Babysitting Options

Ways to find time to relax.

by Jennifer Morrow

These days, finding a responsible teenage babysitter whose schedule jives with yours may seem impossible.  Here are a few childcare avenues to explore when you need some “me” time or a night on the town with your hubby.

“The Default” (aka the older sibling):  An obvious option would be to use an older sibling as a babysitter.  Parent and child can enter into a contract outlining expectations and compensation for a job well done.  Compensation doesn’t always have to be monetary; it could be an extended curfew, a new pair of shoes or extra cell phone minutes.

“The Babysitters Club, All Grown Up!” (aka the babysitting co-op):  A babysitting co-op, with the intent of providing free, quality childcare, may be the best option for a group of friends.  And it’s simple to set up.  All you’ll need is a notebook and four to six families.  Set ground rules as a group and agree to stick with them.  This ensures that no one is taken advantage of or treated unfairly.  Some suggested rules are:

• 1.All families should agree to a common set of disciplinary measures.
• 2.When non-emergency childcare is needed, there must be a 24 hour notice.
• 3.No one family can bank more than 15 hours of care at one time.
• 4.If problems arise, the group will meet to talk out the problems and come to an agreement.

Here’s an example of the babysitting co-op in action:  Friends Sue, Kim, Deb and Pam form a co-op.  Sue will be the keeper of the notebook and the first month’s coordinator.  The responsibility rotates monthly.  Kim needs five hours of childcare for a night out with her husband, so she calls or emails Sue with her request, including date and time.  Sue then calls the others to see who is available.  Kim has now banked five hours.  Pam watched Kim’s children, so she now has a five-hour credit.  The next month Sue passes the coordinator notebook to Deb and the co-op continues.

The Traditional Babysitter:  If a non-family member or close friend is used as a babysitter, consider these tips:

• Choose someone the children like.
• Make expectations clear.  If the home phone is for emergency calls, say so.
• Provide the sitter with activity options.  Point out the game closet or craft box.
• If meals are to be prepared, show the sitter where the cooking supplies are located and inform her of any dietary restrictions.  Make sure to stock up on good snack items!

If all else fails, check out your commissary bulletin board.  You may also contact you church for recommendations or contact the Red Cross for recent graduates of a babysitting class.  Happy relaxing!