Child care safety tips

   We never like to leave our kids, but when we have to we want to make sure they are left in the best hands possible. When choosing a full time nanny or an occasional babysitter, consider the follow tips to ensure safety:

   1. If you are hiring someone you are not greatly familiar with, only hire someone with references you can check. If possible, hire someone with references you know (such as playmate’s sitter). Do your part to check the credibility and ability of the nanny or sitter. This is no place for on-thejob training! Ask the references provided a lot of questions, such as “What was the biggest crisis the sitter ever had to handle, and how did he/she handle it?” Even questions like “What are the sitter’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?” should be addressed.


   2. Don’t depend exclusively on an agency. If you use an agency, make sure the agency is bonded. Double check references provided to the agency.

   3. Provide the appropriate safety tools. Always point out the location of the fire extinguisher and how to use it. Show the nanny/babysitter all the escape routes from the home. Keep an updated first-aid kit available and show the nanny where it is. Also provide a detailed list of emergency phone numbers with specific reasons to call.
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   4. Role play with the nanny/babysitter. Engage in hypothetical questions, such as “What would you do for a baby who won’t stop crying?” It is necessary to ask openended questions that don’t suggest a right or wrong answer. If their answers are similar to actions you would take, you will feel more secure with your decision to
entrust your child to this person.

   5. Monitor the caregiver. Nothing works better than unannounced visits - returning home early, or stopping in for lunch, saying you forgot something and needed to run back. Also monitor your child for any differences in behavior when the caregiver is there and after they leave. Is your child withdrawn or uneasy? If you truly suspect something, don’t wait until you can prove it, just find someone else.
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