Choosing a babysitter
From time to time you may need a babysitter to look after your children while you take a break, get some jobs done or spend time with family, whÄnau or friends.
It is essential to always:
- try to get a recommended, good babysitter
- talk to other parents the babysitter has worked for
- check your babysitter's previous experience and relevant training they have received, such as first aid, a babysitting course, early childhood or nanny qualifications
- find out how much they charge and agree to charges beforehand.
Children home alone
Remember the law requires that you never leave children younger than 14 years old without reasonable supervision and care - so never consider using a child under the age of 14 as a babysitter.
Parents and guardians are legally responsible for making sure their children are adequately cared for and supervised at all times. If you leave your children with a teenager or adult who you know cannot properly take care of your child, you could also be prosecuted.
If you ask a teenager or young person to babysit, make sure your babysitter's parents or caregivers know where they are and can provide support if needed.
Using a babysitter
Make sure you can trust your babysitter to cope with any problems that might occur. This may depend on their experience with children and how long you need to leave them.
Your sitter should arrive with plenty of time before you leave so they can get to know your child first before being left alone. That way, if your child wakes, they will not be frightened by a stranger. This will also give you time to pass on full instructions.
Make sure they know if the child has any special needs, what their favourite toy or book is, and whether they can have anything to eat or drink. They also need to know how to contact you in an emergency and how to operate nursery equipment such as cots and highchairs. They need to be familiar with any family pets.
You need to know and agree to them entertaining any friends while babysitting.
Also talk about other safety issues such as answering the telephone, not opening the door to strangers and whether or not your babysitter is allowed to have guests whilst babysitting at your home.
Check your home for any hazards before you leave, e.g. lock medicines away, set up fire guards etc.
Tell your sitter what time you will be home - phone if you will be late. Make sure the sitter is safe travelling to and from your home.
Teenage Babysitters
Any young person babysitting must be at least 14 years old and someone you know to be responsible. They should also be familiar with looking after younger children.
Make sure your babysitter's parents know where they are and how to contact you in an emergency.
Make sure safe travel is arranged for your babysitter to and from your home and that your babysitter's parents know when they will be home.
If your teenager is babysitting, meet their employers first and check all arrangements carefully.
How much?
If you pay your babysitter, agree on a rate first, before they start. This could be an hourly rate - perhaps a higher rate after midnight - or a fixed fee.
To get an idea of cost, check what other parents pay or compare with other childcare services, for example,
- a private creche may cost more than $5 an hour
- a private babysitting service may charge more than $5 plus a booking fee
- professional nannies can cost more than $15 an hour.
You may also want to take into account the current minimum wage.
Finding a babysitter
Most parents and caregivers find babysitters from amongst their trusted family, whÄnau, friends and neighbours. You can also :
- ask friends and neighbours to recommend someone
- ask at local playgroups, schools, church groups or other community groups if they know a reliable babysitter - a youth leader in particular may know young people in their group who babysit
- check with your Plunket nurse if they know anyone
- contact a local student job search - they might have available students with early childhood or nanny qualifications
- use a private babysitting or nanny service, usually listed in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. If you do, ask which industry standards and regulations they comply with.
You could also organise your own babysitting group with other parents at your child's school or playgroup.
If you will need a babysitter regularly, you might consider offering board and lodging to a tertiary student in exchange for babysitting.
Babysitting courses
Plunket and the Red Cross run babysitting courses in some areas.
