by Patricia Watson

Created on: January 23, 2009   Last Updated: February 22, 2009

There are some house rules that should never be tampered with. Your children's safety and the well being of the babysitter are your first concerns. Establish a list for the sitter. Stress which rules are etched in stone, and which rules are more flexible.

Having a babysitter is an occasion your child should look forward to. There are some adjustments to rules, which will make your child more accepting of you going out for awhile.

* Depending on the age of the child, it is permissible to be flexible with bedtime. Let the babysitter know that your child is allowed to stay up a certain time past his normal bedtime. That will give the sitter the opportunity to watch a movie, or play a board game with the kids. When children are younger, they simply love that little bit of extra time in the evening.

* If treats are not usually allowed before bedtime, waive that rule on sitter night. Make sure your babysitter knows what special snacks are allowed. Remember, your goal is to make your children look forward to being babysat.

Some house rules should never be adjusted. If you want to enjoy your time away from the children, you will need to know they are safe.

* If your child is not allowed outside past a certain hour, that rule should stand. There are more ways outside the house that your child may get hurt. The babysitter has a more controlled environment inside the home.

* Your rules for hygiene should never be negotiable. Just because mom and dad are away, doesn't mean the kids stop brushing their teeth or washing their hands.

* Parents, children and the babysitter, need to feel comfortable with all arrangements. It is advisable to make a list of do's and don'ts. This will take away any gray areas for the sitter.

Don't allow yourself to stress over your rules. The goal is to have a worry free evening, while feeling confident your children are safe and secure. Each parent will have to find a balance with the adjustment of house rules. Regular routines are good to establish in children, but don't be too concerned if a few house rules are broken.

While parents are away, the babysitter is the authority figure. They should have parental permission to use their own judgment with certain situations. Be careful not to scare your sitter away. If you remain too rigid in your rules, they will start to feel you don't trust them.

When you make your list of rules remember your sitter will be very busy keeping your little darlings amused. They won't have a lot of time to keep checking the do's and don'ts. Keep your list short and reasonable. If you apply these methods it will be a winning situation for everyone.

Learn more about this author, Patricia Watson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.