Mom Management

As a parent it is your responsibility to know whom you are entrusting with your children. You need to know you can depend on this individual to give the best possible care. Outlined below are some suggestions to be considered when choosing a babysitter.

• Select your babysitter and if necessary have a list of two or three available.
• Ask friends or neighbors if they can recommend someone they have found to be reliable.
• Get to know your babysitter, before the date, have them visit your home and meet your children.
• State exactly what you expect of your babysitter and if necessary make a list of instructions for them to follow.
• Discourage your babysitter from entertaining friends in your home.
• Discourage them from using your telephone for lengthy calls. In an emergency you want to be able to make contact ­ not get a busy signal.
• Do not accept the services of any friends of your babysitter, should they be unavailable. You cannot be sure that they will be suitable if you have not had a chance to get to know them yourself.
• Leave emergency numbers as well as the number you can be reached at. It might be a good idea to leave this list at every phone.

 © 2007 iMom. All rights reserved. Taken with permission from AllProDad.com