Babysitting Tips

After babysitting for over eight years, I have learned a few tricks. I have babysat children aging from six months to fourteen years old. I have also babysat a various number of children at a time. Each new job brings a new opportunity to learn new tricks. I do not think anyone will ever know EVERYTHING there is about babysitting or child care. Children always find a way to surprise you. I do hope to share a few tips with you that might help make the journey a little easier.
When babysitting small children or infants, it can be very nerve racking. I started off with my little brother at first. Being the oldest you tend to be the live in babysitter. He was about two years old when I started babysitting him. He was a handful. Being two, he liked to run around and of course get into whatever he could find. He could wear out the most experienced sitter. I found that there is not really a way to make it where he cannot get into anything or to stop him from getting into things. The easiest way I found to help watch him was instead of trying to control him was to control the environment around him. It is almost impossible to stop exploring, but easy to control where he explores. I would recommend taking the two year old outside if possible. He or she can play and be merry and you can sit a little and watch. Ideally a fenced in area is best. Then our little toddler cannot just run out of sight. Most toddlers do not disappear on purpose. They just find something that attracts them and want to see what it is. At that age, toddlers do not think about others. Their world consists of themselves. They do not understand that you are watching them and need to be near them at all times. Once you understand that fact, babysitting is a little easier. Another thing about babysitting small children is you have to be firm and consistent with them. If you say that if they do not stop jumping on the dog, they will get a timeout then you have to follow through with it. Also, yelling does not get you very far. Yelling at a child normally only causes stress and fear and it is not very effect. I find that just using a very stern voice, facial expression, and stance works best. A stern approach allows the child to understand that you mean business without causing unneeded stress and fear in either you or the child. After yelling, you can find yourself stressed and angry, if you use the stern approach you do not feel as stressed or angry. Although we like to think of toddlers as just miniature adults, we have to understand that they are not as devolved as we are and cannot understand the same concepts and ideas we do. We have to simplify our world a little for them.
After sitting for my little brother, my cousin asked me to baby-sit for her. She had a little six month old boy. He had a clef pallet. When he would eat from a bottle, some of the formula would come out of his nose. At first, this startled me, but after awhile I just learned to wipe his cute little button nose and move forward. I remember the first night I babysat him. He cried for the first twenty minutes. I had a feeling he was hungry, but my cousin told me that he would need to be fed in about an hour. I was not sure if I should feed him or not. I called my cousin and she said that I could feed him. It did end up that he was just hungry and after he was full he was a complete delight to watch. I learned two things that night. One was to feel free to call the parent. They, of course, know their child and can help. I also learned to listen to your gut. Times will occur when you are not going to be exactly sure what to do. If you really have no idea, then ask for help. “It’s better to sound a little silly asking for help, then stupid for not.” Parents want what is best for their child; calling them if you are not sure about something is not a huge deal. Just be careful not to call too much. Parents do want to have time on their own or have to work. Do not get phone happy. Following the gut can help prevent you from calling too much. If the child wants a snack and you are not sure if they should or not, you can follow your gut. Ask yourself, what time is it? If it’s it not too close to dinner time, then a snack is okay. Just use common sense and follow your gut, and you should do fine.
As with all careers, new tips and tricks will occur. As they do, I’ll write. If you have any questions or tips you want to share with me, you can email me. I would love to hear what you have to say.