Why Checking Your Babysitters Is Important
If parents of young children ever want to break out for the evening, and go see a movie or have a relaxing meal, then they will need babysitters. It’s all part of being a parent. If you’re lucky, you’ll have family members nearby who will perform the service. Grandparents are likely to offer themselves as babysitters, however many times you like.
There have been so many sad and horrible stories of babysitters abusing children - either sexually or physically. In my community, which is more known for being a tight-knit community, in the past two years, five children have died at the hands of babysitters. In every case but one, the babysitters were boyfriends of the child’s mother. The fifth death was from a hired babysitter who suddenly got fed up with the cries of an infant and smothered her.
The babysitters who were trusted boyfriends, were acting out of anger at the child’s cries or tantrums. One of the babysitters sexually abused an 8 month old little girl, hurting her so badly that he punctured many of her organs. She died the following morning. Finding babysitters is not an easy task. In some of these cases, a single mother trusted her boyfriend to look after and protect her child. The trusted babysitters ended up not only failing to protect the children but taking the life of a child who never even had a chance to live.
In looking for babysitters that are not familiar to you, take the extra time to do research. Get references from the babysitters and don’t just look at the list of names, call them. Ask detailed questions from both the babysitters and references. Find out how the babysitters handle certain situations. How do they handle disciplining a child if necessary? Find out as much about the potential babysitters as possible. Do they have any experience? Remember that the babysitters may be spending more time with your children some days than you will be. You need to know about them and what your child will be subjected to and surrounded by. Spent some weeks talking to daycare centers and private babysitters before you finally choose someone.
There are ground rules when it comes to paying someone to watch the kids. You must let babysitters know when bed time is, what the kids are allowed to watch on TV, and what they’re not allowed to eat or drink. Make sure babysitters feel at home but not so much, that they have the run of the house. Always be back when you say you will be, and leave a telephone number where you can be reached. Make sure that the kids know that the babysitter is in charge in your absence.
If you don’t have a circle of friends or neighbors who can help out, there are agencies that supply babysitters. It’s best to get a reference or two from someone else who’s used the service, before you do. As long as you have someone who’ll care for your kids as much as you do, don’t feel guilty about going out every now and then. You’ve earned a break. Enjoy yourselves!
Loving Family Babysitter & Toddler
Do your child the favor of checking into their babysitters because they cannot. By doing some research and caring about your child enough to find the right babysitter, you could be preventing something from going terribly wrong. Your child is worth it.
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