Fire-Safe Babysitters
Tips for Parents
When choosing a sitter for your children, never assume that he or she knows all there is to know about babysitting. Follow these tips to ensure your children are in good hands:
The following information should be explained to sitters before leaving:
View necessary information that will help ensure that your sitter is a fire-safe sitter.
When choosing a sitter for your children, never assume that he or she knows all there is to know about babysitting. Follow these tips to ensure your children are in good hands:
- Get references. Treat babysitting as a legitimate business and check references.
- Give a tour of the home to familiarize the sitter with the location of bedrooms, diapering supplies, bathrooms, etc.
- Explain how doors and windows open, lock, and unlock.
- Put your sitter to the test with "what if...." questions.
- Review your home fire escape plan. Explain the locations of all exists (especially from each child's room), safe meeting places, and trusted neighbors' homes, in case of an emergency.
- Write down information on where you plan to be and when you plan to return. Include names and numbers of the family or place where you are going.
- Contact the sitter right away if your plans change.
The following information should be explained to sitters before leaving:
- Eliminate any potential hazards in your home.
- Eliminate unnecessary tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or giving baths. These tasks take the sitter's attention away from children and can be dangerous.
- Explain rules on friends visiting, phone use, off-limits food, and house electronics.
- Give a written profile of each child including:
- Allergies / medications
- Bed times (state while children are listening)
- Behavioral problems
- Favorite foods / games
- Food restrictions
- Full name / nicknames
- Inform the sitter of pet behaviors and feeding schedules.
View necessary information that will help ensure that your sitter is a fire-safe sitter.