What makes a good babysitter, advice?

1)Throws tantrum: Most children won’t do this right away. It’s a response to stress, anger, frustration, or anything else that a child doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle. You’ll see it coming. It’ll likely start out with whining. You may have told him he can’t watch a certain show until after dinner or something… It’ll escalate from there depending on the course of action you take. I’m almost 24; I’ve been babysitting since I was 11, and have my own baby. I nannied for the same family for almost 3 years and have literally watched the kids of dozens of families on a regular basis. I have NEVER, ever had a child throw a tantrum. You just have to let them know you’re listening to them, give them the attention they want, not necessarily the item or reward they want, and try to keep a fun/calm atmosphere. You’re not there 24/7- you don’t have to be the uber disciplinarian. Let them have fun (reasonably), keep them safe, don’t let them shoot up heroin, ensure they brush their teeth before bed, and you’ll probably be fine.

2. If they hurt themselves in a little way, like a scraped knee or a snagged toenail, the best course of action is to clean the area, apply a clean, damp paper towel with an ice cube in it, put a band aid on it, kiss it better, and go have a cuddle. For serious injuries (I had a 4 year old who SHATTERED her nose by smashing it on the edge of a table and then landing face down on the concrete basement floor- that was some blood…) that require medical treatment, always phone the parents. If it’s a life threatening emergency, dial 911 without hesitation. You simply NEED to take a CPR/First Aid (specializing in infant/child care) course. It’s a life skill that no human should be without. Most times though, it’s nothing a little band aid and a cuddle (and maybe even some hot chocolate) can’t cure.

3. Eventually you will come across a child who wails and bawls when his parents leave. Depending on the age of the child, you can try to talk to him or her, and ‘convince’ them to go try a fun activity. It always worked for me if I promised to tell the parents to come in and kiss their kids goodnight when they came home. No parent ever had a problem following through on MY promise. Kids get scared that they’ll never see their Moms and Dads again- like they’ll be in an accident. Assure them everybody is safe, everybody is coming home, and that you guys will have a great time. If it’s appropriate, allowing an especially upset child to call his or her Mom (like if they’re out shopping, not in a movie or out to dinner) can make a world of difference. Mommies don’t mind. I usually brought over a goodie bag of puzzles, coloring books, crafts (the kind kids can keep are really great), and snacks, especially if I knew I was going to be watching a little one who typically would get upset when the parents left. The bag was always a success at distracting kids and keeping their attention off of their parents as they drove away. Babysitting is a very rewarding job. And it can be a ton of fun! I want to drive home the importance of taking a CPR/First Aid class- it can save lives and you’ll feel more confident KNOWING that you’ll be prepared in the unlikely event that you need to use those skills.