Whether it is your first job, or you are a seasoned "veteran" caring for young children, baby-sitting is one of the biggest responsibilities you will ever have, and something that must always be taken seriously. You must be able to care for the needs of another, possibly under life threatening conditions. Consider taking a child/infant first aid and/or CPR training class. Some employers will insist their baby-sitters be CPR and First Aid certified.

Getting the Job

• Know your employer. Baby-sit only for people you or your parents know, or for whom you have a personal reference. Answering newspaper ads may not be safe.
• Be sure to find out from you employer what time they expect to be back.
• Be sure that they know how much you charge, and if you have a curfew, especially if it is your first time baby-sitting for them.
• Leave with your parents the name, phone number, and address of where you will be baby-sitting, and tell them what time your employer expects to return home.

On the Job

• Be well rested before you go to the job. Consider taking a short nap before going to work so you will be alert and wide awake on the job.
• Before your employer leaves, fill out the information on the Baby-sitting Checklist Form . Do this for every job you take. Keep the form and keep a pencil and paper near the phone.
• Have the parents do a safety check with you throughout the house or apartment. Find out where the emergency exits are, in case of fire, and find out if the house/apartment has a smoke alarm, fire extinguisher, or both.
• Know how to work the door and window locks in the house or apartment, and lock them if/when you are in the house; leave at least one outside light on at night.
• If the phone rings while you are baby-sitting, don't tell the caller that you are alone. Say you are visiting, and the child's parents can't come to the phone right now, but you will give them a message. If anyone persists or gets rude, hang up.
• Limit your telephone usage. The distraction creates opportunities for children to find trouble.
• Don't open the door to strangers, and don't tell anyone who comes to the door that you are alone. Again, say that you are visiting, and will deliver the message.
• Do not invite friends over while you baby-sit. Parents expect top priority in the care of their children.
• Be sure to keep the volume of the TV or stereo turned down, so you can hear any unusual noise, or hear a baby cry.

The same rules apply to daytime, as well as nighttime baby-sitting, with a few additions

• During the day you might have the children out in the yard. If in the backyard, make sure the front door is locked.
• If you take the children to the park, or anywhere else, make sure you have the house key with you when you leave. Double check to make sure all doors are locked before you leave. It is also a good idea to have all the children go to the bathroom before you leave, to avoid having to use the public restrooms.
• When on walks with young children, always hold them by the hand. Keep the child between you and the houses, not between you and the street.
• When you are out with the children, do not talk to strangers, and if you suspect you are being followed at any time, go to the nearest home, store, or gas station and call the police.
• When you get back to the child's home, if anything seems unusual--a broken window, a door ajar, a strange car parked in the driveway or outside--don't go in. Go to a neighbor and call the police.
• In fact, if at any time when you are baby-sitting, if you are uneasy or suspicious about something you see or hear, don't hesitate to call the police 

In an Emergency

• If you suspect a fire, get the children and yourself outside.
• Go to a neighbor's house and call 9-1-1.
• If you've been able to take the safety checklist with you, call your employer and let them know where you and the children are.
• If there is a medical emergency, bring the phone to where the child is (or the child to the phone) and call 9-1-1.
• The dispatcher may give you instructions on what to do while waiting for the amubulance. This may include CPR or First Aid. Being near the phone and the child will allow you to stay on the phone while doing what you can to help until the ambulance arrives.
• In any kind of emergency, stay calm. The most important thing to remember is that young children won't panic if you don't.

When The Job's Over

• When your employers return home, report on what happened, especially if you considered anything unusual.
• Call home to let someone know you're on your way.
• Be sure you have an escort home; this should be one of the conditions under which you accept any baby-sitting job.
• If, for some reason, your employers won't drive or walk you home - or seem intoxicated - ask someone at your home to come and get you.

Baby-sitting Safety Checklist

Address and Phone:

Where Parents Will Be:

Pager or Cellular Phone Number:

Emergency Neighbor Contact:

Child(ren)'s Doctor & Phone Number:

Allergies:

Medications:

Night Light?

Special Instructions or Routines to Follow:

Police or Fire Emergency Phone Number: 911

Poison Control Center: