How to Look after Children

Babysitting requires a lot of patience and maturity, but it can also be fun! If you’ve never looked after a baby, you’re probably wondering how to find clients, how to charge, and how to be a good babysitter. Don’t worry – with a little dedication and preparation, babysitting will be fun and rewarding (and make a lot of money!).

Table of Contents

Become a babysitter

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Get a babysitting job. Babysitting side jobs while their parents are at home is an opportunity for you to practice your childcare skills and gain some valuable experience that will increase your chances of finding a babysitting job. Helping parents with babysitting at home is also a great way to practice. If you don’t have a younger sibling, you can try babysitting a cousin or a close friend’s child.

Watch your child’s parents closely when they do things you’ve never done before or if they do, it’s awkward. Ask them to teach you skills that you find difficult, such as bathing a baby. Also, pay attention to your strengths, such as helping your child with homework. You can include these strengths in your resume, which will then be explained in detail.

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Attend a babysitting or childcare class. In some areas, you must obtain a license or certificate before accepting child care. Still, it’s helpful to have a clear understanding of responsibilities and basic babysitting skills. Look for childcare, CPR and first aid classes to thoroughly prepare and qualify for your first job. You can find these classes at the Red Cross ^{[1] X Research resources} and community centers.

Read babysitting manuals. These resources will answer many frequently asked questions about the care of infants and young children in everyday life and in emergencies.

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Make a timetable. You’ll usually take on babysitting as a freelancer, unless you run a homecare class, work as a domestic helper or nanny. If you plan to babysit more than one child, you will have to make a schedule and stick to it. This may sound old-fashioned, but filling out a calendar with all the available dates and times is very helpful, because when a parent calls to schedule babysitting, you’ll know exactly if you’re available or not.

You can color code your “busy” days on your calendar for easy viewing.
Update the timetable continuously to avoid duplication.
Making a regular schedule of your other activities like playing sports, etc. is also helpful for parents.

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Decide on remuneration. Some parents have set rates for babysitters, but many will pay by the hour at the rate the babysitter offers. There are two options for calculating remuneration: hourly or per child. The first method is more convenient when you are working with families with few children, and the second way is better if you plan to care for more than two children at the same time. You can also charge extra for working weekends or babysitting past midnight.

In the US, hourly childcare rates are typically around $9-$15 per hour, but this depends considerably on the individual home and the area where you or your family live. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Rates per child are usually around $7-$10 per child per hour. However, to learn more about how competitive and adaptable it is to specific conditions, you should take a look at the remuneration of babysitters for families with a similar number of children to your own.

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Make a list of health/safety information. You also need to know your baby’s individual information (such as allergy information), but it’s a good idea to have a general list of “worst-case” phone numbers to call. Record all the information in your notebook, on your note-taking app, in your briefcase, etc. to have it at hand at all times. Information to be recorded includes:

Poison Center
Police
Fire Department
Medical hotline
Someone who already has a child you trust (such as an aunt or a parent) to contact for minor problems
Any relevant phone numbers
Forms for parents to fill out

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Marketing yourself. If you’ve never had a babysitter before, you’ll have to market to everyone that you’re taking the job. Finding a job through word of mouth is easiest. Talk to neighbors or parents with young children at your school. Ask friends who are taking care of children if they know anyone who needs them. If you have a babysitter who is moving to another job, contact those parents.

Ideally, you should take care of children for people you know or recommended by friends. If you’ve never done this before, perhaps you should only babysit for people you know.
If word of mouth doesn’t work, consider advertising in the neighborhood. You can go door-to-door handing out flyers or emailing if your neighborhood provides a list of residents. If you plan to market widely, consult your parents first. Your parents need to know when you post personal information. You can stick a flyer on the neighborhood bulletin board.
Write a resume detailing your skills, experience, and training you’ve attended.
If you’re old enough, you can sign up on babysitting websites. Note that some sites do not accept minors.

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Be prepared to answer questions from parents. Finding parents to babysit is hard enough, the next step is even harder to show them how to trust you to do the job. Schedule an interview to get to know the clients and their children.

Just as you want to find a good job, parents will want to learn as much about you as possible. Tell them about yourself, your family, your school and why you want to babysit.
Prepare questions in advance to know what awaits you. Write the questions down on paper so you don’t forget. The answers you receive will help you determine if this is the right job for you.
If you’ve already interviewed and met the kids but still want to learn more, ask to see them again to give you more time to get to know the kids. Almost any parent would be pleased to see you so dedicated to your work.

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Know your comfort zone and limits. Before deciding to take a job, you need to know what is comfortable and what is not. You must have a sense of confidence. If you don’t feel very secure, it’s best to wait for another opportunity. Your safety is just as important as the safety of the children you care for. If this is your first time babysitting, make sure you feel comfortable with the family you’ll be taking on. Follow your hunch and don’t think you have to take the job right away.

Tell them you need to get permission from your parents before taking the job. When you know what you want and what you’re going to face, babysitting is better for both you and the kids.
If you don’t feel you are skilled enough to take care of babies, don’t take this job.
If you are allergic to animals, you must refuse to work for the household that has the animal.
Get to know the children first to see if you are willing to babysit them. This also helps to increase your standing in the eyes of the children and will not cry when the parents leave the house.

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Ask yourself the following questions before deciding to take the job:

Do you like to play with children?
Are you ready to take care of the kids?
Are you knowledgeable about the needs of young children?
Have you attended any babysitting courses?
Do you have experience taking care of younger siblings or cousins?
What can you do for the children and host family?
Do you want to take over babysitting from time to time or find a stable job?
If you are interested in income, will the hours and salary meet your needs?
How many children will you look after?
How old are the children you will look after? Children of different ages will require different caregiving efforts.
Does the child have special needs or special diets?
Does the owner have a pet? Is there a swimming pool?
How many hours are you going to work?
What are you allowed to do in their home (e.g. use the host’s computer, provide food and snacks, or bring your own)?
If you have a driver’s license, do you have to pick up the kids?

Julie Wright, MFT

Child care specialist

Julie Wright is a marriage and family therapist and co-founder of The Happy Sleeper, which specializes in sleep counseling and offers online sleep classes for kids. Julie is a psychotherapist specializing in infants, children, and parents and co-author of two best-selling parenting books (The Happy Sleeper and Now Say This) published by Penguin Random House. copy. She is the author of Dad, Mom, and Me in Los Angeles, California, which specializes in supporting and teaching new parents skills. Julie’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR magazines. Julie trained at Cedars Sinai Early Childhood Center.

Julie Wright, MFT
Child care specialist

Experts agree: The most essential qualities for babysitting are selfless love and experience working with young children, in addition to honesty and a high sense of responsibility. However, each parent has their own requirements, such as having a babysitter know how to drive, speak another language, or have flexible hours.

Prepare for job

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Get information about the parents and the child you care for. When you arrive at child care, you’ll need to start by recording all of the parents’ whereabouts before they leave. Record their full names and phone numbers, the addresses of places they are going and when they plan to get home, and emergency contact information. You also need to record any information about the baby such as allergies (or other health information). This list will have to be longer and more detailed if childcare is longer. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Ask parents where to keep the first aid kit and medicine.
Keep a list of medicines each child may need or take in case of injury or illness (such as Tylenp for pain or headaches).
Record your child’s timetable. Most families have a general (sometimes more specific) timetable that records the child’s routine for the day, which usually includes meals, chores/work to be done, and bedtime. If you have a schedule at hand, you won’t be overtaken by your kids (if you’re older) when their parents aren’t home.

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Find out what activities your child is allowed to do. Each family will have slightly different rules, and it’s important to know what each child will be allowed to do. Ask about the time your child can watch TV/play games/use the computer, ask when and where he or she can go out to play, if they can invite friends over, if there is an area in the house that they can’t. no permission to enter. These rules can be different for each child in the family depending on the age of the child, so be specific.

By default you are not allowed to take pictures or video of the children. If you want to take pictures or post photos/videos of children for a good reason, you must ask the child’s parents first.
Find out what you’re allowed to do while your baby sleeps, if any. For example, you can ask if you can use social media, watch TV, or invite friends over (in rare cases).

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Make a menu for babysitting time. Planning ahead is always better. Depending on how long babysitting lasts, you may need to feed your baby a meal or two. Ask parents what food they would like you to prepare for their child, and what snacks should be given to them.

Ask about foods your child is not allowed to eat; often these are candies and sweets that the children can ask for when the parents are not supervising.
Children, especially toddlers, may refuse to play the games you have planned. You should have a backup game ready, and don’t worry about sticking to the planned activities, as long as your child doesn’t use electronic devices too much.

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Ask about punishments used when children are unkind. Chances are the child you are looking after will be disruptive. Instead of guessing whether punishment is too heavy or too light, ask parents what they usually do when their child misbehaves. Punishment often includes withdrawing certain privileges from the child or punishing the child for standing in the corner. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

It is also possible that the parent will tell you not to punish the child but to report the child’s behavior.

Babysitting

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Spend time getting to know the kids. Babysitting is a job and also an opportunity to have fun with children. Your kids will be more accepting of you and your rules if they like you, and you’ll soon be liked by them if you try to get along with them. Talk, ask questions, and play with them to develop good relationships. Young children may not want to talk for too long, so you need to take advantage of them during playtime or other activities.

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Join the kids during playtime. Although it is your job to look after the children, you should also interact with them as much as possible by playing with them. The game will vary depending on the age of the child; If you babysit, you can probably just play with making faces and shaking toys. Let’s create games to keep the children interested and reduce the naughty games that cause trouble. The pretend game is very interesting. You can even just play a simple handshake with the babies.

Be cheerful. Parents prefer a babysitter who can help their kids have fun and learn while keeping rules and discipline. Ask the kids to show you their favorite toys. Learn different age-appropriate games from your child’s parents and other babysitters. Let your child play outside if possible.
Toy play, board games, and movement games are all good options for older children. Ask the children what they like to do. You can bring along a few sets of games and toys when you are the same age as children, such as seahorses, billionaires or other board games.
Do not allow children to sit in front of screens. Parents of children hire you to babysit, not to let them sit and watch TV all day.

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Telling stories. Children love to hear stories, and even the worst storyteller can keep them interested and attentive. Collect some little-known fairy tales that your child has probably never heard of, such as “The Shoemaker and the Elves” or “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” You can even use stories as rewards.

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Come up with interesting projects. If you are a long-term babysitter, you can work with the children on projects that everyone loves to participate in. Consider making crafts with them or cooking a new dish (or familiar favorite). Packaged pre-mixed flours for cookies, pies, and muffins are also delicious. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Making something is a good way to pass the time, and your child will have a product to be proud of.

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Take children to the playground if parents allow. Simple games like hide-and-seek or chase keep kids active and in shape. Dancing with kids is also a great exercise!

If you can’t leave the house, you can let your child play outside in the yard.

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Check regularly to see what your child needs. Children do not know the time as adults and often forget basic needs. You should check every hour if your child needs to go to the bathroom, is thirsty, is tired or hungry. Often children won’t tell you those needs on their own, so be sure to ask them.

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Follow the timetable. If a parent gives you a timetable for the child’s basic daily activities, you need to stick to it. Make sure children eat on time, give them a nap, remind them to do their homework according to the timetable, etc. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Watch movies with your child if allowed. If your kids get to see a movie, you can play the movie at the end of the day so that the kids can settle down before their parents get home. If you’re babysitting for less than three hours, it’s not a good idea, as parents may get angry when they see you sitting in front of the TV half the time. You can choose movies like:

Jungle boy
Looking for Nemo
Cloud-haired beauty
Rag-smashing

Avoid making mistakes

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Do not leave children alone. In any case, your job is to look after the child and not leave the child’s side. Remember that you should never leave children alone in the house. Staying in another room is fine, unless you have to take care of the baby, but running out to the store to buy things or going out for a walk without taking the kids is of course not okay.

This rule applies to older children, too, unless the parents make it clear that the child can be left home alone for short periods of time.

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Do not allow others to come to your home while babysitting. Unless your child has a pre-planned visit with friends, do not let anyone in at any time during your stay. You also shouldn’t bring acquaintances – family or friends – over while you need to work, unless you get the child’s parents consent first.

The idea of having a best friend come over late at night when the kids are asleep is tempting, but it’s also not allowed unless the child’s parents agree.

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Do not abuse electronic devices. Today, with mobile phones, tablets, and laptops used more than ever, it’s easy to get caught up in the habit of texting your friends or surfing Facebook. However, like many other jobs, you need to turn off electronic devices or only use it in emergencies. You get paid to babysit, not chat with friends.

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Do not play the movie/TV in repeat mode. Children often ask to watch movies or TV, and depending on you can let them watch it for a short time, but if you watch it for many hours, they will become passive. If the child’s parents do not set screen time on electronic devices, you should only allow the child to use it for up to 2 hours. Children will be happy to have someone to play with, and young parents won’t judge you as lazy or neglected. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Michigan Medicine Go to Source}

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Don’t open the door when someone knocks on your door, unless you’re waiting for someone with an appointment. If you’re waiting for someone, only open the door when you’re sure it’s them. Look through the small hole in the door or through the window, and ( do not open the door) before answering. The person standing outside may be a stranger. Before the young parent leaves the house, you should ask if they are waiting for someone to come to the house. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Clean up before parents get home. Sometimes you can forget, but an important part of babysitting is cleaning for the kids. There may not be much to clean up, but if you cook or do crafts, leave everything in its place. Parents will be pleased to see the house clean and will think of you if they need to hire a babysitter in the future.

Remember to clean up after you do something. If you and the kids make a mess while playing, clear everything up before the parents leave.
Play cleaning games with the kids. Say that whoever moves the most wins, or you can come up with a fun game that includes cleaning.
If you come to the daycare and find something messy, you should clean it up as well. Who wouldn’t be happy to come home to find everything cleaner than when they left the house.

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Don’t let the kids do it on their own. Maybe you want to be a “cute” babysitter by ignoring when your kids do things their parents would never allow. Remember, the children are not your children, and you have no right to break the rules of the house. You can’t always be friends with the kids.

Know when to insist on disallowing and when to be flexible with small things, such as occasionally keeping the kids awake for an extra 5 minutes past bedtime.
The kids will challenge you. Children (even toddlers) often try to push boundaries to discover where they stand. Ask young parents about house rules and stick to them, even if you don’t agree with them!
The best babysitters always put responsibility first, then fun or making money. The feeling of being trusted and loved by a child is a worthy reward that few can match.
Don’t be afraid to call the young parents if you feel the need. It’s always better to be careful, and most parents appreciate your concern.

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Make sure you know what to do in an emergency. Before the young parent leaves the house, ask who you will be calling, what to do, and where to go in case of an emergency. Children’s safety must come first. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Record all relevant information before the child’s parent/guardian leaves the home. This information may include emergency numbers, landline holders, spare key storage, etc. Try not to be curious so the adults in your home know that you just want to help. That way, you can clearly know what to do in an emergency and get your child out of harm’s way. ^{[10] X Research Source}
If an emergency such as a fire occurs, remove everything and get the child out of the house. Do not return home, do not leave children alone, and call the fire department as soon as possible.

Understand basic babysitting tasks

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Learn how to change diapers. Children under 3 years old can still wear diapers. If you’ve never changed a baby’s diaper before, ask your parents to teach you how to change a diaper.

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Know how to feed children. You need to know how to bottle feed, feed and keep babies safe in the kitchen.

Feed your child healthy foods. Do not allow children to eat as they please. Before your child takes the cake, remind him to eat a piece of fruit such as an apple, carrot, grape or orange.
Make sure children don’t reach for things they’re not allowed to eat too often, such as cookies or ice cream.

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Know your child’s bedtime routine. Notify the child before putting the child to bed. You can sometimes keep your child awake for 10-15 minutes after the bedtime set by their parents – but remember to let them know that this is a special occasion. Beyond those times, you need to be firm when it’s time to sleep. Be prepared to deal with a nagging child. With older children, you need to know the difference between when they have a good reason and when they are using a “delayed plan”. With babies, you need to ensure a safe environment when your baby sleeps.

A routine at the end of the day helps kids relax and signals their bodies that it’s time to sleep. Ask parents about what children usually do before bed. Maybe the rule in the house is not to watch TV or use the computer 1 hour before bed. If your child often reads, talks in a whisper, or listens to music before bed, have him follow that routine. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Help children with the basics. Take your baby to the bathroom (or change diapers at night). Help children brush their teeth. Ask the parents if there is anything else that needs to be done before the kids get into bed. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Always place your baby (and young child) in a designated sleeping area (be it a bed, crib, bassinet, etc.) This is especially important for babies, as they may experience problems and hurt when sleeping in inappropriate places. Remove all pillows, stuffed animals, and other items from the crib, if any. Remember to place your baby on his or her back to reduce the risk of suffocation during sleep.
Give your baby things that can help her feel comfortable, such as a pacifier, stuffed animal, or a blanket she usually uses when she sleeps. Do not put stuffed animals or the like in an infant’s crib. ^{[13] X Research Source}
If the child wakes up or calls you, wait a minute before entering. Maybe the baby will fall back to sleep on his own. If your baby can’t get back to sleep, you can gently stroke her arm or belly. Giving your baby a pacifier also helps if it’s something familiar to your baby. Tim learns what parents often use to put their baby to sleep.

Advice

If the family you are babysitting has pets, ask if you have to care for them; If it’s part of your job that you don’t do, you could be fined.
Before placing your baby on the diaper changing table, make sure you have everything (wet wipes, diapers, baby powder, etc.) at hand so you don’t have to run to get it. Don’t leave your baby alone for even a second, as he can roll off the table in a split second.
When presenting a game or activity, you need to make sure the child is excited to participate. If the kids don’t like one game, move on to another. You need to make sure the kids will tell their parents that they had a good time.
If your child seems sick or in pain, stay in the room with the child and call the parents if the symptoms do not subside.
If you’re young (typically 13-15 years old) and aren’t used to taking care of a baby without diapers, or if you just want to babysit children over 3 years old, set limits when advertising (such as babysitting 3 to 3 years old). 8 years old).
If you bathe your baby, don’t leave him alone for even a few seconds. Remember to gather everything needed before putting your baby in the tub.
Get extra help if you’re looking after more than 4 kids. You can ask anyone, such as a close friend or other babysitter, to be willing to help.
Never let children leave the house alone.
If the child chokes, give him a firm pat on the back. If the object still doesn’t come out, stick two fingers in the child’s mouth and try to get it out!
Initially, you should take care of children in small numbers, for a short time and children of the age that you find easiest to care for.
If the child is being rough with you, call the parent, and if the child still doesn’t listen, call again to ask them to go home right away, and never accept babysitting at that home again. .
Be gentle with children. Whom will children love and obey more? The person who just sits on the sofa surfing Facebook or the person who has a gentle attitude and plays with the kids?

Warning

Be careful in words and actions. Children imitate very quickly and will tell their parents that it was because you taught them.
If you’re babysitting babies, you should only feed them fist-sized amounts or less.
Keep safe places for children to play. Make sure all electrical outlets are covered and clear of any sharp objects. Do not let children near cleaning agents. Get rid of all medications; The kids might think it’s candy and take it out and eat it. Close all windows. If you’re babysitting a toddler, close all doors to the basement and to the bathroom.
Never leave children alone with strangers, even if they seem to know them.
Children are also very annoying sometimes, you need to be patient.
Never spank a child. Before the child’s parents leave the house, ask what punishment can be used if the child is not obedient and respects their wishes.
Never accept a job that makes you uncomfortable, regardless of location, age or number of children.
Try not to fall asleep while babysitting, unless you’re babysitting overnight (or the parents come home very late and agree to let you take a nap). Sleeping while working is not good at all, especially because the kids can play mischief and cause trouble.

Steps