*This is a collaborative post.
Deciding to hire a nanny can be very scary. Leaving your child for the first time can be very emotional and feel so overwhelmed.
Here are 5 tips to make your transition feel more bearable and hopefully make you feel more confident the first time you hand your child over to a babysitter.
I think it goes without saying. In an emergency, be sure to leave a list of contacts. Obviously emergency services will be the first stop, but for less serious cases, it’s a good idea to leave some contact numbers for your sitter if they need help or just some simple advice.
gently relax yourself
It can be very intimidating and worrying to leave your child with someone you barely know for the first time. Why not hire your babysitter for a short period first so that it doesn’t feel like a big ordeal in the first place.
Go out with friends for a coffee or shopping to help keep you busy.
Take a babysitter to visit the home
Give your babysitter a tour of your home so they can put their hands on items if needed. Showcase places such as diaper changing supplies, snack cabinets, formula and anything else your child may need while in their care.
print out your daily routine
Sharing your routine with your sitter will ensure the transition is as smooth as possible without causing any discomfort to your child.
A simple print using a normal bedtime will help the sitter understand what works best for your child. This might include reading a bedtime story, your favorite pajamas, or a specific swaddle bag you use for your baby.
A baby swaddle will ensure a good night’s sleep And maintain a consistent temperature throughout the night.
List the rules to follow
Remember, you’re hiring a babysitter, so what you say will happen in your own home.
List the things you would like your babysitter to follow. This could be things like not giving your child certain snacks, maybe your child cuts food into small pieces, maybe not allowing them to eat grapes or nuts or anything that can trigger an allergy.
A babysitter is in charge of looking after your children while you are away, so don’t feel bad about having some ground rules that cover anything you care about.
Have you ever used a babysitter?
