Baby sitting job any tips?

[lilblizzardchic]

one of my mom's clients needs a baby sitter and asked my mom if either my sister or myself would mind doing the job. my mom asked me (since my sister will be down the shore with my grandmother) if i would mind and since i need the money for christmas shopping and stuff like that i said sure. this is my first ever baby sitting job besides the 1 hour i watched my couzins when theie parents were across the street and my couzins were already sleeping. i have never met the family and i dont know how old the baby sitee (lol) is but i was wondering if anyone has any tips on like what to do or if i should bring anything for him to play with. thank you guys

[Romans Mom]

This sounds like it will be so much fun for you. Let's see, yeah, I'd find out how many kids there are, and their ages. When I used to baby sit, they had toys and they all liked to play their games...probably all gameboy type now. LOL

One major rule of baby sitting: always let the kids win the games. :D LOL Not only will they feel good about it, they will like you better for it too. :D

Find out if you have to change diapers.

Most kids like to be read to, even if it's their favorite book over and over. Then they can read to you.

I know most kids like to watch cartoons and movies with the baby sitter.

If you do want to bring something for them to do, find out the ages first, say like if you want to string beads, you can't do that with kids who are young and will put small objects in their mouth and choke.

Make a list of phone numbers in case you need them right away, (where the parent is or a close friend or neighbor, and the fire department 911 probably,)and also make a page for any special feedings, do's or don'ts the mommy wishes...like if they can have a friend in the house, if they are allowed in the living room. I would never let the kids out of your immediate sight. Some kids like to con the baby sitter in to letting them go places. It's best to be more cautious and let the kids be mad at you, than to have the mommy mad at you for letting them do it.

--then guess who gets in trouble...LOL

Of course, heaven forbid anyone needs it, it's good if you can take a basic first aid course, or at least read/study/know it well the Red Cross guide in the front of a phone book, and on CPR/choking as well..just in case. The more you know, the easier it will be. I had a kid fall off a bike while we were on a long ride once. He got scraped up pretty bad, and I had to take care of him.

Maybe I'll think of something else later on.

[lilblizzardchic]

barb thank you so much for the help sad thing is i have no idea how old the little boy is i just pray i dont have to do diapers i took a first aid class back in 7th grade and refresh my memory (with a packet thing) everytime i even go out of the house like to a resturant or a swimming pool i was thinking of bringing music but i looked it all over and was like if i was a mother i would never want my little kid listening to this stuff lol thank god i cant drive so i dont have to be talked into driving him somewhere o well hopefully i do pretty good i have till sunday night to work on stuff best of luck to me lol

[Romans Mom]

lilblizzardchic, That's so funny you mentioned the music. When I took care of my nephew when he was real little, I thouhgt the movie National Lampoon's Vacation would be so funny for him. As I was sitting there watching it with him, some of the more "racie" scenes came on, and it was too late before I realized this. He saw some of them, but he just sat and laughed. Maybe it was no big thing to him, but I started chatting to him and stood in front of the tv for a while. I felt terrible. LOL

Are you going to be there all day? I also thought of YOUR food. Sometimes the people tell you to help yourself to the food and make what you want, or have special good things for the sitter. But others forget you will need to eat; pack a lunch/snack in case the food is not good to you. lol

I had one doctor and his wife (neighbors) my sister and I would baby sit for. She would say they would be gone for two hours, and then call me 6 hours later and say they flew to San Francisco for lunch and would be home about 10 at night, then get home at about 2 in the morning. :woot: That was about 6 hours one way by car! At least she paid double when she did that and offered to pay us more if we did the dishes she left and cleaned the entire house. That was a fun house to go to since we never knew what to expect. LOL LOL

You've got the first aid down, so you're all set! You'll do fine, I can't wait to hear all about it. I hope they have a dog too! :mrgreen:

I'm sure there are moms here with better advice from their point of view. :D

[lilblizzardchic]

i will be there from 5 -10 at night i am going to have dinner here and i might sneak a snack with me for those late night hours lol i hope they have a dog i need some company when they leave lol thank you for all the help Brab

[LuKi]

Wow, it has been some years but I used to make quite a bit of money when I was 13-14 years old babysitting. I learned that kids ALWAYS like new and different things that they do not have at their own house. I had a bag of goodies when I went to babysit. I had coloring books, crayone, paper, construction paper, markers, etc. I also would bring stickers and give them out to whooever was the best and did good, it actually worked really well for the 5 and 6 year olds. Crafts are GREAT and simple ones at that. Some paper, glue, sissors (the kind that only cut paper), glitter, crayons make great for some different projects. Sock Puppets were a good one too as well as some cartoon movies. Usually by this time parents were coming home or they were ready for bed.
I really made a good business out of it and made some good money on the side. Back then there was only Atari or Nintendo and the kids weren't quite as "in" to them, nowadays they LOVE the games and also have computers. To be a good babysitter, try to imagine what you liked at that age and ha ha.......never ever try to argue with an 8 year old, you'll never ever win!!!!!LOL

[lilblizzardchic]

never ever try to argue with an 8 year old, you'll never ever win!!!!!LOL
i can definatly agree with that my 6 an 4 year old couzins they give the lip thing and it is so darn cute i am like ok but sometimes when they dont listen i am like wait till mommy gets home and they are like i dont care they are definatly spoiled haha

[Bev&Casey]

Hey

Just wondering how this went? Was it fun?

Bevandcasey

[lilblizzardchic]

i had so much fun i am sorry i didnt post earlier but i had only gotten 3 hrs of sleep because the little boy i was watching got me so hyper anyway i had so much fun and i had to trouble at all besides when he put the bouncy ball in his mouth but i told him not to do it again or i would not play with him and he stopped so 5 hours later and enough money to get a new winter coat (i have one but it makes me look like a burnt marshmallow lol) with some left over i can say not to shabby lol

[Romans Mom]

Oh! It sounds like you had a fun time! :clap: How old was he? (just curious now, lol) I'm so glad you were able to get something out of it you could use! Please let us know if and whan you get to do it again. Babysitting is a very important job! http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/worship.gifhttp://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/worship.gif