by Beckie Knowles

Created on: June 01, 2009   Last Updated: June 04, 2009

It is not easy leaving your precious bundle in the care of someone else, especially when your baby is still small. Worrying about your child's welfare while being looked after by a babysitter shouldn't affect your time away from them. Taking a break is very important. To put your mind at ease, ensure you and your babysitter go through the following checklist before and during your time out.

1. Baby monitor batteries - Whether your child is 3 months old or 3 years old, baby monitors are invaluable to babysitters and parents alike. Being able to hear disturbances allows quick reactions, as well as the reassurance of hearing your baby breathing as she sleeps when all is calm. Make sure you put fresh batteries into the monitor before leaving the house. A babysitter might not realise the monitor has turned off if they have the TV on quietly, or feel uncomfortable searching for new ones in someone else's house.

2. Safety gates - Show first time babysitters how to use them, so they can get upstairs quickly if need be. Also, ask the babysitter to double check they have closed both the top and bottom gates when returning downstairs from checking on the children.

3. Baby bedding - Explain to your babysitter that if your small baby cries, they should not under any circumstances give them blankets or teddies to calm them down. Remember not to be patronising, especially if the person looking after your baby has children of their own. Just gently reinforce how you would like them to deal with your baby crying. Show new or inexperienced babysitters how to hold small babies, making an emphasis on supporting their head. Generally, it is best to leave babies under 6 months with a trusted, experienced babysitter or relative.

4. Contact numbers - Always leave both you and your partner/friend's mobile numbers, as well as a land line where you can be reached in case you don't have signal. A babysitter's worst nightmare is trying to contact a parent and not being able to get through. It is advisable not to travel very far from your baby when it is under 12 months, so you can return promptly if the babysitter cannot calm the child, or in an emergency.

5. Illness and medicines - If you know your child is ill and may wake up requiring medicine, make sure you instruct your babysitter on the dosage and bottle both verbally before you leave, and in written instructions. Make it very clear not to give the child more than the instructed amount, and to contact you if the medicine does not calm the child down. Also, remind them to replace the medicine out of reach of children in case the child wanders out of bed looking for more themselves. It is best to briefly discuss checking a baby's temperature by putting your hand on their forehead, and initial symptoms of more serious illness to watch out for. Don't panic your babysitter, but ensure they know to call you immediately if the baby or child is acting strangely or has a high temperature.

The chances of something going wrong while your baby is in the care of a responsible babysitter is nowhere near as high as a parent may imagine. However, taking the time to go through a safety checklist, and showing the babysitter the best way to handle and calm your child will only ever reduce the risk of an accident. Always hire babysitters you know previously, and have a good report with. Take sensible precautions, make sure your babysitter is equipped for all possibilities, and enjoy your evening out; worry free.

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