Babysitting Safety: What Parents (and Kids) Need to Know

By Liz Broderick

    Face it. Babysitters are mostly just bigger kids looking out for younger kids. Their safety is just as important as the safety of the little ones. And while they are older and bigger, they do not always know what to do in every situation and do not have life’s experiences to guide them.
    Some things to keep in mind if your child is a babysitter to help keep all safe:
    Make sure you and your child have created a signal, such as “I’m ready to be picked up now,” or some phrase like that. Without question, if they call and give you this signal, go pick them up. If needed, ask questions later. This is their signal to you that all is not as it should be.
    Perhaps the parents have come home under the influence and they don’t feel safe getting into a car with them. Many kids think parents are under the influence only if they are stumbling and slurring. They miss many of the more subtle signals that a person has had too much, such as breath smells, talking loudly, not looking them in the eye, etc. Talk with your kids about some of the less obvious signs so they can learn to recognize them.
    This signal can also come in use for non-babysitting situations as well. One child was at the mall with friends who were shop lifting and she was uncomfortable taking part, but was not comfortable speaking up and “losing face” with her friends. This child was able to call her parents, even though they were expecting her to come home with a friend, and use the safety signal. They picked her up.
    House safety is another piece. The power goes out. Where is the flashlight? Babysitters should make sure ahead of time they know where the power-outage supplies are. It is not easy to find them in the dark, especially if they don’t know where they are. Kids should not light candles. That might happen at home, but when babysitting, kids don’t want to mistakenly burn down the house.
    The phone rings. Do kids tell the caller they are the babysitter? No way! They should simply take down a message and be sure to pass it along to the parents. A strange person comes to the door selling encyclopedias. Should they open the door? Should they let them in? No way! They should leave the door closed, and if appropriate, tell them to come back tomorrow. They could suggest that the visitor leave literature outside.
    Many homes have guns. Not all are locked up as they should be. Kids should treat every gun like it is loaded and ready to fire. They should treat BB guns like they are real and not a toy. If kids see guns, they should ask the parents to put them away before they leave and lock them up. If they find a gun in a room after the parents have left, they should leave the room. Babysitters should never leave a child in a room with a gun, no matter what. They should never touch the gun.
    The babysitter smells smoke, but sees no smoke or flames. What should they do first? In theory, they should go immediately outside. But the babysitter is not sure if there is really a fire and doesn’t want to call in a false alarm. There are two kids who can’t be left outside alone. This is debatable, even for an adult. Carry them with you while you investigate? Take them all outside and call 911 anyway? Take them to the neighbors while you continue to look? Babysitters should take the kids outside immediately and stay calm. If there is more obvious smoke or fire, they should stay low and, if possible, cover their mouths and nose with a wet wash cloth. If they have a cell phone on them, they should call for help and stay outside with the children until help arrives. If not, ask any adult available to call the fire department and parents. Babysitters must never re-enter a burning building.
    And, even when parents have requested it, they should not cook. There are plenty of foods they can feed children that do not require cooking.
    One child gets a cut and it is bleeding. They are screaming. Another child is not breathing. They are very quiet. Which child needs the babysitter’s attention first? Many kids go to the noisy one first. It is often the quieter one who is in more trouble. When should babysitters call 911 or the nearest neighbor, or the parents? And when should they handle it themselves?
    Babysitters and their parents should know the family for whom they are babysitting. Never babysit for strangers or place ads in the newspaper. Do not put up advertisements in the grocery stores. You never know who is going to call nor is there any guarantee that the person calling is safe. Babysit for someone you know!
    When kids babysit, they are taking responsibility for a child’s life. Thus it is important to remember that they too, are kids and that for the young ones to be safe, babysitters first need to be safe. It is best to give them as much information as possible, have them take a babysitting course such as The American Red Cross program or the SafeSitter babysitting program offered at The Family Center in Peterborough, and as parents, support them by being available for questions, and assuring ahead of time that they are in a safe place.
    While these safety issues can presents lots of fears in parents … and they may be tempted to say, “forget it… you’re not ever babysitting,” babysitting offers great opportunities for kids. It teaches them responsibility. It helps them learn how to talk appropriately to adults. It helps them to learn about children. It earns them income and independence. If done with some education and support, it is a wonderful learning opportunity for all involved.
    The next SafeSitter® babysitting course for kids aged 11-13 years old will be held at The Family Center in Peterborough. Offered in collaboration with Monadnock Pediatrics, this program will take place on Monday, April 21 from 9am-4pm, spring vacation week in many school districts. The cost is $35 per participant. Call (603) 924-6306 to register.

    Liz Broderick joined the staff of The Parent Guidance Center in 1992 (one of the original organizations that created The Family Center) and has worn various hats over the years, starting as program leader. In her current role as executive director she continues to lead parent programs and leads the SafeSitter® babysitting course.