How to Make Your Babysitter Part of the Family Culture

Although your babysitter is not a part of your family, they are taking care of your children. They should feel comfortable taking care of them and treat them like their own family members. Your sitter should also feel comfortable talking to you about issues that may arise. Making them a part of your family culture is crucial for building a sense of overall trust between you, your children, and your sitter.

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Encourage an early connection

The earlier your sitter connects with your child and vice versa, the sooner they will feel like they are a part of the company culture. Before the sitter’s first shift, have them come over to meet your child and get a sense of the family’s routines. Let your sitter know what makes your child special, which will allow the sitter to get to know your child better. This way, they have a starting point for having a conversation with your child about something they are passionate about, and your sitter can build that connection with your family right away.

Find a sitter who will stick around

It is easier to make a babysitter feel like a part of the family culture if they are able to stick around for a while. A babysitter who leaves after a few shifts disrupts your routine and does not provide a lot of time for your child to get to know them. Children need routine and constancy, so it is important to find a babysitter who is planning on being around for the long term, or at least long enough to make the onboarding process worth it for you and them. In the interview process, ask about their intentions and see what their future goals and plans are. If it sounds like they are not interested and are just wanting extra money, move on. However, if they are passionate about childcare and seem enthusiastic, that is generally a good sign that they will be around for a while.

Open communication

Communication is key in a variety of settings, but it is especially true when it comes to the care of your child. You need to be able to talk to your babysitter about things that come up, and they need to be comfortable enough to ask questions and address concerns that may arise. Let them know how to reach you when they are watching your children, and if you are in a position where you are unable to be reached, give them other emergency contacts. Keep them in the loop with things pertaining to your child so they know everything they need to in order to be the best babysitter possible for your child.

Vacations

When you go on vacation, you may decide to bring your babysitter along. While they may babysit a little bit, it is likely that you will not need them all of the time. They may want some free time, but be sure to invite them to join in on family activities as well. This will make them feel like they are included in things outside of their babysitting duties, and this will allow them to feel like a part of your family.

Honor professional boundaries

While you want your babysitter to feel like a part of your family, the reality is that they are not. If you invite them over for dinner and they decline, no matter what the reason is, be respectful and do not push them. Simply say something like “That is okay” or “Maybe next time.” Do not hold this against them. They have stuff outside of babysitting, which is a job for them. Allow them to have a good work-life balance. Otherwise, they may feel burnt out, and they will not be at their best to watch your child.

Consistent discipline

Discipline is not an easy conversation to have, especially with your babysitter. However, it is essential that your babysitter knows what is and is not okay when it comes to disciplining your child. They need to know what behaviors you find acceptable and unacceptable. You should also let your babysitter know what forms of discipline you allow and what forms cross a boundary. This way, your child has consistent discipline, no matter who they are with.

Holiday gifts

The holidays are a great way to show your babysitter how much you appreciate them and how much they do for your family. Find out things they like, whether it is their favorite store, snack, or restaurant, and buy them a gift or a gift card to celebrate holidays. You likely buy gifts for others in your child’s life, so it is important that you also acknowledge your babysitter. Doing so will allow them to feel like they matter to you and your family, and they will appreciate feeling appreciated.

Taking steps to make your babysitter feel like a part of your family culture will allow them to feel proud of what they do.