Business of Babysitting
Name a tool that you can use to collect information from a child's parents about a babysitting job.
Family File
How should you hold a baby?
Support the baby's head, back, neck, shoulders and bum.
This age group is wobbly on their feet.
Toddlers
What do you do if the child touches a hot surface?
Cool the burn with cold water, use a cool rag. Apply burn ointment.
If the phone is ringing while you are changing a child's diaper, what should you do?
Let it ring - don't leave the child alone!
What is one way to advertise your babysitting business?
Posters, Business cards, Newspaper Ads, Word of Mouth
Babies have a soft spot on their head, at what age does their soft spot harden?
What types of toys do infants like?
Simple toys that engage their eyes, ears and hands. Babies like to put things in their mouth - so the toys need to be safe.
What do you do if the child is choking on food?
Perform the Heimlick maneuver if the child cannot breathe.
What is the only way infants can communicate?
Crying
Name three things that should go in a babysitter bag
Spare clothing, babysitting binder, story books, toys, small first aid kit, flashlights, crafts
What is it called when you wrap a baby tightly in a blanket for sleep?
Swaddling
What are things you can do with infants?
Respond when they cry, talk and sing, hand games (pat-a-cake), play with baby toys, read.
Wash your hands, use disposable gloves
If a parent forgets to tell you something what should you do?
Ask the parents - they will respect and be impressed with your responsibility for asking the question.
What is a resume?
A summary of your skills, education and experiences.
What can happen if you don't change a baby's diaper soon enough?
Diaper rash
Toddlers are very _______.
Independent. You might hear toddlers say "I do it!" because they want to be independent. "Let's do it together" or "I will help too" usually works better than "You can't do that" or "No, I'll do it," or "You're too little."
If your clothing catches fire, what should you do?
Stop, drop and roll
Why do children take naps?
Because their rapidly developing brains and growing bodies cannot tolerate long periods of being awake
What's one way to stay organized with your babysitting jobs?
Use a planner, avoid overbooking, keep track of your hours and payments
When making a formula bottle, what ingredient do you add to the bottle first?
How do toddlers learn?
Listening and watching, making a mess, dumping, ripping, exploring with their hands, trying new things, playing beside other children.
What are the A-B-Cs of safe sleep?
A - Alone, B - Back, C - Crib
Besides a changing table, where is the safest place to change a diaper?
On the floor.
What are some "best practices" for your babysitting job?
Ask your parents for permission, keep the house tidy, plan activities to do with the kids, avoid being on the phone, don't have friends over while babysitting at your house
Name 3 things you should check for if the baby is crying and will not stop.
Are they hungry, is the diaper dirty, are they too hot or cold, do they have a fever, is there hair wrapped around a finger or toe?
What types of toys do preschoolers like?
Trucks, blocks, dolls, dress-up clothes, puzzles, boxes, paper tubes, containers, art materials, games, balls
The child falls down the stairs and gets a big goose egg on their forehead. What should you do?
Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and monitor for signs of a concussion.
Why do children have tantrums?
Children are sometimes unable to express what they are feeling in a calm manner. They don't have the skills needed to control their emotions, and their stong feelings may result in a tantrum.
How should you go about getting a babysitting job?
Ask parents, relatives and friends if they are looking for a babysitter.
Why should you not put the bottle in the microwave to warm it up?
Because it creates hot pockets.
What can you do with school-aged children?
List 4 of the top 10 food choking hazards.
Hot dogs, carrots, nuts, popcorn, apples, meat chunks, hard candy, chicken/chicken bones, fish bones, seeds
What are two things to ask parents about tantrums?
What are some tantrum triggers? What are the parents' rules when it comes to handling tantrums or challenging behaviors? Do they use time out - where is time out at?
How do you determine how much to charge for a babysitting job?
Ask other babysitters what they charge, ask your family what you should charge, ask the parents what they are willing to pay.
How long to babies drink milk or formula as their major way to get the nutrients they need?
The first year.
What does the acronym M-O-V-E stand for to help you promote healthy development for preschoolers?
M - motivation, O - Opportunity, V - Variety, E - Equipment, Encouragement, Enthusiasm
List three possible signs that someone is having an allergic reaction.
Itchy mouth, Itchy throat, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling
You should take the time and effort to learn this about the family in order to respect differences.
What is their rules or culture?