make your free babysitting instructions
what we'll cover
what are babysitting instructions?
if you've organised childcare for your child (or multiple children), you can use a set of babysitting instructions to provide crucial information to the childcare provider, whether this is an at-home nanny, an au pair, a babysitter or even a family member or friend. a babysitting instructions document allows you to list all the important and relevant things concerning the specific needs of your child.
when should i use babysitting instructions?
use these babysitting instructions:
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if you are hiring a babysitter or nanny (either on a one-off or an ongoing basis) to look after your child (or multiple children)
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to provide certain information about your child (or children)
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to provide guidelines for the babysitter
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to provide emergency contact information
sample babysitting instructions
the terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
about babysitting instructions
learn more about making your babysitting instructions
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how to make babysitting instructions
making babysitting instructions online is simple. just answer a few questions and 2022世界杯32强抽签时间 will build your document for you. when you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.
to make your babysitting instructions, you will need the following information:
children's details
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how many children will the babysitter be looking after?
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if the babysitter will be looking after more than one child, do your children have the same routine?
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what are the children’s details?
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what are the rules for, or habits of, the children?
location
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will the babysitter look after the children:
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at home? if so:
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what is the children’s home address?
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is the babysitter being hired to look after the children on a one-off or regular basis?
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outside of the home?
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parent details
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how many parents are hiring the babysitter?
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what are the details of the parent(s)?
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where will the parent(s) be while the babysitter is looking after the children?
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around what time will the parent(s) be returning?
babysitter
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is the babysitter not allowed to:
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take the children outside?
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use a car to take the children somewhere?
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use a computer while looking after the children?
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have visitors?
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take personal phone calls?
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bring food into the home?
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is the babysitter allowed or not allowed to do anything else?
emergency
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will the babysitting instructions include the location of:
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first aid kits? if so, where are they located?
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fire extinguishers or blankets? if so, where are they located?
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landline telephones? if so, where are they located?
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what additional emergency contacts will be provided in the babysitting instructions?
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common terms in babysitting instructions
babysitting instructions provide crucial information for a babysitter to help them to look after your children. to do this, this babysitting instructions template covers:
care instructions
this section provides the details of the child or children the babysitter will look after. this includes their:
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names
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dates of birth
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medical needs and/or allergies
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medications
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special conditions
it also details the children's routines and habits and any rules they must follow.
parent/legal guardian details
this section sets out the details of the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) hiring the babysitter.
rules for the babysitter
this section sets out the rules the babysitter must follow when looking after the child.
emergency equipment
if relevant, this section outlines where certain emergency equipment (like first aid kits) can be found in the home.
emergency information
this section provides the numbers for relevant emergency services. where relevant, it also states the children’s home address so the babysitter knows which address to provide to the emergency services.
emergency contacts
if relevant, this section provides the names and contact details of any emergency contacts.
if you want your babysitting instructions to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. however, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the babysitting instructions for you, to make sure it complies with all relevant laws and meets your specific needs. ask a lawyer for assistance. -
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legal tips for making babysitting instructions
speak to the emergency contact
when making your babysitting instructions, you should provide not only your contact details for use in an emergency, but also those of other people you trust. often, this will be family members or friends that live close to you; however, it may also be neighbours or trusted work colleagues. providing this information ensures that the babysitter has people to contact in the event of an emergency, especially if you cannot be reached.
before making your babysitting instructions, you should ask your intended emergency contacts if they are willing to act as emergency contacts. you should also ensure that their contact details are up-to-date before providing the babysitting instructions to the babysitter.
make sure to give the babysitting instructions to your babysitter
make sure to provide babysitting instructions to the babysitter well before they are to look after your children. this allows the babysitter enough time to review the instructions and the information contained within and to ask any questions or address any concerns they may have.
if relevant, speak to the babysitter about payment
you should discuss payment arrangements (if any) with the babysitter and come to an agreement before they look after your children. parents and babysitters should be clear about the payment rate and method to avoid any misunderstandings. generally, babysitters are paid by the hour and receive payment at the end of a babysitting session.
if you want to find out how much childcare costs in your area, consider using childcare.co.uk’s babysitter cost comparison tool.
familiarise yourself with all relevant laws relating to children
as a parent, there are various responsibilities and laws that you should know about concerning your children. to learn more, read our guides on:
- parental responsibility
- parent's rights and responsibilities
- children's rights and responsibilities
- child employment
- children and special educational needs, and
- laws on children's education
understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
ask a lawyer if:
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you require a formal babysitting contract
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this document doesn’t meet your specific needs
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you’re located outside of england, wales and scotland
babysitting instructions faqs
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what is included in babysitting instructions?
this babysitting instructions template covers:
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the details of the parent(s)/legal guardian(s)
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the child’s or children’s details(s)
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the child’s or children’s medical information
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the child’s or children’s routines, rules and habits
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rules the babysitter must follow
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information about where the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be and when they can be expected home
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emergency contact details (including emergency services numbers)
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why do i need babysitting instructions?
while babysitting instructions aren’t essential, they are a great way of ensuring the well-being and safety of your children while in a babysitter's care.
the main concern when leaving children with a babysitter is their safety. babysitting instructions help to create a safe environment by making the babysitter aware of any potential hazards and providing relevant information and guidelines for the babysitter to follow. knowing any relevant emergency procedures allows the babysitter to respond appropriately in the case of accidents or unexpected situations, providing peace of mind to parents. health considerations are also vital in babysitting instructions. if a child has any medical conditions, allergies or requires specific medications, the babysitter needs to be well informed so that they can handle any health-related issues that may arise.
these instructions also include the children's regular schedule, feeding times, nap times and bedtime, along with any specific rules and routines. such structures are essential for maintaining a sense of familiarity and comfort for children. following these routines can make the babysitting experience smoother and more enjoyable for your children.
clear communication between parents and babysitters is essential and babysitting instructions facilitate this. they include contact information for parents, allowing the babysitter to easily get in touch in case of any questions or emergencies arising. additionally, knowing the contact information of a nearby family member, friend, neighbour and/or gp can be helpful. these babysitting instructions also set out what the babysitter may or may not do while looking after the children.
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what is a babysitter?
a babysitter is generally considered to be someone who temporarily looks after a child (ie anyone under the age of 18) or multiple children in exchange for payment while their parents are away or occupied with other responsibilities. the role of a babysitter is to ensure the wellbeing, safety and entertainment of the children they are babysitting. typically, babysitters will be teenagers or young adults but they may also be older individuals.
for the purposes of these babysitting instructions, a babysitter may also be a family friend, relative or other adult who is looking after a child without being paid.
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what are the responsibilities of a babysitter?
a babysitter is responsible for caring for children while their parents are unable to do so. this should be done in accordance with babysitting instructions. while babysitters’ responsibilities vary, especially depending on the age of the children they are looking after, they tend to include:
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supervising the children, ensuring their safety and preventing accidents
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providing meals and snacks for the children (you may ask the babysitter to prepare meals and snacks or prepare some yourself in advance for the babysitter to give to your children). the babysitter should always follow any dietary instructions that you provide
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assisting with naptime and bedtime routines
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engaging in play and activities (eg age-appropriate games, crafts, and other activities to keep the children entertained). this tends to be more relevant for younger children
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administering basic first aid if required (eg handling any minor injuries that may occur, such as scraped knees)
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when should i hire a babysitter?
generally speaking, children should not be left unsupervised if this places them at risk. as a result, parents may need to ask someone (like a babysitter) to look after their children when they cannot (eg because of another commitment).
hiring a babysitter (or simply asking a friend or relative) to look after your children is a personal decision for you to make, based on your and your children’s specific circumstances. for example, you may wish to ask a babysitter to look after your children:
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on a one-off basis because you have a date, are celebrating an anniversary or birthday or are attending a social event (like a wedding), and your children will not be attending
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because you have a work commitment or appointment that clashes with your children's schedules and/or requires you to be away from home at odd hours
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on a regular basis, if you have a standing social event or gathering (eg a weekly book club) where your children may not be entertained or it may be inappropriate for them to attend
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in emergencies (eg if a family member falls ill and you need someone to look after your children while you are looking after the family member)
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during the school holidays and half-term breaks
as every family situation is unique, the decision to hire a babysitter (or ask a family friend or relative to look after your children) depends on your personal preferences, needs and comfort level. however, when asking someone else to look after your children, it is important that you choose someone you trust who is capable of providing appropriate care for your children.
for more information, read parent's rights and responsibilities and children's rights and responsibilities.
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are babysitting instructions binding?
these babysitting instructions are not legally binding. they are a simple document providing crucial information to a babysitter when they are looking after children. babysitting instructions allow parents to provide information, instructions and guidelines to ensure their children's safety, well-being and comfort while being looked after by a babysitter.
while babysitting instructions are not legally binding, they play a significant role in establishing expectations and responsibilities. they help the babysitter understand the children's routines, dietary restrictions (if any), medical needs (if any) and other important information that can contribute to a safe and positive babysitting experience.
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do i need a written babysitting contract?
you aren’t required to have a written babysitting contract in place if you hire a babysitter. however, having a written contract in place can provide certainty for both parties and ensure that everyone is aware of their rights and obligations. if you require a babysitting contract, you can ask a lawyer or consider using our bespoke legal drafting service.
while these babysitting instructions aren’t a formal contract, they set out some of the babysitter’s responsibilities. they may also serve as evidence of the mutual understanding and agreement between the parties. this means that, if a babysitting situation were to lead to a legal dispute, the existence of babysitting instructions (in the absence of a contract) could be relevant as evidence to demonstrate the intended arrangement between the parties.
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how do babysitting instructions help babysitters?
babysitting instructions provide babysitters with crucial information about the children they will be looking after. while babysitting instructions may seem less necessary when a family member or friend is looking after children, they are nevertheless important and provide crucial information to the babysitter to help them to look after the children. this is especially important in emergencies.
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what if my child has an emergency while being looked after by a babysitter?
these babysitting instructions provide contact details for the police, fire department and ambulance and the nhs non-emergency line. where relevant, they also provide the children’s home address so that the babysitter can provide the correct address to any emergency services. the instructions also provide the contact details of the parents, so that the babysitter knows how and where to contact them.
where relevant, these babysitting instructions also provide:
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the location of any first aid kits
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the location of any fire extinguishers or fire blankets
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contact details for any other emergency contacts (eg family members, friends or neighbours). while these don’t have to be included in the babysitting instructions, it is a good idea to do so as they provide the babysitter with options of other people to contact if they cannot reach the parents
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contact details for the child’s gp
your babysitting instructions must provide accurate information so that the babysitter knows how to quickly reach you and/or anyone else. by providing this information you also help the babysitter be prepared to take appropriate actions in case of an emergency.
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can a babysitter deviate from the babysitting instructions?
generally speaking, babysitters should follow the babysitting instructions provided. however, there may be unforeseen circumstances that require the babysitter to deviate from the instructions. if this is the case, the babysitter should speak to the parents as soon as possible and let them know why and how they deviated from the babysitting instructions.
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