Babysitting Basics: What Every Babysitter Should Know

Babysitting is more than just existing with some kids while you wait for their parents to get home and then collecting some money. Babysitting is a job. It is one you can either love or loathe. It can be fun or it can be a nightmare. The experience you have will matter on how you tackle the job. Here are some of the basics to help you to have a positive experience.

• Wage Agreement
Before starting a babysitting job you need to have agreed on your pay. This isn't something you want to wait until after the job is over to discuss. Make sure the payment agreement is something both you and the parents are clear about. Do not wait until after the babysitting job is over and then try to negotiate with your employer. No employer at a "regular" job would expect you to work without knowing your pay rate and babysitting jobs shouldn't be treated any different. No matter how much you love little Junior, watching him try to tear the house apart and having to change his diapers isn't something you should be expected to do for free.

• Emergency Phone Numbers
At the beginning of every babysitting job make sure you know where the parents are going to be, when they will be back, and that you have an emergency contact phone number incase something happens. Poison control is a good number to have also. The number for the fire department and the police department are usually not necessary as 911 works in an emergency and is much quicker than looking up the non-emergency numbers.