5 Tips To Be Prepared For Your Babysitter’s First Day | AD

*This is a collaborative post.

Making the decision to take on a babysitter can be very scary. Leaving your child for the first time can be very emotional and feel all so overwhelming.
Here are 5 tips to make the transition feel a little more bearable, and hopefully make you feel more confident when leaving your child with a babysitter for the first time.

Provide a list of contacts

I think this goes without saying. Always leave a list of contacts in case of an emergency. Obviously, emergency services would be the first port of call, but for less serious situations, it is always best to leave some contact numbers for your babysitter should they need help or just some simple advice.

Ease yourself into it gently

Leaving your child for the first time with someone you hardly know can be very daunting and quite a worry. Why not hire your babysitter for a short period first so that it doesn’t feel like a big ordeal to start with.
Pop out for a coffee with a friend or do some shopping to help keep you occupied.

Show the babysitter around the home

Give your babysitter a tour of the home so that they can put their hands on things should they need them. Show places such as where nappy changing supplies are kept, snack cupboards, formula and anything else that your child might need whilst under their care.

Print off your routine

Sharing your routine with your babysitter will ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible without causing any upset to your little one.
A simple print off with your normal bedtime routine will help the babysitter get to know what works best for your child. This may include reading a story before bed, favourite pyjamas or a specific swaddle bag you use for baby.
Baby swaddle bags will make sure baby sleeps well and keep a consistent temperature throughout the night.

Make a list of rules to folllow

Remember, you are hiring a babysitter so what you say goes in your own home.
Make a list of things that you want the babysitter to adhere to. This may be things like don’t give the children certain snacks, perhaps your child has their food cut up into small pieces, maybe they are not allowed grapes or nuts or anything that triggers allergies.
The babysitter is paid to look after your child whilst you are not there so don’t feel bad about making some ground rules that cover anything that concerns you.

Are you looking for a babysitter? Or perhaps you have used their services before?

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