Baby Gifts

There are several ways that your babysitter can learn infant and child CPR. The American Red Cross offers infant and Child CPR courses. Other community organizations may also offer infant and child CPR training, as well. Some schools, both high schools and colleges, may offer infant and child CPR training as part of a general course or on its own. There are even infant and child courses available online that can teach you infant and child CPR.

In addition to infant and child CPR training, you may wish to require that your babysitter take basic first aid training. First Aid refers to the emergency care of a victim of a sudden injury or a sudden illness. First aid is not intended to solve medical problems; it is only intended to keep the victim as safe and stable as possible until more skilled medical personnel can arrive. First aid can be anything from putting a Band-Aid on a cut to treating a minor burn to stabilizing a person who has fallen down a flight of stairs. First aid is intended to keep the victim’s condition from getting worse, and possibly to provide pain relief. A few moments of first aid can, in a critical situation, mean the difference between an eventual recover and death. Here again, the American Red Cross is available to provide basic first aid training. Other organizations, like the ones that offer infant and child CPR training, may also be able to offer basic first aid training.

Being trained by an organization such as the Red Cross allows your babysitter to be independently certified in infant and child CPR, and helps put your mind at peace, knowing that your babysitter knows what to do in an emergency.

The biggest risk in babysitting is that something disastrous will happen while you are caring for children. While not every accident can be avoided, if you are safety-conscious and being prepared, you can avoid many of these types of disasters. Some important safety tips while babysitting include:

- Keep doors and windows shut and locked while you are babysitting. Don’t open the door to a stranger.

- Make sure that TV or musical appliances are not turned up so loud that you can’t hear a crying child.

- Keep dangerous items out of reach of children.

- Watch out for plastic bags, pillows, cushions, and other items that could cause a small child to be smothered.

- Know where exits are located.

- Know where the children are at all times. Whenever possible, try to keep them within sight. Never leave them unattended.

- Take the time and care to do things safely.

- Be prepared to administer first aid. Organizations such as the American Red Cross offer training in first aid as well as infant and child CPR. Taking these courses can also make you more marketable as a babysitter.

- If you are babysitting a small child, make sure that he is keeping small objects out of his mouth.

- Make sure that the children are playing with age-appropriate toys.

- Be prepared for an emergency. Know where the emergency numbers are located, and familiarize yourself with the familys emergency plans if they have them.

You should also try to familiarize yourself with any state or local laws regarding child care. Some states require that you be a certain age to baby-sit, and some localities may even require a license or a training course of some sort.

The first area of training that you need to be familiar with is the area of safety. This includes basic first aid, child and infant CPR, and emergency preparation and planning. Some organizations, such as the American Red Cross, may offer babysitting courses in your area that cover some of these basic safety topics. Taking this sort of training, and becoming CPR and first aid certified, will help you to be prepared to baby-sit, as well as help you in trying to find families for whom you can baby-sit.

There are several ways that a babysitter can learn basic first aid. The Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts both have first aid programs that you can participate in if you are a member of one of these groups. The American Red Cross offers first aid training, either as a stand-alone class or as a part of a babysitter training course. Other community organizations may also offer basic first aid training, as well. Some schools, both high schools and colleges, may offer basic first aid training as part of a general course or on its own. There are even first aid courses available online that can teach you basic first aid. Whatever method your babysitter uses to learn first aid, it is important that you veryify her credentials so that you can be comfortable that your children are going to be in good hands.

In addition to basic first aid training, you may wish to use a babysitter that has had Infant and Child CPR training. Here again, the American Red Cross is available to provide CPR training. At one time the American Red Cross Babysitting course included CPR training, but in many locations the babysitting course is now offered without CPR. Other organizations, like the ones that offer first aid training, may also be able to offer CPR training. When you discuss First Aid with a potential babysitter, be certain to specifically discuss whether or not she has had CPR training as well.