Babysitter information checklist
Babysitter information checklist
Contact information for you and your partner - Parents’ full names, Home phone, work phone and mobile numbers (or pager number if you have), time parents are expected to come home as well as the number of the places you’ll be often visit (restaurant, friends’ house, etc.). Warn your sitter to not open the door to anyone she’s not expecting. Safety and security procedures, such as what to say when answering the telephone and how to secure all doors.
Emergency contact information - This includes fire, police, doctor and hospital numbers. If your children have specific medical insurance numbers, provide those as well. It’s also smart to designate one or two neighbors, friends or relatives as local contacts. Leave their names, numbers and addresses. So that your sitter has someone to turn in case of miscellaneous mishaps. Also leave clear written directions to your house, so she can give exact way to fire station, police or medical personnel in an emergency.
A mapped escape route - In case of fire or some other crisis that requires hasty evacuation, your sitter should be aware of all the possible exits from your house. Also make sure, she knows where to find the fire extinguisher, the first-aid kit, the circuit breaker, the water shutoff and a flashlight.
Medical information about your baby - If your child has any allergies or other medical conditions or needs to take medication, inform your sitter about it in advance. Also inform her of any additional health problems such as a bad case of diaper rash or a tendency to spit up food. Also, just in case you or your contact person can’t be found in an emergency, leave a healthcare authorization form that allows your babysitter or childcare provider to get medical attention for your child.
Food and drink list - Don’t leave this to chance. Your sitter may not be aware of foods that pose choking hazards. Leave specific instructions outlining what your baby can and can’t eat and drink. And if the sitter will be preparing formula or giving your baby expressed breast milk, make sure she knows how to do it.
Activity schedule - Your baby will feel more comfortable sticking to his usual routine, so let your sitter know what time he eats his meals, what time he goes to bed , how his bedtime routine works, comfort objects needed for bedtime and toileting habits. You may want to print out our daily baby activity sheet for your sitter to fill out. That way you’ll be able to see what and how much your baby ate while you were out, when he had a wet or dirty diaper and so on. Finally, it’s wise to let your sitter know about any special words for favorite toys or security objects.
