Leaving your little one at home with a babysitter isn’t easy (especially leaving them for the first time), but on occasion it has to be done. Besides making sure your babysitter is experienced and ideally knows your little one well, it’s also good to have a checklist of vital information to rely on so that they’re well prepare for any situation that may arise in your absence.
It’s also good to try keep your little one in as much of their regular routine as possible to limit any upset while you’re away.
1. Emergency Contact Info
If they have the info, they more than likely won’t need it!
- Your names & mobile numbers
- Address/Eircode of your house
- Emergency number (999 or 112)
- An emergency contact just incase you can’t be reached (maybe a grandparent, aunt/uncle or neighbour)
2. Baby info
To ensure your little one is as content as can be, let the babysitter know all about them- everything from their fav cuddly toy, how they really hate bananas or that rubbing their hair will help to settle them.
Be sure to note allergies, sensitivities and medications.
3. Feeding Instructions & Schedule
While you’re probably a seasoned pro by now, a grandparent, relative or other babysitter’s skills won’t be as good as you when it comes to prepping feeds.
For less stress and more cuddles, preparation is key. If you’re breastfeeding, have expressed milk with feeds pre-measured and stored in the fridge correctly in the back of the fridge and if bottlefeeding, have bottles prepared.
Once your little one reaches 6 months, and if they are formula fed or you have moved on from breastfeeding, consider having some Cow & Gate Follow On Milk Ready to use milk for the babysitter to use. The milk in the 200ml and 1 Litre bottles is sterile and doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge before they are opened. The babysitter on duty can simply pour the liquid straight into your little one’s sterilised bottle or beaker and feed them. You won’t need to worry about them trying to count the scoops correctly when they’re not used to doing it (like you).
Find out more about Cow & Gate Follow On Ready to Use Milks here.
4. Bedtime & Naptime
You’ve probably spent weeks getting your little one settled and into a bedtime and nap routine- so you don’t want them to fall out of it! To reduce the chances of this, be as detailed as possible with the babysitter- is there a night light that needs to be turned on? Is the door left closed or ajar? Is there a special trick to get the monitor working?
And don’t forget their favourite bedtime story or nursery rhyme.
5. Wifi Password/TV Instructions
The essentials of our lives these days. So they can occupy themselves, once your little one is settled of course!
6. Snacks
If they’re fed and happy they’ll happily offer to babysit again, or at least hopefully say yes if their help is required again.
And finally, for whatever reason- you’re getting a few hours of you time, so enjoy it! You’re little one will be OK and you’ll be back for all the cuddles in no time!
