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- Contact Information
Always leave a phone number where the babysitter can reach you. If you don’t have a cell phone, provide the number of the place you will be at. If you are unable to provide a personal number, you may want to supply a relative or close friend’s number. A grandparent or family friend might be an option. If you do this, you would want to choose someone who lives close to you, in case of an emergency. - Emergency Contact Numbers
The phone number of your child’s physician or a nurse contact line if the doctor’s office will not be open. (One option might be the HCA Midwest Health System. They have a free, 24/7 physician referral and health advice line. You can provide one of the following numbers: (816) 751-3000 or (913) 54107400) You may also want to provide the Poison Center’s number, which is: 1-800-222-1222 - Emergency Information
Provide your babysitter with the name of the doctor’s office and hospital that you use. You may want to consider putting together the information from these first three suggestions on a laminated sheet to keep for reuse. - CPR book
While many babysitters have completed CPR training at some point, it might have been several years ago, or your babysitter might never have taken a course. A CPR book can be helpful for not only emergencies (where they might want to call 911) but for smaller issues as well, such as the proper care for a cut. - Detailed List of “Do’s and Do Not’s”
If your child is one to push the limits, don’t make it too difficult for the babysitter. Give him or her a list of things the child might ask to do and whether or not the child can do them. An example might be if the child likes to take food upstairs, you could write a note saying, “No food allowed upstairs.” - Bedtime, Naptime, or Other Routines
If your child does a specific thing (such as eat supper) at a specific time (say, six o’clock) a specific way (not in the old highchair, but at the table), let the babysitter know how it’s done. Provide information on how, where, and when each routine takes place. - The Ins and Outs of the House
Nothing is harder for a babysitter than attempting to make macaroni and cheese with no knowledge of where the pots and spoons are kept. Make sure the babysitter knows where everything (he or she will need) before you leave the house. - Knowledge of the Child’s Quirks
If your child cries every night for half an hour before falling asleep, let the babysitter know! If you do not, chances are the babysitter will spend half an hour fretting over what to do with a crying child. If your child has any quirks, whether it be the former example or sucking his thumb at age six, let your babysitter know. This is especially important if the babysitter is to take action concerning the ‘quirk.’ - Knowledge of the Household Quirks
If the stove burner is broken, or the downstairs’ bathroom sink is clogged, let the babysitter know before he or she finds out the hard way. - The Length of your Departure
Let your babysitter know how long you will be gone, whether it be half an hour or six hours, so the babysitter can plan accordingly. Knowing how long the parents will be gone will reflect how many and what kind of activities are done.
Sarah Reddekopp is a local teen who loves babysitting to earn extra cash!