Introduction
Babysitters offer a valuable service that supports families and communities. Parents and caregivers often have to leave their children for work, appointments, socialising or other activities. Having someone professional, trustworthy and reliable caring for their children gives them peace of mind. It is also a practical and cost-effective option, especially with the demands for childcare and rising living costs. According to childcare and early years survey of parents:
- 58% of parents used childcare for children 0-14, with 47% using formal childcare, including babysitting.
- 38% of working mothers with children 0-14 said having reliable childcare helps them go to work.
- 71% used childcare for their children 0-4, with 62% using formal childcare, including babysitting.
- 60% of working mothers with children 0-4 said having reliable childcare helps them go to work.
Babysitting is a good option for those who enjoy working with children and their families, and they also play a crucial role in children’s learning and cognitive, social and emotional development. Children will interact with someone outside of their family unit, which exposes them to different personalities, interests and experiences.
You will require specific knowledge, skills and experience as a babysitter, and the role and various responsibilities will help you continuously learn and develop. It can be a great option if you are looking for a career in childcare, and you will also acquire transferable skills to use in other sectors. You can earn while learning and working.
If you are an aspiring babysitter or even starting in this role, this blog will provide information on essential skills and tips to help you excel. It will also help you ensure the safety and well-being of the children under your care.
Responsibility and Reliability
When you, as a babysitter, care for someone else’s children, you are responsible for their happiness, safety and well-being. Therefore, responsibility is a skill fundamental to the role. You will need to make crucial decisions, follow any instructions and rules given to you by parents and caregivers and be attentive to children’s needs.
You will also need to be reliable and trustworthy. The last thing parents and caregivers want is to hire someone who turns up late or not at all. It will erode trust and damage your reputation. It can also be difficult for children if you are inconsistent and break their routines. You should be punctual, demonstrate your commitment to the role and the children you are caring for and be able to handle any situation that may arise.
Being responsible and reliable will foster trust and build positive relationships with parents, caregivers and children. It will give them peace of mind when leaving their children, promote a safe and nurturing environment, and positively influence the children you are looking after.
Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Unfortunately, accidents and emergencies happen, so be prepared for every eventuality. One of your main responsibilities will be ensuring the safety of the children in your care. Would you know what to do if a child was choking or had an allergic reaction or a severe injury? Here are some of the things you should know:
- Fire safety – fire is a risk in any premises, including someone’s home. It can be caused by fire hazards such as electrical sparks, naked flames and hot surfaces coming into contact with fuels, e.g. paper, cardboard, textiles, etc. Knowing how to prevent fires and protect yourself and the children if a fire occurs is vital.
- Food safety – food can be a hazard to babies and children. If not prepared and handled safely and hygienically, it can make them ill, e.g. food poisoning. Some children have food allergies and are at risk of an allergic reaction and even anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. There are also physical hazards where children are at risk of choking, especially with foreign bodies and certain foods, e.g. grapes. Understanding food safety and hygiene and protecting children from food hazards is key.
- Health and safety – many things around the home can cause harm to children, which are known as hazards. Some examples include electricity, sharp objects, chemicals, hot surfaces, wet floors, falling objects, falling from a height, strangers coming to the house, broken toys and many more. Look at what could potentially harm children, remove hazards where possible and protect them from ones you cannot remove.
- First aid – it is vital to understand the actions to take if injuries, illnesses and emergencies occur. You should have basic medical knowledge and undertake first aid training specific to babies and children to feel confident and know what to do if there is an emergency.
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – if an infant or child is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you should know what to do, i.e. phone 999 and start CPR. It would be worthwhile reading up on CPR and even undertaking practical training.
There are various courses on fire safety, health and safety, food safety, first aid and CPR, which you should consider to fulfil your duties as a responsible babysitter. It will also demonstrate to parents and caregivers that you are serious about the role.
Some questions to ask parents and caregivers are (this list is not exhaustive):
- What is the best way out of the house in an emergency, such as a fire, and where should you go? Does the family have a fire escape plan in place? Is there a meeting point outside of the house?
- What safety measures are in place, e.g. first-aid kits, fire blankets/extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, etc? Ask how to use them.
- Do the children have any allergies or other medical issues? If so, do they have any medication, such as epinephrine for allergic reactions and inhalers for asthma attacks?
- What childproofing is in place?
- Who should you contact in an emergency, and how to reach them?
It is worth having the information in writing so you can familiarise yourself and respond quickly if there is an accident or emergency. You should also have an emergency contact list with relevant phone numbers.
Here are some links with further information that may help:
- CPD Online College – When to administer CPR?
- Food Standards Agency – has plenty of advice on its consumer advice page.
- UK – Fire safety for parents and child carers.
- HSE – Children’s play and leisure: promoting a balanced approach.
- NHS – A guide for parents and carers of children aged birth – 5 years – for parents but has some useful information.
- NHS – Baby and toddler safety.
- NHS – Children’s food: safety and hygiene.
- NHS – How to resuscitate a child.
- St John Ambulance – Paediatric First Aid – CPR, Choking & More.
Child Development and Age-Appropriate Activities
Child development is “the physical, cognitive, emotional and social growth that occurs throughout a child’s life” (NSPCC Learning). There are five key milestones (stages) in child development:
- Newborn (0-3 months).
- Infancy (3-12 months).
- Toddler (1-3 years).
- Pre-school (3-4 years).
- School-age (4+ years).
Understanding child development stages is crucial, as you will play a vital role in children’s learning when caring for them. It will help you tailor your approaches, support their learning and create a personalised environment to promote their development. It will also help you identify developmental issues and respond effectively to children’s needs and challenges.
Children should be provided with age-appropriate activities and toys, as they are critical in their development, for example:
- Physical development – suitable toys and activities help children develop fine and gross motor skills and promote hand-eye coordination, strength, balance and coordination. It also improves their health through physical fitness.
- Cognitive development – activities and toys tailored to children’s ages help them improve their memory, develop problem-solving skills and stimulate thinking. When they interact during play, they improve their communication skills and language development.
- Emotional development – children can express themselves when playing with age-appropriate toys and undertaking relevant activities. It can help them understand other’s feelings and build resilience.
- Social development – children can interact, develop social skills and learn to share and cooperate with toys and activities designed for their specific age group.
Choosing the most suitable toys and activities for children’s ages and development stages provides them with the best play opportunities for their learning where they can explore and thrive.
Parents and caregivers may provide you with suitable toys and activities, or they may want you to plan and organise things for the children. Either way, you should engage children in creative, educational, and stimulating activities based on their developmental needs. Here are some tips on how you can achieve this: