Safety First: What to Cover Before Leaving Your Kids with a College Sitter

Whether it’s a holiday outing, a regular date night, or a special occasion, if you want to go out and leave the kids at home, you’ll obviously need to hire a babysitter. And especially when you have a new sitter providing coverage for you, there are ground rules you’ll need to establish before you can leave the house and your children. Here’s a list of all the bases you need to cover with your sitter so you can have a stress-free night out.

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The Day Before

There are a few things you need to do to prep your house and your babysitter before you leave. For the home, be sure to:

• Locate All Emergency Items: This can be a fire extinguisher, EpiPen with instructions, or a first-aid kit. Any medical devices, such as a nebulizer, should be brought out and put in a visible space for any emergencies.
• Outline an Exit Plan: Having a fire exit plan is a great way to locate spare keys, identify emergency exits in your house, understand your security systems, and determine which alarms are in place, such as fire and carbon monoxide detectors.
• List All Contacts: Provide your first and last names, as well as those of your emergency contacts. Provide additional contact information to Poison Control, Animal Control (if you live near wild animals), and your child’s pediatrician if they have medical conditions such as asthma or allergies.
• Provide your Full Address: While this may seem minor, having your full address listed can help your babysitter call for 911 and receive assistance quickly.
• Secure Hazardous Items: Store cleaning products, medications, bug spray, and other harmful chemicals safely to prevent your child from ingesting these substances.

Before You Leave

As your babysitter settles in before you go out, go through a checklist with them to ensure they are prepared for when you are gone. In this checklist, go over:

• All House Rules: Your home is your sanctuary, and it should be treated as such. Inform them who is and who is not allowed in the house, whether they are allowed to have friends over, and how your alarm/security systems work.
• Review Your Emergency Contact List: Go over each contact, labeling who they are to your child (E.g., their parent, pediatrician, or relative) and what they know to do in the event of a specific emergency or non-emergency.
• Explain Your Child’s Specific Needs: List any known allergies, scheduled medications (including location and dosage), their doctor’s contact information, and any special items, such as comfort items, in case of a meltdown.
• List Out Their Schedule: When are they fed, bathed, and put to bed for a nap or for the night? When are they supposed to clean up, do homework, and how long are they allowed to play around? Do they work on homework first or play first? Do they have extracurricular activities that require them to be dropped off or picked up, such as football or dance?
• Provide a Home Tour: Follow the plan you made the night before and go through each room with your babysitter. Point out fire exits, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, where emergency supplies are, security systems, and spare house keys.
• Review Your Emergency Plans: These plans can be what to do in a fire (such as calling a close neighbor), who to call/what to do if your child is having a medical emergency (getting out their nebulizer or Epi-pen), and who to call during other emergencies (animal attack or accidental poisoning).
• Go Over Your Details: Before you leave, let them know where you’ll be, when you will be back, and provide any additional phone numbers you have in case your cell phone is unreachable.

While You’re Out

As much as you want to enjoy your time away, it’s normal to want to check in with your babysitter to see how your children are doing. While checking in, be sure to:

• Let Them Know to Call: Even if it’s a minor incident, such as a bump or bruise, let them know it’s okay to call you so you can make that judgment call if it’s serious or not. This can also take the pressure off the babysitter if they are unsure.
• Talk to Your Children: If it’s your first time out with this babysitter, checking in with the kids is a great way to ensure they are having a good time and that they’re listening well. It can give you more peace of mind that your children are safe.

Going out, especially to make the most of a holiday, is perfectly okay, as long as you prepare your babysitter and children for when you are away. And by preparing early, you can fully enjoy yourself, knowing that your children are safe and well taken care of!