Tips to Help Your Babysitter's First Day Go Smoothly

Regardless of how experienced the babysitter you hire is, they haven’t babysat for your family yet. Every situation is different and can pose its own challenges, which may very well be something your babysitter hasn’t experienced before. If you’ve hired a new babysitter and their first day is approaching, keep reading for tips to consider to help your babysitter’s first day go smoothly.

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Give a tour of the home

If your babysitter is going to be working in your home, give them a tour upon their first visit. Don’t just point them to different rooms throughout your home, but give an in-depth, detailed tour.

If there are child safety mechanisms in place throughout the house, such as on appliances or on cabinets, be sure to point them out and how to lock and unlock them so they stay effective. They may seem simple to you as you use them on a daily basis, but taking a small amount of time to give them a walk-through does not hurt anyone.

If there are rooms you don’t want your babysitter or the kids to be in, be sure to also point them out.

As you walk through the home, point out where important items are stored, such as medicine, first aid, cleaning supplies, and so on.

Consider having a supervised first day (or at least partial)

Every situation is different. Your child may be the type to embrace change and is open to welcoming strangers at the drop of the hat. On the other hand, your child may be reluctant to accept change, or this may very well be your first time enlisting the help of a babysitter.

If scheduling allows, consider being there on your babysitter’s first day to help with the transition. You can ease your child into having a new person in their life and home, and your babysitter can have the chance to ask questions in real time.

If you can’t be there for the first day, set time aside to discuss your babysitter with your child one-on-one, especially if they have not had a babysitter before. No one understands your child like you do, so take the time to talk them through the change and listen to any of their possible concerns. The change may be easier for older children but can seem sudden and strange to younger ones.

Review schedules and routines

Depending on your situation, you may have had extensive communication with your babysitter before their first day, or it may have just been limited to an initial interview when you set out to hire them. Don’t let them go into their first day blind – set some time aside to review your expectations and any routines or schedules that they may be expected to follow while on the job.

If your child is on a stricter sleeping schedule, let your babysitter know of any nap times, bedtime routines, and so on so that they can make sure they are followed.

If your child has anything scheduled, from school extracurricular activities to playdates, remind your babysitter of them and their expected involvement. Do they drive your child to and from said activities? Make sure there is proper authorization in place with any schools so that there are not any issues come pick-up time.

Go over emergency/sick procedures

You probably don’t even want to think about something going wrong with your child while you are away, but things can always happen and the best thing you can do is discuss the possibility with your babysitter before they occur.

If your child does fall sick with your babysitter, establish how you would like the situation handled. Do you want to be notified right away? Is there a family member you want to be alerted as an alternate contact? Make sure you and your babysitter are on the same page. Discuss your babysitter’s experience with handling children falling sick. Depending on their level of experience, you may feel more comfortable with them staying to take care of your child instead of calling you to come home right away.

Point out where medicine and first aid supplies are, especially if your child has to take certain medications. Give clear guidance on dosages. Provide details on your child’s pediatrician, the closest urgent care, and any other emergency/medical contacts you can provide.

Be available

While you may not be physically present on your babysitter’s first day, be available via phone for anything that may pop up. Let your babysitter know the best way to contact you while you are away, or even try to offer alternate contacts like a close family member who will be able to offer some guidance in a pinch if you think you may not be readily available.

As much as you and your babysitter can prepare for their first day, something can still unexpectedly pop up that no one was prepared for. The best thing you can do is assure your babysitter that you are just a phone call away in the event that they need something.