A Babysitter Checklist
makes the Job easier

This babysitter checklist should help keep your child safe and happy. Most of the time babysitting jobs are easy and nothing goes wrong. But if an emergency should happen, you need to be ready and know the following information:

General

• Name, home address and telephone number of the child's parents.
• Name, phone number and location where parents will be.
• Time when parents will return.
• Place where first aid supplies and medications are kept.

General rules to follow

• Do not give the child any medicine without the parent's permission.
• Always know what the child is doing. Never leave the child alone, not even for a minute.
• Get guidelines from the parents for watching television, movies and for outside play.
• Know when they should go to bed.
• If a child needs medication, write down specific instructions.
• In general, there should be no visitors for the sitter.
• If this is the first time babysitting, have the parents give you a house tour.
• Write down whether the child can have anything to eat or drink before bedtime.
• In the evening, the outside light should be turned on.
• If the child is asleep, check on the child about every 15 minutes.
• Do not open the door for anyone, unless you know the person.

When to contact parents

• When the child has been crying for 20 minutes and you can't figure out what is wrong.
• If the child develops fever or is injured.
• Anytime you don't know what to do.

Emergency

• Local emergency phone number (in most areas it is 911)
• Phone number of the fire and police department
• Phone number of relatives that live in the area
• Phone number of a neighbor
• Name and phone of the pediatrician

How to handle fire

• For a small fire, use a fire extinguisher if you know how to use it. Know where the fire extinguisher is located.
• If there is a larger fire, get the child and go outside immediately.
• Take the child to a neighbor's house and call the fire department.
• Call the parents.

Leave a note for the parents

• Write down, when the child ate and went to bed.
• How did the child behave?
• Where there any problems?

It might be a good idea to have a printed list of this babysitter checklist for easy reference.

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