Babysitting Emergency Cards

Have you ever been enjoying a much-needed night out with friends when a nagging worry starts attacking the fringes of your thoughts. . . Is Johnny going to bed or throwing a tantrum? Does the babysitter know who to call first in an emergency? Put your mind at ease by assembling a folder of emergency cards and general information ahead of time. Put them within reach of a quick grab to make your babysitter̵7;s life easier and to save your sanity at the same time.

  1. Medical and First Aid Information

    • Include the location of the first aid kit along with your child̵7;s food and drug allergies, insurance information, the pediatrician̵7;s name and number and your preferred hospital. If your child has a known medical condition such as an allergy, migraines or asthma, leave specific instructions on what to do upon the onset of an attack. Include a card with simple diagrams showing protocol for first aid emergencies. Download images or tips from a reputable medical website on how to respond to choking and how to give infant or child CPR.

    Contact Information

    • Create a separate card with contact information such as local emergency numbers, the poison control center, your cell phone number, the phone number of the place you are going and backup family phone numbers. If you have a trusted neighbor or 24-7 doctor̵7;s answering service, include those numbers as well. Place your full address and home phone number in a prominent spot on the page in case a babysitter has to tell emergency personnel where to come. As a last precaution, make sure phones are charged and are easily accessible before you leave the house.

    Bedtime Routines

    • Bedtime may not pose any emergencies, but the babysitter may be stumped if she doesn̵7;t know that little Suzie only goes to sleep when she has her blue blanket, brown bunny, ocean sound machine on and the door cracked exactly 3 inches. Ease the bedtime trauma with specific instructions about your child's normal routine. Don̵7;t assume the sitter will remember that your child starts to bed at 7:30 and reads for 15 minutes. Jot down the essentials to smooth the bedtime transition.

    Electronic Cheat Sheet

    • In a world that offers 27 remotes to match 13 gadgets, even a technology-savvy babysitter could use some tips about which device goes with which remote. Include notes about parental controls or which channels your children are restricted to watching. If they are allowed to exercise with use of a video game device, make sure to leave instructions on how to log on and set it up. Keep in mind that children will try to wheedle their way into extra privileges when their parents are away for a night out, so be specific about the technology -- and other -- boundaries you have set for your household.

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