How do I get ready for a babysitter?
No matter how experienced and vetted your babysitter is, the key to a smooth, low(er)-stress experience, is preparation.
Not just getting jammies out and ready, or leaving a page of emergency contact info (these are both great too), but preparation of your space, your kids, and yourself.
Get the Essential Safety Info Ready
Your sitter’s top priority is keeping your child safe, which starts with you providing details about your child’s health, and your home details. We never want to have to mention it, but this is especially important for emergency situations.
The Basics:
- Parent/guardian name, phone number
- Another parent/guardian name, phone number (if applicable)
- List 1-2 backup contacts such as a nearby family member, neighbor, or close friend
- Also note the child(ren)’s pediatrician and preferred hospital
Allergies & Sensitivities:
Share info about any food allergies, or environmental sensitivities relevant to their time with your child(ren). Show your sitter where allergy medications or EpiPens are if they are used in your home.
Home Safety Essentials:
As needed, point out the location of baby gates, first aid supplies, flashlights, fire extinguishers, etc. Your sitter doesn’t need a full tour, but a quick overview helps new sitters feel confident in your home, especially during the booboo years.
We’ve made it EASY to prepare your babysitter! Download and complete the Super Sitters’ Family Info form. A template for all the information your babysitter could need from emergency numbers, to the favorite bedtime story.
Provide Your Routine & House Rules
Kids thrive on routine, and so do babysitters. Whatever your family’s definition of ‘routine’ may be, sharing the details with your sitter will help them keep your kids on track during their time in your home.
Bedtime & Naps:
Include your child’s usual bedtime routine and how it looks on a standard night: If your child is a strong creature of habit, highlight the non-negotiables (and the comfort item that MUST be located!). Or, if bedtimes are a hot mess and it takes two hours to get everyone settled and in bed at the same time, tell them that too. Set your sitter up for success by being real about what they should expect and how to handle it.
Meals & Snacks:
Let your sitter know what’s allowed, what’s off limits, and what your child prefers (or may try to negotiate). Giving a heads up about how much you expect your child to eat at mealtimes is also very helpful (especially for our picky toddlers out here).
Screen Time Rules:
Babysitters appreciate clarity around boundaries, particularly when it comes to screen time. If certain shows, apps, or devices are okay (or not), if there are time limits (or not!), or if you are a strict screen-free home, make the boundaries clear to your sitter.
House Rules:
Whether it’s “no jumping on the couch,” “screens off at 8pm,” or “no snacks upstairs,” your sitter will appreciate knowing how/what to enforce.
Prep the Space for a New Person
Having someone new in your home can feel strange. BEING someone new in a home can feel the same way. Create space in your home for your sitter and child(ren) to be comfortable and safe, while also keeping boundaries for everyone.
*A Big One: The Working Space:
If you WFH (or plan to be otherwise home) while a sitter is in your house, please be aware of how your presence affects your child(ren), and communicate clearly with your sitter or nanny. “When I’m in my office, pretend I’m not here. I’m in meetings and can’t be disturbed”, or “text me when she’s hungry and I’ll come out to feed her”. Clear expectations make the childcare world go ’round.
Sleeping Space:
This is especially important for families that co-sleep, or have a child sleeping in the parent(s)’s room. Make sure that the sleep/bedtime arrangement is feasible for a sitter to manage in the space provided *ex. This could mean moving the bassinet, or just making sure you are comfortable with the sitter in your room!
Favorite Toys & Activities:
Make sure your sitter knows about your child(ren)’s favorite go-to toy, or book, and where to find them. OR, having them out when your sitter arrives can be helpful for an icebreaker and a smooth handoff.
Comfort Items:
Does your child have a special blanket, lovey, or bedtime stuffed animal? Make sure your sitter knows where to find it (and maybe where to find a backup if you have one).
Play Areas:
Let your sitter know where playtime happens—whether that’s the living room, playroom, backyard, or the whole house. Equally important is to share any off-limits space. This helps keep your home in order and keeps the rules consistent.
Make Communication Easy
Every sitter needs to know how to reach you—and feel comfortable doing so—no matter how minor the question may be.
Your Contact Details:
Double-check that your sitter has both your cell number and how reachable you’ll be. Ditto for the second adult in the home (if applicable).
Check-In Preferences:
Let your sitter know if you’d like occasional updates, constant updates, or if you’d like a quiet night unless you’re needed. Some parents love a quick photo; others prefer to unplug.
Wi-Fi, TVs, and Tech:
If your sitter will use your Wi-Fi for baby monitors, shows, or music, provide the password upfront. Nothing derails chill-out time faster than “but I don’t know the passcode to my tablet!”.
Extra Details to Cover:
There are a lot of kid-details to think about. Remember to include the non-kid ones too!
Keys & House Access:
Having a set of house keys available (or the door code shared) is important. Even if there are no plans to leave the house during the placement, these will be important to have in case of emergency.
Transportation & Visitors:
Clarify your comfort level around the sitter taking your child outside, on walks, or to a nearby park (make sure you give keys in this case!). If someone might stop by—like a dog walker or neighbor—give your sitter a heads-up.
Pet Care:
If you have pets, explain their routines too. Whether it’s feeding times or simply keeping the cat out of the nursery, a little guidance helps your sitter love and care for the fur-siblings too.
Final Touches Before You Leave
Before you walk out the door, do a quick final sweep:
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- Keys, Wallet, Phone – does the sitter have keys? do you have to leave money for anything? did you exchange phone numbers?
- Babysitter One-Pager – Leave a written copy of instructions and routine. Pro-Tip – keep it handy to use for future sitters too (Download here!)
- Say Goodbye, and Go – Some folks love a parent-sneak-out, while others prefer a hug and verbal goodbye to the kid(s). Either way, you know your kids best and leave how you want to. BUT, you gotta leave! Universal pet peeve of babysitters is the parent that leaves and comes back over and over again when there are tears. Just go, your sitter can handle it.
Preparing for a babysitter doesn’t have to be complicated—just thoughtful.
By gathering the right information, prepping your home space, and communicating openly, you’ll set up for a calmer, and less anxious hand off. Your sitter will feel empowered, and your child will feel confident when their sitter knows the details.
And though you may still feel nervous about the first-babysitter of it all, you will be able to walk out knowing you have given them all the info they need to be successful.
