Select The Perfect Baby Sitter

Selecting the perfect sitter to care for your child is one of the most important tasks a parent can undertake.

It's also a process that can bring about great anxiety and frustration. You want to be assured that the sitter you choose will care for your child in the same conscientious manner that you would. When you are away from home -- whether it is for a quick run to work to complete that report or if you are attending an evening play -- you want to leave knowing your child is in safe hands.

When selecting someone to care for your child, the following guidelines offered by National SAFE KIDS Campaign may take some of the stress out of the process.

"It's imperative that parents know if the sitter they've selected is experienced enough to provide proper care and supervision for their child, and can handle any emergencies that may occur," said Heather Paul, executive director of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

There are a number of proactive steps parents can take to ensure their child is in good hands.

Interviewing A Sitter

When looking for a baby sitter, talk to relatives, friends and neighbors about their personal experiences. Interview several candidates before making your final decision. Here are a few questions to ask potential sitters:

How old is the sitter? Is he or she at least 13 years of age?
Is the sitter responsible and trustworthy?
What kind of experience does the sitter have? Can he or she provide references?
Has the sitter taken a baby sitter training course?
Is the sitter certified in infant and child CPR?
Does the sitter know what to do in an emergency?
Is the sitter willing to accept your guidelines for taking care of your child?
Does the sitter understand the importance of constant supervision?

Communicate With Your Sitter

Now that you've found a sitter, it's not time to hit the town just yet. Make sure you've done the following:

Childproof your home. Explore your home at a child's level (on hands and knees, for example) to look for hazards. Links to detailed childproofing guidelines can be found at the end of this article.
Give the baby sitter a tour of your home. Inform your sitter of the safety precautions you've taken; point out baby gates, child resistant locks, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, electrical outlet covers, toilet locks, etc. Show the sitter where phones, first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, flashlights and extra blankets are located. Make sure your sitter knows your planned fire escape routes.
Show the baby sitter where to find emergency telephone numbers. Lists near every phone should include a number where you can be reached, as well as numbers for the fire and police departments, poison control center, ambulance, hospital or emergency services, your doctor, a neighbor and a relative.
Make sure the sitter knows which rooms are off limits to your children -- especially infants and toddlers. For example, your child should not be allowed to play in the kitchen or the bathroom because too many hazards exist in those rooms.
Provide clear written instructions about appropriate dosage and schedule for any medications the sitter might have to give your child. Go over these instructions with your sitter before you leave.
Leave instructions regarding protective gear. If your child is allowed to ride a bike, skateboard, scooter or inline skates while you're away, make sure the sitter knows where to find your child's helmet, knee and elbow pads and other protective gear. The sitter should also insist your child wear them.
Instruct your sitter never to leave your child alone -- even for a second. There is no substitute for constant supervision.

Source: National Safe Kids Campaign