Whether you're leaving your child with a sitter for a few hours or days, you can reduce your anxiety by ensuring the sitter is prepared to follow your child's routines and handle a variety of emergency situations. Create a baby sitter checklist featuring essential information and concise, clear directions so the sitter won't have any trouble understanding what to do.
The Kids Health website recommends having the baby sitter watch the children in your home so they'll feel more secure. Even if you have time to give the sitter a tour before you leave, prepare a list of items that she may need while you're away and list where the items are located. Include your child's snacks and beverages, games, medications, first aid supplies, flashlights, fire extinguishers, towels, cleaning supplies and batteries.
Emergency Information
Provide the sitter with a list of emergency contact information such as your cellphone number, the phone number and address of the location where you'll be and phone numbers for the pediatrician, police, fire department and a trusted neighbor. If the children need to take medication, include the exact time and dosage. The University of Michigan Health System also recommends listing driving directions to your house and the nearest cross streets in case the sitter needs to direct emergency crews.
Rules
Set the ground rules with your sitter to ensure she knows what she and the children can do while you're away. Include the amount of time the children can spend playing video games, watching television and their bedtime. Give the sitter guidelines if you'd prefer she doesn't talk to friends on the phone, invite friends over or eat certain foods in the pantry. Provide a list of areas in your home that are off limits to the sitter and/or your children, such as the pool, your bedroom or the front yard.
Discipline
If your children are accustomed to a specific discipline routine, such as sitting in a time out chair or turning off the television as punishment, outline the routine on the baby sitter information checklist. Detail what types of infractions warrant a punishment and if you have a "warning system" before you enforce the penalty. Before you leave, inform your children that the sitter knows what to do if they misbehave and that the regular punishments will apply.
Bedtime Routine
Help bedtime go smoothly by providing a list of bedtime tips. In addition to instructions on bathing, a nighttime snack and favorite pajamas, for example, give the sitter tips on how to comfort your crying baby or your child that frequently wakes in the night. If you have an infant, the National Women's Health Information Center suggests reminding the sitter to put your baby to sleep on his back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
