Choosing a Babysitter: Is It Really Just About Watching the Children Sleep?
The children will be in bed, so the babysitter doesn't really have to do much.
It is something I hear quite often when parents are considering babysitting.
And, on a good evening, that might be exactly what happens.
The children have their bedtime routine, go to sleep, the babysitter sits downstairs, watches a bit of television, perhaps has a snack, and the parents return home a few hours later.
So why would you pay £20 or more an hour for an experienced babysitter when someone younger might do it for considerably less?
Perhaps it is worth looking at what you are actually paying for.
Because babysitting isn't simply about being in the house while the children sleep.
It is about taking responsibility for somebody else's children while their parents are not there.
It is about more than keeping the children entertained
When we think about babysitting, we often focus on what happens while the children are awake.
Playing games, making tea, helping with bedtime, reading stories and settling them to sleep.
But once the children are asleep, the responsibility doesn't stop.
What happens if a child wakes up unwell?
What if they have a temperature, are sick, have an asthma attack or experience an allergic reaction?
This is where experience and paediatric first aid training can become particularly valuable.
Hopefully, nothing unexpected will happen.
But there could also be a power cut, a stranger knocking at the door or a fire.
Parents don't choose someone because they expect an emergency. They choose someone who is prepared to take responsibility if one occurs.
Young doesn't automatically mean irresponsible
This is really important.
I would never suggest that every young babysitter is inexperienced, irresponsible or unsuitable.
There are some incredibly responsible young people who babysit regularly and take their role very seriously.
They may have lots of experience caring for younger siblings or other children. They may have completed paediatric first aid training, have a DBS check and have built up a good reputation through babysitting for local families.
Age alone doesn't tell us everything about someone's suitability.
However, parents should look at the whole picture rather than simply choosing someone because they are cheap.
What experience do they have?
What training have they completed?
Do they have a DBS check?
Are they insured?
Do they have paediatric first aid training?
Do they have references?
Do they understand safeguarding and professional boundaries?
These are all questions worth asking.
What does the NSPCC say about age?
There is no specific legal minimum age in the UK for someone to babysit.
However, the NSPCC recommends that babysitters should be at least 16 years old.
The NSPCC also advises that children under 12 should not generally be left home alone, and highlights that younger children are usually not mature enough to manage situations that could arise without adult supervision.
If a babysitter is under 16, parents need to think particularly carefully about the arrangement and the level of responsibility being placed on that young person.
This doesn't mean that every 16-year-old is automatically ready to babysit, or that every older person is automatically suitable.
Maturity, experience, training and the individual circumstances all matter.
The NSPCC guidance is a useful reminder that age and responsibility are worth considering rather than simply assuming that babysitting is an easy job for any teenager.
Source: NSPCC guidance on children and the law and leaving children home alone.
What about insurance, DBS and first aid?
These are things parents may not think to ask about when arranging an evening babysitter.
A babysitter who is offering their services regularly should be able to explain what arrangements they have in place.
DBS
A DBS check can form part of a parent's decision when choosing someone to care for their children. It is important to remember that a DBS check is not a guarantee that someone is suitable, but it can be one part of the wider picture.
Paediatric first aid
This is something I would consider particularly important.
Children can become unwell or have accidents very quickly. Having someone with appropriate paediatric first aid training provides an additional level of reassurance.
Worsley Training offers a babysitting first aid course www.worsleytraining.co.uk
Insurance
Parents may also want to ask if the babysitter is insured to provide their services.
Again, these things don't automatically make someone a brilliant babysitter.
But they demonstrate that childcare is being treated as a responsibility rather than simply an opportunity to earn some extra pocket money.
Experience has a value
There is a big difference between having babysat a handful of times and having years of experience caring for children.
An experienced babysitter may have looked after babies, toddlers and older children.
They may have experience with different bedtime routines, allergies, medication, Safer Sleep guidelines, additional needs and children who don't always settle easily.
They may have dealt with children becoming unwell and know how to remain calm when something unexpected happens.
They may also have developed the judgement that comes from years of working with children.
That experience has a value.
We accept this in many other areas of life.
I don't always choose the cheapest tradesperson, hairdresser, mechanic or professional service simply because the job itself might appear straightforward.
I often pay more for knowledge, experience and confidence.
Childcare is no different.
And then there is the question of very young babysitters
There is another practical consideration that parents may not have thought about.
If you have a young teenager babysitting until late in the evening, you may also feel responsible for making sure they get home safely.
Are they walking home alone?
Are you taking them home?
Is a parent collecting them?
If they are finishing at 11pm or midnight, this is something worth considering before making the booking.
The lower hourly rate might look attractive, but there can be other responsibilities involved too.
Again, this isn't about saying teenagers shouldn't babysit.
Many young babysitters are fantastic.
It is simply about looking at the whole arrangement and making an informed decision.
So what are we actually paying for?
If an experienced babysitter charges £20 or more an hour, it can initially seem expensive when the children are going to be asleep for most of the evening.
But you aren't paying them £20 an hour simply to sit on your sofa and watch television.
You are paying for:
Experience.Responsibility,Training,Safeguarding awareness, Paediatric first aid,Insurance,Professionalism & Peace of mind.
And that last one matters.
When you leave your home, you want to know that the person staying with your children is capable, responsible and prepared.
Choosing a babysitter
There is no rule that says every family must use an experienced professional babysitter.
A responsible young person with appropriate experience can be a perfectly good choice for many families.
But don't make the decision based purely on the hourly rate.
Before booking, ask:
• What experience do you have with children?
• What ages have you cared for?
• Do you have paediatric first aid training?
• Do you have a DBS check?
• Do you have relevant childcare qualifications or training?
• Are you insured?
• Can you provide references?
• Have you cared for children with allergies, medication or additional needs?
• If you are a young babysitter, how will you get home safely at the end of the evening?
The answers may tell you far more about the person you are trusting with your children than their hourly rate ever will.
Because yes, hopefully your children will sleep all evening.
Hopefully the babysitter will watch television, eat a snack and send you a message to say everything is fine.
But that isn't the point.
The point is that while you are out, someone else is responsible for your children. (your house and potentially your pets too)
That responsibility has a value.
So perhaps the question shouldn't simply be:
“How much does the babysitter cost?”
Perhaps it should be:
“What experience, training and reassurance am I getting for that cost, and how confident am I that my children are in safe hands?”
When it comes to our children, that is surely worth thinking about.
Comments