Sitter Savvy: What She Needs to Know Before You Go

Leaving your child with a new babysitter so that you can enjoy a little adult time can be a daunting task. Of course you worry about how the sitter might handle an emergency, how much to pay her and how the kids will act while you're gone - but do you ever think of how to make her job easier? Aside from letting them know the basics like compensation, emergency numbers, your contact information and where to find items in the house, sitters say they need a little more information to make the experience a success. You may think a sitter appreciates not having to enforce rules with the kids - many parents use babysitting night as a chance for the kids to "do whatever they want." But you're putting an undue burden on a sitter, who may feel terrible and exhausted at the end of the night when the hellions have run amok, tearing up the house on a sugar high all night. Familiarize a sitter with the rules of the house, and reinforce those rules with the kids before you go.