UrbanSitter is an online resource where parents go to find and book babysitters recommended by people they know. It connects families to babysitters in 60 cities, including DC. You can find a last minute babysitter, a nanny or just a babysitter you can use for date nights. The site allows you to see video introductions of sitters, read reviews left by other parents who have hired the sitter and includes a place to request an interview and even an actual day to babysit. With summer almost here, UrbanSitter is recommending 7 Summer Safety Guidelines to Share with Your Sitter. In addition to the tips, they are also offering a $100 UrbanSitter credit to one lucky winner who comments on the article (or on our Facebook page post with the link to the article) with an additional safety tip worth sharing with babysitters. Seems like a great way to begin your summer! Giveaway ends Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
7 Summer Safety Guidelines to Share with Your Sitter
Give yourself a break this summer and hire a sitter to take over a day of pool duty, run the kids to the park or just spend an afternoon playing with them in your own backyard.
But, before you take off for your well-deserved time-away, make sure you have a responsible sitter. UrbanSitter enables you to find sitters whom friends or other local parents recommend, plus you can see if the sitters are First Aid and CPR-trained. Those added layers of comfort go a long way when choosing someone to care for your kids, especially at a pool or beach.
Once you have your kids in good hands, follow these helpful guidelines to communicate summer safety with your sitter:
- Share your emergency plan. If your child falls off the monkey bars at the park and the sitter can’t reach you, whom does she call? Where’s the nearest ER? Leave her an emergency contact list that includes cell phone numbers, your home address and instructions on what to do in case of an emergency.
- Pack a ready-to-go tote bag of safety essentials for your sitter. You’ll both feel good knowing she’s prepared. Include a first aid kit, sunscreen, insect repellent, water bottles, snacks and your emergency contacts.
- Practice sun smarts. Even on cloudy days, children can burn and just one bad sunburn in childhood is said to significantly increase chances of a melanoma later in life. Protect kids with hats, sunglasses and a sunscreen that shields against both UVA and UVB rays. Babies under six months cannot wear sunscreen, and should not be exposed to sun.
- Never leave kids unattended at the pool or beach, regardless of age or swimming ability. Swim vests and arm floats are helpful, but should never, ever replace a watchful sitter. Is your sitter certified for child/infant CPR? If not, consider paying for them to take a course.
- Keep kids hydrated. Children can’t sweat like adults do, so they are more prone to dehydration. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids have something to drink every twenty minutes when they are active. Tell your sitter to have sippy cups and water bottles handy and replenish often. She should watch for signs of dehydration – listlessness, redness in the face and irritability – and know to respond quickly.
- When riding bikes or scooters or skating, mandate a helmet. The AAP advises parents that 85 percent of all bike-related injuries could have been prevented if a helmet was worn.
- Prevent bug bites and stings. Provide your sitter with non-toxic repellents to apply after sunscreen. Be watchful of any allergic reaction to stinks or bites, and know what to do if a reaction occurs. Include single-dose Benadryl in your summer tote.
Wow, you’ve covered almost everything. An additional safety tip I have is to make sure and tell your sitter about any allergies your children might have.
Great list. I’d add to that emergency bullet some basic information about allergies (foods and otherwise).
Kind of silly, but making sure there’s always some emergency cash on hand, even if just a $20. You might need it in a pinch.
These are fantastic! Many of these are focused on the outdoors since outdoor play in the summer is so fun. So I would add, extra supervision is necessary around things like wading pools, trampolines and hoses. Make sure children don’t run into the street after rolling balls. Infants shouldn’t wear certain bug repellants or sunscreens, so I would suggest asking Mom and Dad which products they want applied to their kids and how frequently. Thanks for the other great tips!
These are fantastic! I would add be sure to plan early morning activities to avoid extreme heat and sun exposure!
One tip is to have a home binder with things like emergency contacts, takeout menus, and manuals for various appliances / kid items in case they need to access information quickly. You could also do this with a google doc.
If you have pets, make sure they know any special information about the pets too!
Children should wear tennis shoes, or other shoes that cover the toes, while biking and riding scooters & skateboards. This will help prevent toe and foot injuries.
Leave the most important details in writing! It’s easy to forget when it’s just verbalized.
Teach children from a young age what to do if they are separated from yourself or the adult who is caring for them while on outings. They shouldn’t wander around looking for you. If they remember the last place that they were with you and they are within sight of that area, they should stay there. Talk to them before venturing out about what color top or hat you are wearing. Take a “family photo” when you arrive at your outing, so you remember what they are wearing too, should you need the information. Establish a “secret code” word to use. Help them identify “safe adults” to go to. Employees with badges, police, etc. Play I-spy periodicially during the day to teach them to watch for you. You can make a game out of teaching them, based on their age and maturity. You are not trying to scare them, rather teach them about their surroundings.
Don’t forget to reapply the sunscreen throughout the day. Use sunscreen protective clothing and sunscreens in the car on the windows near their car seats.
I would add that applying bug spray (organic or natural options if possible) and keeping an eye out for bug bites and ticks is important as well, especially if children will be doing any hiking in the woods, tree climbing, etc.
Basic stuff, but an emergency phone list is always a good idea
Always ask the parents what brands they have for the child to wear versus what is in their home that they may not be able to use! (ie: sunscreens)
Also, babies get dehydrated too! Keep bottles of both formula AND water on hand!
I’m surprised no one else mentioned it yet so I will:
Ask your babysitter to keep her phone in her pocket.
I’ve seen too many babysitters–and parents–texting or talking while the kids roamed on dangerous playground equipment alone. Maybe fine if they’re older, but when toddlers are climbing on high bridges, not a good idea to be distracted. The Wall Street Journal has a great article on “The Perils of Texting While Parenting,” that finds that increased childhood injury rates may stem from the advent of smartphones. Hence, keep them in your pockets.
Be aware of small objects – especially when you are with a baby who has an older sibling that might have small toys like legos.
Great list. We also make sure our babysitters know about allergies, and the full response plan just in case! For outdoor play, making sure your sitter knows how much freedom/safeguarding is needed for the developmental stage your child is in. (My older child can walk down the sidewalk and knows to stop and cross with as adult. He also knows his capabilities on the playground. The little one can’t yet be trusted not to walk out into traffic or off a ledge on a playground structure!)
Wow! What great tips you’ve all shared. So many important things to refresh even our memories, as parents. I hope you find this helpful. Bonnie is our random winner. Please send me a private email at BeltwayBambinos@gmail.com
Thanks everyone!!
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