Leaving your child or children with a babysitter can be a scary experience even though you have done all you could to check the individual's references. I've had a couple of frightening experiences with babysitters myself when my children were small. Fortunately, everything turned out O.K. One thing I did to make sure the children were safe when I hired a new baby sitter was to have a friend or neighbor stop by to leave something or bring back a dish they had borrowed. On one occasion my upstairs neighbor called my office and said "I think you need to come home right now." I ran to my car and was home quickly. The babysitter seemed groggy and I suspected she had taken some medicine or perhaps had had a seizure or convulsion. My neighbor watched the children while I took the woman to a friend's house. She refused to see a doctor and I found out later that she did not believe in doctors. Her references it turned out to be from people from her same religious sect. I was amazed when several days later she called and wanted to come back to work!
Good places to get referrals are childcare agencies, your family doctor or pediatrician, good friends, or employment services. It is important to leave your child's doctor's name and telephone number, the number of the local poison center, police, fire department, and close relatives or neighbors who could help. Also leave the location of fire extinguishers, first aid kit, and your child's general routine, plus any special food allergies or food instructions. You can never be to careful when a child's life is at stake.
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