Babysitting 101

By, Lauren Caron
REALife Youth Director, Beauty Project Team leader
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 If you’re anything like me, a working mom (mostly from home now) with two littles, 3 and under, you’re craving those date nights to get back into schedule somewhat consistently and some hubby one-on-one time!  As things are slowly opening up more and more due to the COVID19 virus, you can now book a restaurant with a cute tent setup for outdoor dining… the only other thing you need, is a babysitter!  I always like to keep a steady list of 3-5 girls that I use, so that there’s always someone available when I need them. It can definitely be hard to find someone you trust that checks all of your boxes!  

What’s the best way to find a sitter in the first place? 

• Always keep your ears open for friends and family talking about a good babysitter they love and ask if you can possibly ‘borrow’ once-in-a-while, keeping in mind, they always get first dibs!
• Look on your local mom Facebook town page or county page for people recommending sitters but also saying that they’re available.  You definitely want to be a little more cautious when interviewing them though, if you don’t know them personally or through a friend. Always ask for a few references from previous families they’ve babysat for. Trust and listen to that small inner voice (usually the Lord) speaking to you if you just don’t feel comfortable with them.
• Your local church (or other bigger churches you know of in the area) will sometimes have babysitting recommendations or a message board where people will post about it.  I’ve found many great babysitters this way and love that they’re also Christians!  Also ask around at your own church, there’s usually a few people that would be happy to babysit… from teens to grandmas!
• Trade favors with siblings, other family in the area or good friends!  You watch their kids for a night out and then they’ll watch yours a few weeks later!  This is always a win win, just don’t be out too late so that your kids are falling asleep at their house!

Now that you have a sitter, are your kids excited for her (or him) to come or are they clingy and crying for you at the door begging you not to leave?  Usually my kids will be happy to have someone come play with them, but occasionally, my youngest, won’t be too happy about it and I have to find something to distract her with in order to get out the door.  So whatever that means for your child, it could be a snack or treat, or their favorite show or toy… just make sure not to linger too long or it just makes it worse for them.  Usually my babysitter will tell me she stopped crying within a minute or two and then was happily playing.  So don’t let it guilt you into worrying!  And it will get easier each time, especially if they’re not used to having someone new watch them.  You can also order a pizza or tell them they can have ice cream later (also works for bigger kids) and they think it’s a fun, special night for them as well!

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I always like to be prepared and have all instructions written out on the kitchen counter about food, bottles, bedtime routines, and emergency numbers, as well as telling the sitters  in person , so that it’s all clearly laid out for them.  If you happen to have a teen who babysits, you can pass along that moms usually love a text with a picture of happy children half way through the night, or any updates, to put our minds at ease. In addition, we appreciate when we come home and find all the toys cleaned up and any dishes used, washed or in the dishwasher, so we don’t have to do it at the end of the night ☺.  That usually comes with a tip for them!  Lol, so go ahead and schedule that date night out, you’ll be so glad you did!

Is fear or anxiety holding you back from booking a babysitter and leaving the kiddies at home? Fear is one of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Scripture says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7
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Trust that the Holy Spirit will guide you in your decision making when finding a babysitter and when choosing the best time to leave the kids at home :)

Are there any other tips that have worked for you? Is there anything else preventing you from taking the plunge with leaving the kids home with a babysitter for the first time? I’d love to hear from you.