Babysitting Etiquette For the Parent
There is a lot of demand out there for babysitters, and you will want to make sure that you retain the services of a good one. Really good babysitters can be a challenge to find, and in order to keep them coming back there are some simple rules to follow that will ensure a good, long-term relationship.
Don’t stiff your babysitter on the pay. Sure, they are only kids and don’t need too much but the fact is that a good sitter will be getting quite a few offers, and it is only fair that they would go for the highest pay. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank, just find out what the average pay is for a sitter from some of your friends who have kids and offer the same rate. When you are deciding on a pay scale, remember that the behavior of your children and their ages will be a key part of the process. If you have a couple of boys that require constant attention, you may want to add a few dollars to the overall rate as a bonus. Babies and really small kids can also be extra work, unless they are going to be asleep for the night. Always ask how it went at the end of the night. Most babysitters will be reluctant to tell you if it was a bad night, thinking it reflects poorly on them. As a parent, you know that some days no one behaves, and if your sitter has a particularly bad night, offer them a little extra in compensation.
Make sure to give your sitter plenty of notice in advance about the job. This can be really hard sometimes, but it will help the sitter plan around the job as well as making sure that he or she is available for you.
Before you leave, let your sitter know how long you plan to be gone. If you are going to be later than you expected, make sure and let your babysitter know. If you know the parents of your sitter, you should make sure that this will be all right with them.
Remember, teenagers get hungry. Let your sitter know they are welcome to eat anything in the house- but make sure that this is true. One way to go is to buy snacks for your sitter specifically or to leave out goodies to eat. Some parents will also rent a movie for their sitters.
Finally, make sure that your babysitter has transportation to and from your home. Often, the sitter’s parents will assist with this, but you should be ready to provide for at least one way. If you are a single parent, try and arrange to pick the babysitter up form their house-you will not want to wake your kids up after you get home and load everyone in to the car. If it is going to be very late, be prepared to pay for a taxi to get your babysitter home safely.
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