Question

In the future, are you going to bathe your baby if you will become a mother or father someday?

Will you be the one to do it or the baby sitter?

Answer 1

Yes

Have the Required Qualifications

Anyone considering a job in childcare should complete a first aid course and become certified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Babysitters can earn more money and find more work by being CPR certified because most parents consider this training to be vital when someone is caring for their beloved child.

Organizations like the Red Cross offer babysitting courses to obtain CPR, First Aid, and AED (automated external defibrillator) certifications.

1. Ensuring Child Safety

This is the most important responsibility, and it’s always required. That’s why it’s number one!

Make sure children are safe at home and while ‘out and about.’ It’s vital. Parents expect that children will be under the watchful eye of the sitter at all times.

If you need to step away from the child to make lunch or prepare a bath (how this is done, of course, depends upon their age), make sure the child is in safe surroundings and check on them regularly. You can also use a baby monitor if the family has one available.

2. Meeting the Children Beforehand

It’s really important that you get along with the kids you’re caring for, and the only way to find out is to meet them.

Parents will often expect a new babysitter to come for a short visit or even do a paid trial run to see how things feel at the beginning. This is a perfect opportunity for you to create a good first impression with the kids and the parents.

3. Have Your Vaccinations Up to Date

This one is often forgotten.

It’s highly recommended that anyone caring for a young child, especially an infant or newborn, be in good health.

Babysitters should be vaccinated for common illnesses that are dangerous to babies, such as whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, H. flu (HiB), pneumococcus, Hepatitis B, polio, measles, mumps, chickenpox, and influenza (each season) (source). This precaution is necessary because babies have an underdeveloped immune system due to a lack of exposure to common contagions.

4. Bathing and Dressing Young Children

Bath time can be fun for both the child and the babysitter but always follow common safety practices.Infants and young children can easily get burned when the water is too hot. You may begin running the water for a bath, and then not realize it has become quite a bit warmer by the time it is finished running. Never put a little one in without checking the deepest part of the water (not just the surface) with your forearm or toes first.

5. Changing Diapers

When babies and toddlers have soiled diapers, it’s never a treat, but it’s necessary to change them as soon as possible.

If a changing table is unavailable, change the baby on the floor. Never turn away from a baby on a changing table because they can roll off in an instant!And make sure you get everything ready beforehand, including the diaper, baby powder, wet wipes, and clothing because you can’t go get it once you start!

6. Preparing and Cleaning Bottles for Babies

This is often a necessary duty for babysitters taking care of an infant.

Bottles must always be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. You may wash them in hot, soapy water, or use a dishwasher with a heat-drying cycle, which should be sufficient in places where the water is clean. Sanitation, if needed, usually involves placing bottles, teats, caps, etc. in boiling water for 5 minutes to kill any bacteria that washing may have missed.

This process is called sterilization, and it’s normally only done until the child is 3 months old, after which washing alone should suffice.

7. Preparing Meals and Snacks

This responsibility is often expected of babysitters and can present its own challenges.

If the child has food allergies, make sure the parents outline them carefully so you can make all efforts to avoid a potentially dangerous reaction. Parents should keep a list of the foods to avoid on the refrigerator.

Also, if you are going to be cooking during your sit, find out what foods are acceptable to the parents and kid-friendly. Learn how to make fun, healthy versions of child favorites like pizza, spaghetti, tacos, hamburgers, cookies, and muffins.

8. Administering Medications

This is an important responsibility for any babysitter. Like all medications, drugs must be administered exactly as specified. Instructions for dosage are usually clearly outlined on the packaging or provided in a pamphlet by the doctor or pharmacist

.

9. Disciplining Children

This can be a tricky one!

Discipline is primarily the responsibility of the parent but will fall upon the shoulders of the babysitter when parents are away. Learn the family’s preferred discipline strategy and follow it as closely as you can to maintain consistency for the child.

10. Helping with Homework

This may apply to school-aged children and could be part of a mutual agreement between you and the parents.

Parents may instruct you to ensure that all homework is done before the child is allowed to watch TV, play video games, or whatever recreational activity they want to do.