Babysitter Safety Checklist: What to Leave, What to Tell Them and Emergency Info

Quick answer: before you leave, give the sitter a one-page sheet with parent phone numbers, another emergency contact, your address, pediatrician and Poison Control (1-800-222-1222), allergy and medicine details, bedtime routine, screen rules and where first aid supplies live. Walk through fire exits, door locks and any rooms that are off limits. Do a short verbal briefing even with sitters who have visited before.

Leaving your children with a sitter should feel boringly organized, not like a scavenger hunt for the EpiPen. A clear checklist protects kids when something unexpected happens and helps sitters succeed. This guide is part of our family health and safety guide, and it covers the safety details that matter more than the snack preferences (though you can include those too).

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) HealthyChildren.org guidance on choosing and briefing caregivers; American Red Cross babysitter training themes; Poison Control (1-800-222-1222); NFPA home fire escape basics. This article is general information, not legal advice about hiring or background checks.

Table of Contents

The One-Page Fridge Sheet

Print or write a sheet and stick it where sitters will see it:

Parents’ phones and who to text first
Backup adult name and phone (neighbor or relative)
Full home address with ZIP for 911
Pediatrician name and after-hours nurse line
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Nearest ER name
Kids’ full names, ages and approximate weights (for medicine questions)
Allergies and where epinephrine or inhalers are kept
Current medicines and exact instructions
Bedtime and comfort objects
Wi-Fi only if needed for your approved apps

Update the sheet when doses or allergies change. A stale sheet is worse than none if it lists an old medication plan.

Medical and Allergy Briefing

Say the allergy out loud even if it is written. Show the sitter the epinephrine auto-injector and the inhaler if relevant. Explain when to use them and that they should call 911 after epinephrine for anaphylaxis as directed by your child’s allergy plan. Do not assume a teenage sitter remembers last month’s demo.

For everyday medicine, leave measured doses in original packaging with written times. Sitters should not invent dosing. Our medicine safety for kids guide is for parents building systems; the sitter only needs tonight’s instructions.

If a child has seizures, diabetes or complex care, leave the action plan and confirm the sitter is trained enough for the job. Some children need specialized caregivers rather than a casual sitter.

House Hazards to Point Out

Walk the sitter through:

Locked medicine and cleaning cabinets
Dog gates or pet rules
Pool, bathtub and balcony rules; water needs touch supervision for toddlers
Off-limit rooms
Fireplace or space heater status
Where the fire extinguisher and first aid kit live

Show the first aid kit location and open it once so they see bandages and gloves. Mention Poison Control for any swallowed product scare.

For fire, show exits and the outdoor meeting spot from your home fire safety plan. Tell them smoke alarms chirp when batteries die and where spare batteries are.

Bedtime, Bath and Kitchen Rules

Write clear yes/no rules:

Bath: yes with door open and hand on child, or no baths tonight
Kitchen stove: off limits / microwave only / no cooking
Outside play: yard only, no street
Friends visiting: allowed or not
Sleep positions for babies: follow your safe sleep rules exactly; no couches for infant sleep

If you follow AAP safe sleep guidance at home, require the same of sitters: firm flat surface, no loose blankets, baby on back. Do not allow “just this once” couch naps for infants.

Screens and Phones

Spell out screen limits so the sitter is not negotiating at 8 p.m. Note which apps are allowed and whether the sitter’s phone can be used for photos (many parents prefer no posting). Ask sitters to stay off personal social feeds while on duty except for contacting you.

Our screen time by age guide can shape your house policy; the sitter needs only tonight’s version.

Choosing and Vetting Sitters

Meet new sitters before the job when you can. Check references. Ask about CPR and first aid training; Red Cross babysitter courses exist for teens. Watch how they interact with your child while you are still home. Trust discomfort.

For regular help, keep a folder with emergency sheets, allergy plans and permission for medical care forms if your pediatrician recommends them. Grandparents need the same sheet; familiarity with the child is not the same as knowing where the fire ladder is.

Arrival Routine (10 Minutes)

Put phones down and do the walk-through
Show allergy meds hands-on
Confirm bedtime steps
Point to the fridge sheet
Agree on check-in texts
Say when you will be home
Lock doors behind you as you leave if that is your habit

Rushing out with “everything is on the counter somewhere” invites mistakes.

While You Are Out

Be reachable or name who is. If you enter a theater or flight mode situation, say so and designate the backup adult as first call. Sitters should not hesitate to call 911 first in a true emergency; they can call you after responders are on the way.

Encourage sitters to text photos of unclear medicine labels rather than guessing. Praise careful questions.

After You Return

Ask what went well and what felt confusing. Update the sheet. Pay on time. If a safety rule was broken, address it before the next booking. Keep notes on sitters who follow asthma plans carefully; they are gold.

Special Cases: Overnight and Multiple Kids

Overnight jobs need morning medicine plans, monitor notes for babies and clear rules about who can enter the house. For sibling groups, write conflict rules and which older child is not in charge of the toddler’s safety. An 8-year-old helper is not a substitute for adult supervision.

Pool, Trampoline and Hot Tub

If you have water or bounce equipment, either close it for the night or require active adult supervision with phone put away. Drowning is silent. Trampolines need house rules that match your trampoline safety expectations. When in doubt, lock the gate and hand over indoor plans only.

Sample Checklist You Can Copy

[ ] Fridge sheet updated today
[ ] Allergy meds shown
[ ] First aid kit location shown
[ ] Fire exits and meeting spot
[ ] Poison Control number on sheet
[ ] Sleep rules for baby/toddler
[ ] Screen rules
[ ] Kitchen/stove rules
[ ] Outdoor boundaries
[ ] Expected return time
[ ] Backup adult confirmed available

Take a photo of the completed sheet for yourself so you remember what the sitter knows.

Background Checks and Red Flags

Policies differ by family. Some parents use paid background check services or hire through agencies that already screen. Others rely on trusted referrals from school communities. At minimum, speak with two references and ask how the sitter handled a past bedtime struggle or minor injury.

Red flags include reluctance to share references, discomfort following allergy plans, heavy personal phone use during your meet-and-greet or pressure to leave before the walk-through finishes. You can like a teen and still decide they are not ready for your toddler’s medical needs.

If your child has complex care, ask the pediatrician what training a caregiver must have. A kind neighbor may still be the wrong fit for overnight nursing-level tasks.

Home-Alone Transitions and Older Kids

When you hire a sitter for a younger sibling while an older child is used to being home alone, clarify authority. The sitter is in charge of safety rules even if the older child protests. Write it down to avoid arguments.

If your older child is nearly ready for short alone time, do not mix that experiment with a night you are unreachable. Our home alone readiness guide covers that decision separately from sitter nights.

Pay, Cancellation and Professional Respect

Agree on pay before the job, including overtime if you run late. Cancel with as much notice as you can. Sitters who feel respected are more likely to follow your safety sheet carefully. Keep cash or payment app ready so the end of the night is not awkward.

Provide a quiet study space if a student sitter arrives early. Show them the bathroom and lights. Comfort helps attention.

Practice Night Before a Big Event

Before a wedding or work trip, hire the sitter for a short evening while you remain nearby. Test the sheet, see whether bedtime instructions were clear and fix gaps. A dress rehearsal is cheaper than a crisis during a black-tie event.

Ask the sitter what confused them. Update the checklist the same night.

Neighborhood and Door Safety

Tell sitters whether to open the door for deliveries. Default to no unexpected visitors. Show them how bolts work and whether the garage door should stay shut. If you use cameras, disclose them. If your child has a stranger-safety vocabulary at home, share the same words with the sitter so messages match.

Food Rules and Choking Awareness

Leave a short list of foods that are off limits for toddlers in your home, such as whole grapes or hard candy. Show the high chair buckle. If dinner includes cutting steps, either pre-cut food or ask the sitter not to serve those items. Choking first aid knowledge is ideal; at minimum they should know to call 911 for severe choking and to put the phone on speaker.

Write where sippy cups and water bottles live so kids stay hydrated without the sitter hunting through unfamiliar cabinets.

When You Should Cancel and Stay Home

If your child is wheezing more than usual, starting a stomach bug or running a fever that needs close watching, cancel the outing. Sitters should not be asked to manage evolving medical situations you would not leave with a neighbor. Pay a cancellation fee when you can; it builds a relationship with careful sitters you may need again.

Trust the same instinct if the only available sitter seems distracted during the briefing. A quiet night at home beats an anxious event.

Apps, Check-Ins and Privacy

Agree on check-in times rather than constant texting, which distracts from kids. A photo of a peaceful bedtime is fine if you requested it; live-streaming your child to group chats is not. Tell sitters whether doorbell cameras are active so they are not surprised.

If you monitor a nursery camera, disclose that too. Transparency builds trust and keeps everyone focused on the children rather than on wondering who is watching.

Severe Weather and Power Outages

Leave a flashlight location and a note about whether the sitter should stay put or walk next door to a backup adult if the power fails. Show them where shoes and a light jacket live for kids. If storms are in the forecast, reconsider leaving for a nonessential event.

Write the meeting spot outside if a fire alarm sounds during a blackout. Practice saying it aloud once before you walk out.

Sharing the Checklist With Co-Parents - section banner for Babysitter Safety Checklist

Upload the fridge sheet to a shared note so both parents update allergies and schedules in one place. When custody swaps midweek, the sitter should not receive conflicting bedtime or medicine instructions by text thread. Agree on the master sheet before booking help.

If a co-parent prefers different screen rules, settle the sitter-night version ahead of time. The caregiver needs one plan, not a debate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What emergency numbers should a babysitter have?

Parents’ phones, a backup adult, the home address for 911, pediatric after-hours line and Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do grandparents need the same checklist?

Yes. Familiar caregivers still need current allergy plans, medicine instructions and exit routes.

Should sitters give medicine?

Only with clear written instructions and proper measuring tools. They should not guess doses.

How do I brief a sitter about allergies?

Show the actual epinephrine or inhaler, explain triggers and when to use it, and say to call 911 after epinephrine per your allergy action plan.

Are screen rules part of safety?

They support safety by keeping sitters attentive. Write the limits so enforcement is not personal.

What is the most overlooked item?

A clear house address on the sheet for 911, and a hands-on show of where emergency medicines live.