March 23, 2021
One of the most challenging experiences in a parent’s life is to be able to ensure that their child remains well taken care of while they’re away at work or when they’re busy.
Assistance is necessary more often than not. Hiring a babysitter or a caregiver for your child can help take a load off your chest and even ease the guilt you may face during the initial phases of having to leave your child behind!
Hiring a babysitter for the first time is a lengthy and complicated process. A few parents have reasonable reservations for not wanting to hire a babysitter, such as their lack of trust or even sometimes cost. The first thing you must keep in mind is that hiring a babysitter is SAFE and the spend is worth it!
73% of parents hire a babysitter at least once a month. If they can do it, you can surely do it too! The secret lies in the process.
This blog will tell you exactly what you need to do to hire the perfect babysitter, whom you and your child will learn to adore.
There’s also a bonus section on things you must not say to a babysitter- which is something you should keep in mind to build and maintain a healthy relationship with your child’s caregiver.
Let’s begin!
Step 1: You must figure out exactly what you want and need.
Break down a bunch of reasons why it is necessary to hire your next babysitter.
Be it your work timings, your duties to your family members, or even the basic need for a night out.
Step 2: Figure out your budget based on your wants, needs and requirements.
Figure out your budget based on your wants, needs, and requirements.Keep in mind that a lot of specialized babysitters charge a little more for younger children or multiple children which is natural because they require more attention and effort to be taken care of.
Pro tip– A detail you mustn’t miss out on while planning is the tone of voice you need your babysitter to have for your and your child’s needs to be fulfilled.Do you want an upbeat and fun babysitter? Or a strict babysitter that can enforce house rules? What are your dealbreakers? What extra qualification would you prefer them to have?
Bonus pro tip– You may even look for CPR-trained nurses with additional first-aid skillsets. All nurses at Emirates Home Nursing carry such qualifications.
Step 3: Plan according to availability- how often you need a babysitter and for how long?
This step is crucial and needs to be carefully planned since your next babysitter’s costs may vary according to timing, hours, and frequency.
Step 4: Communication
If you haven’t heard these words enough in a variety of contexts, here it is again- COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
Once you’ve developed a list of babysitters to interview, you move on to meeting them and discussing all your requirements and expectations.
Do– Expect the basic childcare-centric tasks- making sure that the child eats, sleeps, and plays on time.
Pro tip– Routine development is something you must look for in your next babysitter. Child Care Service providers like Emirates Home Nursing specialize in planning activities for your child that keep them engaged and also build timely eating and sleeping habits.
Don’t– The main task of a babysitter is to ensure that your child’s needs are fulfilled. It is unreasonable to ask them to mop floors or dust all the shelves in your household (yes, a few employers do that), If you’re looking for a nanny to be able to do both, you’re going to have to rethink your budget. Generally, qualified babysitters may not abide by instructions related to cleaning/cooking meals for your whole family. Don’t be surprised when they say no!
Step 5: Schedule or book your babysitter at least a week in advance.
Anticipate any likely events/occasions, flights, meetings, etc. for which you may require a babysitting service.Canceling a booked appointment Is still better than being stranded at the last moment.Although, if you decide that you may not need a service at a given time, keep your babysitter informed a night or two in advance.
Bonus Step 5
DO NOT FEEL INSECURE.
“What if my child starts liking my babysitter more than me?”
Now, this is a mindset you may experience after you hire your first babysitter.Your child will look forward to your babysitter coming over and spending time with them at some point. It’s reasonable because your child will imagine your caregiver as their friend! They will also care about them, talk about them, and more.That DOES NOT MEAN that your child will love you any less.
What should you do when you have such thoughts?
It’s as simple as substituting these thoughts with the idea that this person has taken care of your child, nurtured them, and taught them important new things. All in all, your babysitter has been there for you in your time of need.
Last but not the least, it is our duty to let you that your relationship with your babysitter is important.
Here’s what you must not say to a babysitter:
Last but not the least, it is our duty to let you know that your relationship with your babysitter is important.
“Sorry, I’m late”: Being late is one thing, not informing your babysitter about the possibility of you being late is unreasonable. Ask your babysitter about her flexibility in timing, considering her personal schedules or other work schedules.
“I’ll pay you next time”: Okay sure, at some point you may feel super comfortable with your babysitter- as if she or he is an extended member of your family. Nevertheless, they’ve got bills to pay and things to do that they’ve planned for themselves based on their paydays. Decide in advance, when you’d like to pay your babysitter and stick to it.
“We treat you very well”: This statement is not compensation for the timely appreciation your babysitter deserves for a job well done. Don’t forget that your babysitter is an actual person- with basic human needs for acknowledgment, appreciation, and job satisfaction. A few kind words are all it takes.
“Today, you must…”: Just like you may not appreciate being micromanaged by your employer, neither does your babysitter. Once you have conveyed your needs to your babysitter beforehand, you must leave it to them to carry out your prior-given instructions.
Certified caregivers like those from Emirates Home Nursing may even be able to provide you with childcare advice- which you need to be open to listening to. Your babysitter knows what they’re doing, and they may even be able to help you take better care of your child.
“Can you do the dishes?” / “Can you clean the house?”: As mentioned earlier, there are those parents who may suggest “while Dora is asleep, you can wash the dishes or vacuum the house.” While your child is asleep, your babysitter will spend their time making sure your child’s room is cleaned, your baby’s feeding bottles are sterilized,your child’s clothes are cleaned, dried, and ironed. Their Job description must match the task assigned.
We hope you find these tips helpful and wish you the best of luck in hiring your next babysitter!
Feel free to contact Emirates Home Nursing for your Babysitting and Childcare needs. Click on this link, to learn more about our Babysitting services.