Look for right qualities in your child’s baby sitter
Finding a baby sitter for children of all ages can be a daunting task. You want to make sure your child is safe, but you also want him or her to feel comfortable and have fun.
David Ma Editorial Intern
Aresponsible adolescent from the neighborhood may be a good option.Teenagers usually are energetic and playful, makingthem good candidates for interacting with younger kids. However, they often are less strict than parents prefer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends maintaininga list of three to four baby sitters who can be calledon when needed. Before hiring a sitter, parents should:
meet the sitter and check references and training;
talk withthe teen’s parents to see how he/she handles responsibility;
talk with other parents who haveused the teenager for baby-sitting;and
be sure the baby sitteris at least 13 years old and matureenough to handle common emergencies. Thesitter should have firstaid training and know CPR.
Parents should take several precautions before leaving the houseto the baby sitter:
Provide a number where you can be reached, as well as the phonenumbers for the poison control center, pediatrician,police/fire department and a reliable neighbor.
Familiarize the baby sitter with your children and their routines,as well as any allergies or specific needs.
Show the sitter fire escape routes, and instruct him or herto leave the house right away in case offire and to call the fire department from a neighbor’s house.
Have emergencysupplies such as flashlights and first aid kitson hand.
The AAP offers a baby sitter training program on CD-ROM ($33.95),with a separate student manual ($5.95); both resourcescan be used by parents seeking to hire a sitter. The manual includes a sitter’s checklist. Visit www.aap.org,click on Bookstore and search BLAST!
