Babysitter Checklist

4.8/5 with 198 votes
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Toggle Contact Information status

Contact Information

Toggle My Name status

My Name

Even if you've known this sitter all her life, put your name at the top of the list. If there is an emergency she may become too flustered to remember your name.

Toggle The Phone Number Where I Can Be Reached status

The Phone Number Where I Can Be Reached

If this is your cell phone number make sure it's fully charged before you leave home and keep it with you at all times.

Toggle The Name Of The Place I Will Be For The Evening status

The Name Of The Place I Will Be For The Evening

Include the full name, not a nickname.

Toggle The Address Of The Place I Will Be For The Evening status

The Address Of The Place I Will Be For The Evening

This should be the complete street address and the name of the city if you're traveling to a nearby town.

Toggle What Time Do I Expect To Be Leaving? What time will you be leaving the restaurant or other venue? status

What Time Do I Expect To Be Leaving? What time will you be leaving the restaurant or other venue?

Toggle I Will Also Be Going status

I Will Also Be Going

If you're going somewhere else, make sure to include all of that information, too.

Toggle What Time Do I Expect To Be Home? This will just give your babysitter an idea of where you might be at a certain time in case you're needed for an emergency. status

What Time Do I Expect To Be Home? This will just give your babysitter an idea of where you might be at a certain time in case you're needed for an emergency.

Toggle Alternative Contact Informaion status

Alternative Contact Informaion

Give your sitter the name and phone number of a trusted friend or relative she can contact in case you're unavailable for whatever reason.

Toggle Emergency Contact Information For 911 Emergency Assistance status

Emergency Contact Information For 911 Emergency Assistance

Toggle The 911 Address status

The 911 Address

Make sure you spell this out clearly so the sitter can read it off over the phone without even having to think about it.

Toggle Child's Name status

Child's Name

Spell out your child's complete name.

Toggle Child's Age status

Child's Age

The 911 operator may need to know your child's age.

Toggle Child's Allergies status

Child's Allergies

List everything your child is allergic to including foods and medications.

Toggle Instructions For Childcare status

Instructions For Childcare

Toggle What's For Dinner? What do you want your child to have for dinner? status

What's For Dinner? What do you want your child to have for dinner?

Toggle What About Snacks? Specify what your child can and can not have for a snack if you are allowing snacks. status

What About Snacks? Specify what your child can and can not have for a snack if you are allowing snacks.

Toggle What TV Shows Are Allowed? Are there any specific TV shows you want to allow or disallow? status

What TV Shows Are Allowed? Are there any specific TV shows you want to allow or disallow?

Toggle What Time Is Bath time? Does your child take a bath or a shower? Does he like to play in the tub or should the sitter anticipate trouble? status

What Time Is Bath time? Does your child take a bath or a shower? Does he like to play in the tub or should the sitter anticipate trouble?

Toggle What Time Is Bedtime? Do you have a specific time you want your child in bed? status

What Time Is Bedtime? Do you have a specific time you want your child in bed?

Toggle Bedtime Habits status

Bedtime Habits

Does your child like to have a story at bedtime, or a glass or warm milk or water, does he have to brush his teeth first, etc.

Toggle Suggested Activities. status

Suggested Activities.

What can the sitter do to entertain your child or distract him if he becomes upset when you leave?

Toggle How Do You Want The Sitter To Handle Discipline? This is a tough one for some parents status

How Do You Want The Sitter To Handle Discipline? This is a tough one for some parents

You may think your child is a little angel when you're gone. But if the sitter isn't allowed to discipline your child you're eventually going to run out of sitters who'll be willing to watch you're little imp when you want a night out.

Toggle Things YOU Should Do status

Things YOU Should Do

Toggle Be Prompt status

Be Prompt

If you tell you're sitter you're going to be somewhere at a certain time, be there so she can reach you if there's an emergency.

Toggle Identify Yourself status

Identify Yourself

If you're not carrying a cell phone, make sure you identify yourself at the restaurant or the party or wherever you're going so if a phone call DOES come for you, people will know you're there.

Toggle Consult A Babysitting Service status

Consult A Babysitting Service

You may have several teenagers lined up in your neighborhood who you trust to care for your child. But chances are, when there is a major event going on at school they will all be unavailable to sit at the same time. And that's probably the night you're planning to go out. Take the time now to contact a babysitting service so you'll always have alternate plans.

Download or Print this Babysitter Checklist

Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.

Presented by:

Fae Fisher

Fae Fisher

Stats

Views

53

Uses

2

Tasks

27

Details

When you leave your child with a babysitter a checklist may be one of the last things on your mind. It's such a rare occasion when you get to leave the house without your toddling chaperone that you can't even remember how to get out the front door unless you're dragging a diaper bag and stroller in one hand and wrangling your toddler, his teddy bear and his blankie with the other.  But believe me, the minute you get to that restaurant and sit down at the table, the realization will hit you - “I forgot to give the babysitter my cellphone number in case there's an emergency!”  Then here's what's going to happen next. You're going to try to call home and the phone will ring and ring but no one will pick up.  You'll begin to imagine all sorts of horrible possibilities, all of which end with the babysitter necking on the couch with her boyfriend and your child being rushed to the hospital. And finally you rush home, only to find your babysitter coming up the driveway with your child tucked quietly in his stroller and they're just finishing up a nice little walk before bath time. So next time, print out this babysitter checklist, fill in all the blanks and hang it on your refrigerator.

Who it's for

This Babysitter Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.

  • Avoid forgetting - keep all your Babysitter essentials in one place (external memory)
  • Save time - start from a proven Babysitter structure instead of a blank page
  • Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
  • Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
  • Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time

How to use it

How to use this Babysitter Checklist

  • Save Babysitter Checklist to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
  • Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Babysitter (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
  • If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
  • Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.

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Rate this Checklist

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Scores 4.80 with 198 votes

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