From your babysitter

Dear all parents I babysit for (past, present and future),

Thank you for entrusting me with your child, I honestly wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could look after them.

I appreciate that leaving your child with someone else can be worrying, especially if you haven't left them with me before. 

Please don't feel bad about leaving clear instructions, I would much rather have pages of notes than no information (somewhere in the middle is probably best!).

These instructions could be verbal or written but some kind of information is good. It will probably also help you relax whilst you're out and not worry that you've forgotten to tell me something key!

It's good to tell me your child's bedtime, and what their normal bedtime routine is, so that its kept consistent for them. Telling me they know their bedtime doesn't work, because young kids don't know the time and older kids will probably lie. Kids also like to say they "always" have something before bed (milk, stories, snacks), if this is true then please tell me, otherwise I'm probably going to make my own judgment call that isn't always popular with the child!

If your child is in bed when I arrive, let me know if you have or haven't told them I'm coming. When they potentially get up an hour later, it's useful to know whether or not they're expecting me or you...trust me, I've learnt that the hard way!

I love it when you tell me I can help myself to whatever I want in the kitchen, if there's specific food you don't want me eating then just say that. Putting a tray of snacks out is very kind of you, but it makes me very aware that you will know how much I've eaten....putting that packet of crisps in the cupboard somehow makes me feel like I can eat what I want and not worry what you'll think. The likelihood is, I won't eat much anyway so don't panic that I'll eat all your food!

Speaking of food, if I'm babysitting before 7pm then chances are I may not have eaten, I don't expect you to provide me food, I can bring my own, but it's probably worth checking (although extra brownie points go to parents who do offer to leave me dinner!)

Money is a tricky subject because I have different rules for different people. Parents I know through work I would expect to be paid well because they know me from a work capacity. Church families I don't ever charge as much and don't mind doing it as a service if needed, but I don't like it when there's an expectation that I will do it for free. I love your children, and babysitting them (probably) isn't hard, but it does involve me blocking out an evening of my life and just £10 for the evening is a nice gesture, or a bunch of flowers or providing me with dinner...or an offer of payment, I'll turn you down if I know you can't afford it or feel it's a favour rather than a job.

Linked to money is timings. I know it's hard to always know when you'll be back but please tell me what you know. Don't say "we'll be back around 11" and then not turn up until gone midnight.

If you're asking me to stay later than 11pm then it's a late night for me and its worth checking that's ok. If its later than midnight then I would probably expect slightly more money, or an offer to stay overnight if I want.

Entertainment and comfort...it's good to tell me how the tv works, or warn me that you don't have one. It might not seem like a big deal to you, but it's probably how I'll spend my evening so if you don't have one then I'll bring my laptop. Also the wifi password is always a bonus! Telling me where the heating is also helps (or leave a blanket nearby!).

Communication is key. All of the above are small details really, don't feel bad if you forget. Being approachable is the main thing. That way if I need something I'll just ask. I'm also more likely to want to come back and babysit again.

It will also mean that I will tell you how your child has been and you can be reassured that everything was fine.

Each family is different and each babysitter is different, so please don't take my word as law...some people would prefer to go with the flow or don't expect to be paid for church family babysitting...but I feel like I know what I want/need and so am just saying it. Also, these days I don't have to babysit, I do it for a few extra pennies and for fun, so I have the luxury of picking and choosing families!

Ultimately I've been babysitting for 10 years now (my friend Eliza is going to finish school next year and I used to babysit her!) and I'm not about to stop!

I'm just hoping that sharing some of my thoughts might be helpful to you, either incase you hire me to babysit or if you hire someone else. Please don't take it as criticism, like I said, just my thoughts!

I love children and I love babysitting. Your child could throw spaghetti at me and I'd probably still come back (I like a challenge!), but if you come back at 1am and I'm sat cold, hungry and bored in your living room and then you say goodnight without even offering to pay me, then I'm much less likely to offer again!

Yours

The Eternal Babysitter