Babysitting Business

Tips-
 Be nice to the kids. Who are kids more likely to obey and like? The babysitter who
sits on the couch on Facebook, or the babysitter who is nice and plays with them?

 Before anything, make sure of any medical details that are important and need to be
known, this includes allergies to foods.

 Babies and children may make noise when they are asleep. Sleeping isn't a dead-
silence activity.

 When starting a game or activity with the child, make sure the child is willing to
participate. If they don't want to play a specific game, move on to a new game. Make
sure that the kids can tell the parents they had a great time.

 Have a prize bin for if the kids are behaving well.

 If the family you are babysitting for has pets, be sure to ask the parents if you will
have to care for the pets too; if you were supposed to but didn't, that can lead to
consequences.

 When you are changing a baby's diaper on a changing table or counter, make sure
that you have everything (baby wipes, diapers, baby powder, etc.) within reach so
that you won't have to walk away to get anything. Don't leave the child for even a
second, because in that second, they could roll off of the table.

 If a child seems to be sick or in pain, stay in the room and call the parents if the
symptoms continue.

 If child gets up, take them back to bed right away. You can usually tell if a kid is
genuinely upset or just stalling.

 If the child is abusing you, call the parents and if it does not stop with their advice,
call them again. Demand they return immediately and do not tend for them again.

 If you are young (typically 13-15) and are not comfortable with caring for a child who
is not toilet trained or looking after 3+ kids at once, set limits while advertising (such
as you only do kids who are age 3 or 4 to 8).

 Never let the kids leave the house by themselves.

 If you are bathing a kid who doesn't want you in the bathroom with them, you
probably don't need to be there! Just use your best judgement. If you decide that
they are young enough that you do need to be there, read a book or a magazine to
make them feel more comfortable.
 If the child is known to move a lot then ask the parents to bring out a play-pen, If they
don't have one then put all of the children into one room with the cot and put on an
appropriate film.

 Ask if the family is religious in anyway and if the children need to pray before bed or
before eating.

 If you feel nervous with someone else's kids, try babysitting your little sister/brother
while your mother's out shopping for practice.

 If the kid(s) you are babysitting are being good, give them a treat. (Cookies, Candy,
etc.).

 Start with small amounts of kids, shorter babysitting time and ages that you feel
comfortable with.

 Sometimes children are scared of monsters at night. If you have trouble with the
children, tell them to repeat a silly phrase that "gets rid of monsters" or use a mister
filled with water as "monster spray." You can also offer to check in their closet, under
their bed, behind curtains, and any other place a monster may be hiding.

 If you reward the child with toys or prizes, the other kids might get upset. If the child
has been relatively well behaved, they should get a prize too. If the other kids have
not been good, explain what they did wrong.

 Have fun when babysitting! Play the Wii or go outside.

 Have extra babysitters help you if you are babysitting more than 4 kids. That can be
anyone to a helpful friend, to another babysitter who wants to help.

 If you're giving a child a bath, don't leave them alone for even a few seconds. Make
sure that you have all necessary bathing equipment in the bathroom before you put
the child in the bathtub.

 Consider starting a babysitting business. If you are successful at the babysitting job,
the parent(s) may want to promote you as a recommended babysitter.
 Make sure the children are asleep before you go to bed. The parents wouldn’t want
them up and playing with things when you’re asleep.

 If a kid is choking, pat it on the back as hard as you can. If the item still does not
come out, stick two fingers into the child's mouth and try to pull it out!

Warnings-
 Be sure to watch your language and actions. Children pick up on anything quickly
and will claim to their parents you taught them how.

 Remember to never accept jobs you don't feel comfortable doing. Whether that's
because of location, age, or number of kids.

 If you are babysitting an infant, only feed them food the size of their fist or smaller.

 Kid-proof the areas you will be playing in. Make sure all electrical outlets are covered
and put all sharp objects away. Make sure you do not let the kids get near cleaning
fluids. Keep all types of medicines away, the child could think it is candy and gobble
them up. Close all windows. If you're watching a toddler, keep all doors leading to
basement stairs closed, and all bathroom doors closed.

 Don't ever leave the kids with strangers, even if the kids seem to know them.

 The kids may get annoying, work through it.

 Never spank or hit a child. Before the parents leave, ask them what kinds of
consequences they want you to use if their child misbehaves and respect their
wishes.

 Avoid fall asleep while babysitting unless you are babysitting overnight (or the
parents are coming home very late and have said it's okay). It's never a good idea to
fall asleep on the job, especially since the kids you're babysitting could get into
mischief and trouble.