Babysitters Guide

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•  Know your employer. Don't accept the job if you don't know the person calling. Find out who recommended you for the job.
• Check with your parents and see if they know the family. Ask for the person's phone number and call back after you've checked.

Babysitting is a job. Be businesslike and explain the days and hours you are available. How much experience you've had (older children, infants, etc.)? What you charge per hour? Try to arrange a visit to the home to meet the parents and children. Make arrangements for transportation to and from the job. Even if it's only a short walk from your home, an adult escort might be a good idea.

Determine at the outset exactly what you will be doing to earn your fee. Will your duties go beyond babysitting and into household chores? 

•  Parent's name, phone number, and address.
• Number of children, their names, and ages.
• Time of arrival at the job and estimated length of stay.
• Leave your parents a note with the name, address, and telephone number of the family for whom you'll be babysitting and the time you expect to be home

• Where will the parents be? Get the phone numbers of theaters, restaurants, or friends the parents will be visiting. What time do they expect to return?
• Ask for the name and phone number of both the family doctor and a neighbor or friend. You should also have emergency phone numbers for the police, fire department, and poison control center.
• Ask for instructions on handling incoming phone calls. For maximum security, you should never tell a caller that you're home alone with the children. Explain to the caller that there is an adult at home, but they are unable to come to the phone. Then, ask if you can take a message and phone number
• Be sure doors and windows are locked, and ask which lights should be left on if you're to stay late at night.
• Is there a fire escape, a fire extinguisher or a second exit?

• What time is bedtime?
• Are children allowed to use the television, radio, etc?
• Find out about diapers, bottles, meals, snacks, homework, and whether or not friends of the children are allowed to visit.

•  Never open the door to strangers.
• Check and lock doors and windows.
• Be aware of strange noises, prowlers at the windows, or unusual phone calls.
• If the child is taking some type of medication, determine when the last dosage was and what time the next dosage is to be administered.
• If you take the children outside, never talk to strangers. Be extra careful near swimming pools, roads, and animals that you are not familiar with.

Evacuate the house in the same fashion as if you were at your own. Stay low to the ground and make sure that there is no fire on the opposite side of a door before opening it. Once you and the children are out of the house, go to a neighbor's and call the fire department.

• Pick up toys or other objects on stairs or in passageways.
• Know the location of medicines, cleaners, and electrical outlets, and keep children away from them.

• Don't tie up the telephone with calls to your friends; the children's parents could be attempting to reach you.
• Don't allow your friends to visit.
• Stay out of closets, desks, drawers, and other personal spaces.
• Enjoy only the snacks you've been offered.

•  Tell the parents about any problems encountered while babysitting, be it with the child or otherwise.
• Give the parents all the messages taken.
• If you feel uncomfortable with the person who is taking you home, call your own parents to make new arrangements.