Family time is priceless, and few parents like to leave their kids behind, but whether it's through a date night with your spouse or necessary errands or outings related to work, you will obviously be separated from them from time to time.
Rarely is this more anxiety-inducing than when they will be left in the care of a new babysitter or nanny. Do you want to feel more prepared for that separation? Here are a few tips on how to best handle the situation.
Make sure you do your due diligence. Treat the care of your children like you might if you were hiring for any other important employment opportunity. Investigate all credentials, references, and perform background checks if necessary. You may be able to pay bare bones if you have a neighborhood teenager look after your little ones, but s/he may be incapable of handling scary situations that may arise.
So choose someone that has CPR training and a background in childcare. Look into prior employment if applicable. Do your best to find someone that will enforce your household rules, as many babysitters will shrug them off the moment your kids begin to whine. Educate them on your policies and procedures so they won't be fooled when your little angels insist, "But MOM lets us stay up late!"
Very young children should be introduced to the babysitter or nanny before they will be left alone with them. Consider having a supervised "play date" during which the new hire has natural interactions with your children. Explain to your kids that when you go away, the visitor will be in charge of their care.
Before you leave, don't forget to compile the basic babysitting checklist, which includes your work number, mobile phone number, emergency contacts like family members or neighbors' phone numbers, and all contact information for the pediatrician and the local hospital. You may even want to include directions to those vital places--your workplace (and/or wherever you will be), the physician's office, and the hospital.
Be prepared for a natural disaster, too. Let the nanny know where your matches and candles (or other emergency light source) are located, along with the best places to take shelter in the event of a tornado, monsoon, or flood. Your family should have a rendezvous point in such cases when its members are separated; make sure to inform your sitter of the location.
Child safety experts recommend that families have a "code word" for family members and family friends that may have to pick your children up from school so that your children can rest assured that they are in good hands. Do set this up with your kids, and make sure that the nanny is aware of the code word.
Bringing a new babysitter into the routine needs to be about safety and comfort. Taking these measures can ease the transition and reduce anxiety for both you and your kids.
Author Resource:-
St. Mary Medical Center has served the High Desert hospital communities to improve the health and quality of life for people in Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia and Adelanto as well as the surrounding communities of San Bernardino County. (http://www.stmaryapplevalley.com/)
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