Babysitter Checklist
Janet Winter
Heading out for the evening? For peace of mind when you leave your children with a babysitter or nanny, a checklist with important contact and safety information is a must. Before your sitter arrives, complete this list and post it on the fridge. Go over the items with the babysitter before you head for the door, so you can rest easy while you're away. Of course, you may wish to customize this list to suit your family situation. Have fun!
General Information:
Our names:
Our home address:
Our home telephone number:
Mom's work and/or cell phone numbers:
Dad's work and/or cell phone numbers:
Name, phone number and location where we'll be:
The time we plan to return home:
Share the hiding place of a extra key in the event they get locked out of the house with your child
Location of a car key (optional):
Location of first aid supplies:
What medications should be given and where they are kept:
Alarm systems and how they work. Don't forget to give code words in the event of an accidental alarm.
How the major appliances work.
When to contact us:
If a child has been crying for more than 20 or 30 minutes and you can't figure out what's wrong.
If a child develops a fever, vomits, or is injured (more than a superficial scrape).
Anytime a situation develops that you feel you can't handle without help.
In an emergency, if we can't be reached, here's who to contact:
(Input name, relationship, address, and telephone) You should list several contacts including neighbors.
Introduce sitter to neighbors or friends you can depend on to keep an eye on things while you are away.
Emergency help numbers to call:
Poison Control:
Police Department:
Fire Department:
Hospital or urgent care:
Pediatrician's name and number:
What to do in case of a fire:
Walk through the entire house explaining how to exit locked doors.
In the case of a small, contained fire (on the stove, for example) show where the fire extinguisher is located and how to use it.
In the event of a larger fire, gather all the children immediately and usher them out of the house via the nearest door or window.
Test doors before you open them. Kneel down, reach up as high as you can, and touch the door with the back of your hand--at the knob and around the frame.
If there's a fire on the other side, it will feel warm on the knob and around the cracks. If the door is warm, try another escape route.
Take the kids and go straight to a neighbor's house--preferably one who is on the "in case of emergency" list--and call 911 from there.
Call us or one of the above alternate contacts if we are not reachable.
Health insurance information you may need:
Insurance Company:
Group/Policy Number:
Policy holder's name:
Policy holder's identification number:
Details About Our Children:
Child's full name:
Age:
Weight and height:
Nap and/or bed times:
Special Instructions:
Food Allergies:
Medical condition(s):
Names of medication(s) and dosages:
(Add this information section for each of your children)
House rules and routines:
Television programs and movies that are acceptable or unacceptable:
Foods that are acceptable or unacceptable:
Guidelines for outside play:
Guidelines for company:
Bedtime routine:
Special considerations:
Our discipline philosophy:
Never leave children unattended with food.
Discuss what foods the sitter/nanny may eat, cars she can drive and your policy regarding a sitter's having visitors and phone calls.
Special requests: (Please write down details about your day/night with our children.)
What and when did they eat?
What time did they nap/go to bed for the night?
Were they well-behaved?
Follow general safety rules:
Avoid giving: raisins, hot dogs, raw carrots, celery, grapes, nuts, hard candy, gum, popcorn, raw pears and apples to children under age four years. For ages four to six years, be sure to peel and cut apples, pears, and carrots.
Never drink or eat anything hot while holding a baby or young child.
Never leave a child unattended with food. Make sure any food given to children under age four years is cut into tiny pieces (about the size of a fingertip).
Remind sitter about drowning precautions such as bath tubs, toilets and sinks
I hope you will visit WelcomeBabyGifts.com to see other great resources for parents - and maybe find that perfect gift for newborns and toddlers up to the age of five or a fun shower gift.
About the author: Janet Winter is a web designer, travel agent, and writer on many topics. She delights in providing great resources for parents and unique gifts for newborns, toddlers and baby showers at Welcome Baby Gifts.com.