Babysitting Do's and Don'ts for Parents

While I personally may be a VERY longggg way away from needing to hire a babysitter (excluding the occasional puppy sitter for Lucy!), I know there are lots of moms and dads out there for whom, hiring a babysitter is a weekly, monthly or even daily reality. So this week we will tackle the do's and don'ts of babysitting--both for the sitter and the parents and discuss things like pay and how to find a good babysitter! I hope my readers who have tots and those who babysit or nanny will find this very helpful!

Parents who are hiring sittters should:

• Feel free to ask for references and check those references thoroughly. You want to know as much as possible about who you are leaving your children with.
• Give the sitter a tour of your home and familiarize them with where certain things can be found.
• Leave emergency contact information for the sitter in plain sight. This should include your cell phone number(s), the number of a neighbor, the address and phone number of the home and any other pertinent information like the name of the family doctor.
• Make snacks and food accessible for the babysitter and be prepared to provide lunch or dinner if the sitter is working during these parts of the day.
• Prepare your child for the sitter's arrival and make it clear that while you are gone, the babysitter is in charge and should be respected just as you are.
• Arrive home when you said you would. If you are going to be late, call and check with the sitter and make sure that's OK with them.
  

(sourced from Parenthood.com; Everyday Etiquette from Diane Gottsman)