Rules for babysitting

[Cheryl in SD]

My girls have been asked to babysit a couple of times. I think we need some rules. Could you share what rules you have for when your children babysit for others?

Thanks.

[wr]

I'm so paranoid about drinking and driving and that included babysitting jobs. If the parents had been drinking (community dances, New Years Eve bashes and out to the pub were good clues), I would pick them up myself instead of leaving them to be driven home by an impaired driver. If I didn't know the people or know of them, I simply had them pass on the job. I also wanted to the parents to speak with me and give me a clear start and finish time as well as rate of pay and we could be clear on where to find them if a crisis arose and how much they were payinng. Folks seem a bit less inclined to loose track of time if they have told an adult that they will be home by a specific time and children tend to call their own parents first in a real crisis.

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by Cheryl in SD

My girls have been asked to babysit a couple of times. I think we need some rules. Could you share what rules you have for when your children babysit for others?

Thanks.

Many years ago when I did babysitting the number one rule was "Nobody else in the house" (i.e. friends, boyfriends, etc.) The reason being, of course, that when you are babysitting you are supposed to be looking after the kids and NOT entertaining your friends!

I was always taught that babysitting was a job and should be treated as such.

donsgal

[frugalwilady]

We also have the we'll pick up if you are drinking rule. I don't allow DD to spend the night unless shes sitting for family or close friends. She took the Red Cross Babysitter training course and CPR. (not sure if there is an age limit for CPR) We try to have her meet the kids before she watches them. We have a set rate for 1 child, 2 kids, ect. The parents agree to give a time range and pay up front. This is flexible but keeps you from tracking down $10 for 6 mos! We also have forms from babysitter class with emergency #s, emergency medical permission, Important info the sitter needs to know,(how to handle phone/visitors, pet care, medications for the kids, what cleaning chores,ect). She also has a "fun bag" with arts & crafts, games and cards, and treats and the kids love it! It sounds like alot for a sitting job but we've never had a parent be anything but impressed.

[CGUARDSMAN]

Have you checked with the local Red Cross? I seem to remember that they had a program for babysitters that not only trained for first aid issues but also had general guidelines to follow.

[Cheryl in SD]

My oldest are 12 yo twins. They have taken the babysitting class already and will do it again this year. They have the forms, are ready with a kit and are very responsible. They just had their second job. There were a few problems this time.

Last week they had a job for five 2-6 yo (our neighbors grandchildren) from 6:30-9:30 possibly 10:30. At 4:30 our neighbor called and wanted to change it to 8:30 to whenever but for sure after midnight. I had said ok to 6:30 as it is just 6 houses down the street and I would be available if they needed help. But I really felt that two hours later was to much for them to handle. The parents agreed one of them would come home by 11:00. I think they thought I was "off" for saying I didn't want them to babysit that late. But I know my dds and after 10:00 (bedtime for them is 9:30) they are tired, and not at their best and for their safety and the children's I didn't feel comfortable with them out that late. I don't even have them stay here after dark alone unless we are right next door. This got me thinking that perhaps we would set some rules about time, how many kids, if kids are sick, etc.

For instance, Not after 10:00 until they are 14. I will pick them up if there is drinking. (Thanks.) If children are ill, we need to be warned. They come as a pair until they are 14.

These same people have asked if one of them would be available off and on this summer to work as a mother's helper, but it would be just 2 little boys, not all five.

With all this in mind, I decided we needed to find out how others do it and what rules they have.

[frugalwilady]

you sure seem to handle it fine! If these people are giving you a feeling that they don't agree with the rules you might want yr DDs to be "busy" when they call...If they want summer jobs, print up some flyers for them and hang up around your neighborhood. You can screen the people and decide who they'll be "available" for.

[sewsilly]

Ok, I'm a 'careful' parent... My two oldest have baby sat and these were MY rules.
They are also the rules I applied when looking for a baby sitter when my kids were younger.

The baby sitter must be old enough to drive. Period. And a good driver. So that means 16 years of age. Younger than that is just asking for trouble, in my opinion.
Not only is it safer for you to leave a capable driver with your children, then you've solved the problem of the parents having been drinking... if your child isn't old enough to drive itself home, in my opinion, they are not old enough to baby sit.

The baby sitter must have passed Red Cross Community First aid. The big class, not the baby sitting one. My children take it when they take lifeguarding.

If a pool/pond/river/ocean exists at the home, then the baby sitter should be a certified lifeguard as well, whether or NOT the activities involve swimming.

Children who were not obedient were never sat for again. Period.

Parents were responsible for laying out a list, of important phone numbers, what the children could have to eat/drink and the expected itenerary for the evening. Bedtime, routines, etc. My kids had a form and gave it to parents before the job.

It should go without saying that the babysitter should have no company, and NEVER make private phonecalls, etc while baby sitting. TV is ok AFTER the children are safely in bed, with the parents permission. If the evening extended past the agreed upon time, my kid was required to call and let me know.

Everyone who used my kids knew that these were MY expectations and my kids were/are in much demand. REsponsible, mature and capable, they were/are well paid.

My kids have a list of regulars, with children who are delighted to see them, and for whom they like to care for.

The responsibility is HUGE and the liability should NOT be taken lightly.

[frogmammy]

Don't let your kids babysit for couples who are having marital problems.

My daughter babysat for a couple who were having problems (I didn't know this!) and the wife decided to leave the husband. She called my daughter over to babysit so she could go to the store (she said) and when my daughter arrived, had her car packed and was ready to go...she had my daughter answer the phone and tell the husband the wife was "at the store". Wife then took off (with the kids), husband thought something was strange, called the house back (and my daughter) and raised holy youknowwhat and said he was coming home and she WOULD tell him where his wife went. Daughter called me, told me what happened and I told her to GET OUTTA DODGE...or IOW, go to a neighbor and hide!

Whole buncha mess, but I went got my daughter and she was ok but scared (and rightly so!). Me, every time I go through that town I look for that wife, to see if she returned home. I'd like to have a nice "talk" with a woman who'd leave a 15 year old girl to face a violent man. I tend to get a little violent myself, at times...

Mon

[turtlehead]

My daughter took a babysitting course at the YMCA; probably very similar to the Red Cross course.

Ground rules -
- No late babysitting on school nights
- No friends over while babysitting
- I know the address and phone number of where she'll be babysitting (and I talk to the parents beforehand)
- She knows where the parents will be, and how long, and has an emergency number where they can be reached