How to Keep Children Safe When Using a Babysitter During Covid-19
To safely use a babysitter during Covid-19 you have to start with the right person for your family. Babysitters (all of the time, but especially now) should be mature, responsible and share similar goals and values with your household.
With Covid-19 your expectations, schedule and the babysitters responsibilities may change from pre Covid, so it is important to go over all of these changes and updates with your babysitter to make sure that they are interested (or still interested) in any updates/ changes.
Hire The Right Person-They should have a clear background check, drug test and a valid CPR certification from an in person class.-At least 2 references should be checked. -The babysitter should have experience not only with child care but with the ages of your children. -Conduct an in person or video interview and go over in detail the job description, expectations, responsibilities and schedule. Be transparent, honest and communicate clearly what is important to you and your family.
Go over in detail what you expect regarding the following:-Hygiene (Will masks be required (and what kind of mask, how often where/when should hands be washed, what surfaces should be cleaned, when and with what products, should the caregiver change clothes when entering your home, remove shoes, bring their own food)-Social Distancing (their routine and beliefs about social distancing and week as the people in their home, are they working with other families)-Mental Health (are they ready to work with a positive attitude)-Transportation (how will they be getting to and from work).
Prepare the following items for your caregiver:-A written description of the job, expectations, responsibilities, schedule, household rule-Acceptable and unacceptable activities -Any new and/or updated rules (especially regarding homeschool, electronics, bedtime)-Where they can/can not go in the home or room (specifically if you are working can they come into your home office, can they play outside)-How to answer or where to direct your children’s questions about the virus.
Your babysitter should let you know immediately if:-Anyone in either home is experiencing any symptoms (fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, aches, loss of smell or taste, reddish skin, shortness of breath, etc.)-Anyone in either home has come in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19-Anyone in either home has traveled in the last 14 days.
For additional resources for online certification and recertification I would like to ask you to check out the Non-Profit 501(c) organization Save a Life by NHCPS.
Medical professionals around the world rely on its accredited certification (CPR, BLS, ACLS, PALS…) because not only that it provides training material, comprehensive examinations, it is also an online platform with easy access whenever and wherever from and it returns to the community because all proceeds are used to provide similar education to those previously without access.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
