If you’re traveling out
of town for a few days or longer, you’ll probably be leaving your kids in the
care of a long-term babysitter. This could be their regular sitter, a friend,
or a family member. No matter who is in charge of your kids while you’re out of
town – and potentially out of touch – there are several important things your
sitter needs to know. This includes information that might not be necessary
when you’ll be home in just a few short hours, but are integral when you’re a
long drive, train, or plane ride away.
Everyone who stays with
your kids while you’re out of the house should be aware of what allergies and
food sensitivities your kids may have. All of your sitters already know if your
kid has a violent allergy, such as the common reaction to peanuts, tree nuts,
or bee stings – and they have already been instructed in how to recognize the
signs of an attack and how to use an Epi-pen. But what about minor allergies or
common ailments your kids sometimes get?
·
Your kids may be
mildly allergic to dust, pollen, mold, or other environmental factors that they
may not come into contact with on a regular basis. Even poison oak or poison
ivy can be a concern. Make sure your long-term sitter knows what is stocked in
your medicine cabinet, and when it is appropriate to dispense liquid or topical
antihistamines.
·
Is your child in
the process of losing their milk teeth? Do they often have stomach aches while
under stress, or contract an ear infection at the drop of the hat? Let the
sitter know what is and isn’t common for your kids – so that they know how to
deal with it and when to call in reinforcements.
In the face of health
issues, most sitters prefer to err on the side of caution. If you’re going to
be away for more than a few days, make sure your sitter knows that they can
take advantage of your supplemental health program. Comprehensive
primary care from MDVIP
and other doctor’s associations can set both sitter and kids alike at ease
should a cold, ear infection, or stomach bug show up unexpectedly.
Contact Information
There’s not much you can
do, besides dispense advice to the sitter, when you’re 3,000 miles away from
your kids. Make sure to leave contact information not only for yourself and
your hotel room, but for friends, family members, and emergency contacts.
·
When left with a
long-term sitter, your kids may ask to see or speak to local friends or
relatives for familiarity and comfort. Even if she isn’t an emergency contact,
be sure the sitter knows how to get in touch with “Aunt Sharon.”
Schedules and Routines
Is Thursday homemade
pizza night? Will your 4-year-old only eat Cheerios for lunch? Does your
11-year-old often stop to visit a friend on the walk home from school? Will one
of your kids have a dentist appointment while you’re out of town? Think about
how your kids operate on a weekly basis, and how their long-term schedule
functions differently from the random days you hire a sitter.
·
Keeping up the
regular routine while you’re away will help reduce the stress of your absence
and provide comfort to your kids.
·
Make sure the
sitter knows how your kids may deviate from the routine – eating at a friend’s
house, visiting the neighbors, swimming at the YMCA, etc. That way, they won’t panic when your kid
engages in a behavior that is normal to them, but new to the sitter.
The key to keeping your
long-term sitter confident and secure in their job is to ensure that they have
all the information they need to take care of your kids. If it’s someone who
already knows your kids well, there may just be a few extra pieces of
information they need in order to fill in the gaps of their
knowledge. Go over the above examples to ensure that everything is accounted
for in the instructions you leave with your sitter.
(Image source:
freedigitalphotos.net)
Comments
Post a Comment