Caring for somebody else’s baby or babysitting can be a fulfilling job but is it accompanied by a great responsibility.  A baby sitting guide should always be followed because the baby’s life will be in your hands.  The best advice most professional baby sitters would give is to treat the baby as your own for the period of time that he is under your watch.  There are some essential things you need to be aware of before letting the parents leave the baby into your hands.

Emergency contact numbers, addresses, closest neighbors

The parents would probably give them to you as they are also concern with baby updates but just in case they are in a hurry, you had better ask them for their contact numbers.  This does not only refer to office phone numbers but mobile numbers as well.  You also need to know the exact address of the house.  This might be in handy when you call for help and they asked for your exact location.  It does not also hurt if you can ask the parents of any neighbor they are close to, just in case you will be needing help.

Special Medication Needs or Allergies

Not all babies are healthy.  Unfortunately some have medical conditions that you need to know.  This is one of the most important aspects of the baby sitting guide checklist.  Ask the parents if the baby has any type of allergies.  The baby might even develop a fever or cold under your watch and so it is best to ask the parents what are the usual medications that you should give him. Discuss this carefully with them as some parents do not allow babysitters to give any kid of medication.  This will also give you an idea on what type of baby sitting games you need to play with the baby.

Mealtimes, Snacks, Beverages

Babies are always seemed hungry as they like to chew on everything their hands can reach.  It is vital that you ask what type of food they are allowed to give.  Generally, most parents have prepared something for the baby and the only thing you need to ask is the feeding time and the frequency.  You need to ask these things especially if they have some strict specifications. Ask for any mealtime routine that the baby so as to ensure his comfort during feeding time.

Playtime and Naptime

Aside from eating, babies love to play and sleep.  You should ask the parents if the baby got any sleeping ritual or something that he needs to have while sleeping.  It can also be something that he likes to do before sleeping.  They cannot communicate well so it is your responsibility to know how to provide them with comfort.  Playing is also a big thing for them and there are baby sitting games that are can fully entertain them.  Ask how to act around the baby when they get fussy during playtime. Most parents have rules on how to deal with misbehavior.

This baby sitting guide will help you in making sure that you have a happy and secure baby during your time with them.  Nothing beats to handing the baby back to their parents safe and sound.

Keywords: baby sitting guide, baby sitting games, baby sitting, caring of baby, how to watch your baby

When it comes to the welfare and safety of your children, there is no such thing as being too careful. This is why, if you are going to hire a baby sitter, you need to do a thorough interview that will allow you to get to know the person who will be taking care of your precious little ones. To give you an idea on what questions to ask a potential baby sitter, here are some of the things that you would want to know about.

Question # 1 – How long have you been baby sitting?

Like in other employment application, experience is one of the first things that you would want to know about. You want to leave your child to a baby sitter who has extensive experience in baby sitter services. While there is nothing wrong with hiring a newbie, an experienced one will be better in dealing with children and taking care of them. You would not want to settle for anything less than that. Have the baby sitter describe her experience in this field and ask about the children that she has taken care of before.

Question # 2 – Have you undergone any specialized training for childcare?

First aid, CPR, and safety measures are just few of the many things that a baby sitter should be well aware of. These bits and pieces of knowledge and skills can only be acquired if the sitter has undergone specialized training for childcare. You would not want to leave your kids with a person who would not know what to do in case of an emergency.

Question # 3 – Why do you enjoy baby sitting?

It does not make sense to ask a baby sitter applicant if she enjoys baby sitting because of course she will say yes to impress you. But by asking her the reasons why she likes this job, you will have better understanding of her personality, philosophy, and mindset. If she answers outrightly that she does not enjoy this job and she just needs the money, you should skip this applicant and look for someone else who would be more dedicated in taking care of your children.

Question # 4 – How do you handle problems with kids?

In this question, give theoretical examples of situations that are possible to happen at home while the sitter is taking care of the children and ask the applicant how she will handle these. For example, your child goes on a crying spree for hours because she wants to eat something that she is not permitted to eat. Or your little boy stuck his finger somewhere or had a little bruise from accidentally tripping on the floor. The applicant’s answers to these questions will give you a good idea on the kind of personality, childcare service, and dedication that she has.

Aside from these top four questions, you also need to find more about the applicant’s educational background, health status, employment history, and so on. On top of that, you should not only be concerned about the answers that the applicant gives to the questions you ask but also how she answers them. Observe the applicant’s nonverbal behavior as this will tell you a lot about a certain person.