Babysitters
What is a baby-sitter?
Usually someone who cares for your child/children at your home
in the evenings.
Does a baby-sitter need to be
registered?
To date there is no specific regulations governing baby-sitters.
It is therefore the parents responsibility to decide on the
suitability of prospective baby-sitters.
Leaving your child/children to the care of someone else is a big
responsibility.
If the baby-sitter is under 16 yrs old, you should be aware that
you take full responsibility should anything happen to the children
left in the babysitters care.
What should you look out for
in a baby-sitter?
You should address:
- their maturity and competence
- their ability to cope in emergency situations
- their ideas on house rules, unknown visitors etc
- their attitudes to coping with unacceptable behaviour in young
children
- what television programmes they consider suitable for young
children
- their ideas on consistency of care
What do baby-sitters need to know?
- The address and telephone number where you can be
contacted
- The approximate time you can be expected home
- How they will be getting home
- What to do in an emergency, the contact number of a neighbour
or close friend who may give you help and assistance quickly
- Your child/children's routine, do they usually have a bedtime
story?
- Any allergies or illnesses your child may suffer from, what to
do in these situations
- What to do if your child/children play up or are
distressed
- What your child/children are allowed/not allowed to do
- What television programmes, if any, they are allowed to
watch
- What time they go to bed
What do you need to provide for the baby-sitter?
- You may provide a snack or supper for the baby-sitter
- You may be asked if a friend of the baby-sitter may keep them
company or not
- Payment. Be clear what you will be paying the baby-sitter and
for how many hours
Parents are recommended to choose people who take their
responsibilities as a baby-sitter seriously. The care of your
child/children is in their hands and the least you can do is to
acknowledge their commitment to being prepared for all possible
occurrences.
