How To Make Your Babysitter Feel Like Part of Your Family

When you have a babysitter, it is crucial that you are able to trust them.  While creating professional boundaries with your child’s babysitter is important, it is also important to make them feel like they are part of your family. This may be a difficult balance, but there are things you can do to make it work. Finding this balance will deepen their relationship with you and your kids.

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Build trust

It is difficult to leave your child with someone you have just met. However, if you put in the effort to run background checks and contact references, you did your due diligence and should be able to trust the babysitter. Once they see that you trust them, they will also become more comfortable with the family and will come to feel like they matter. This will allow them to feel like a part of the family. Building trust will take some time, but it will be worth it for you, your kids, and your sitter.

Support them

Your babysitter likely has a lot on their plate. If they are a college student, they are juggling a lot of different things, from coursework to babysitting and student organizations. You may notice they seem more tired or stressed at certain points. Ask them if there is anything you can do for them, and remind them that you are there if they need anything from you. They may not open up to you right away if they are a newer babysitter, but knowing that you care and you have their back will make them feel safe with you and your family.

Make them feel at home

Your babysitter will likely be babysitting your child at your house. It can be intimidating for someone to go into someone else’s house for the first time. Your sitter may not know where everything is and may question what they can and cannot use to help your child. During the initial meeting before their first shift, walk them through the house and show them where things are. Point out things that especially pertain to your child, and be clear about things they are unable to use. Show them how to use your kitchen appliances and anything else they may need to access during their shifts. This will allow them to feel comfortable and confident in their abilities and will make them feel at home in your house.

Treat them like family

Treating your babysitter like family will help them feel closer to you and your child and will make them more comfortable with you. Invite them over for dinner one night or plan a game night. Respect their answer if they end up declining. Get to know your sitter outside of their babysitting shifts. This will help you get to know your sitter better and will help your sitter see how you handle different situations with your child. In turn, your babysitter will feel more at home and can replicate what you did in situations that may come up with your child. Invite your babysitter to be involved in family events and milestones so they can be a part of big moments.

Vacations

You may decide to take your babysitter on vacations with you to help babysit while you have some time with yourself or with others, but they most likely will not be babysitting the whole time. When they are not babysitting your child, spend time with them and use this as a chance to get to know them. While they may be an added cost, you may opt to pay for their housing and at least some of their food on the vacation. This should be in addition to their payment for their hours babysitting.

Team approach

Hiring a babysitter is a big deal. You want someone who matches your outlook for taking care of your kids, whether it is only for a couple of hours or all day. You need to make sure they discipline your child in a way you approve of and uphold the rules and routines of the house. Adopting a team approach will make them feel like a part of the family and will help them be on the same page.

Open communication

Communication is crucial for you and your babysitter. They should be able to come to you with any concerns or questions that may arise. Remind the babysitter that you are available for help with your child, as well as anything else that needs to be discussed. Create a chat with your babysitter and any other people who you feel should communicate with each other. Communicate any important information as soon as possible so they are in the loop. Otherwise, they will feel left out and may not know something that can help your child.

Making your babysitter feel like a part of your family will help them be a better babysitter and will give them the confidence to do their job well.