting Course

Find Your Local Red Cross