We all know how Christmas time can get so busy. With all the parties, travels, visitors, shopping and so much more, managing these things can easily become overwhelming and stressful.
So much more if you have a baby to take care of because your nanny is taking a time-off or for whatever reason she can’t be with you.
Book an Xmas Babysitter on time!
If you need a babysitter for Christmas, you may consider booking one earlier so that it is one less thing to worry about. At Kiidu, we make it easier for you to book a babysitter for Christmas.
Depending on your needs, you can book a babysitter for a day, or a full-time babysitter. We are proud that our babysitters are highly trained in taking care of kids from newborn to grown-ups.
And should you book an Xmas babysitter now, here are some tips that will help make your babysitting arrangements a success.
1. Communicate your Expectations
Whether you are booking a babysitter for a day or a week around Christmas time, don’t forget to communicate your expectations beforehand.
Being on the same page with your babysitter helps avoid frustrations over something that’s not properly communicated.
Discuss with your babysitter information such as when you’d like to be contacted and how to contact you. This is very important especially if you are in the middle of attending an important event.
You don’t want to get frequent calls from your babysitter over minute things that she should be able to easily handle.
Is it okay for the babysitter to call you in case the baby won’t stop crying? Do you want to get informed if your kids are fighting? If you could provide more specific details to your babysitter, the better.
2. Discuss what your Babysitter can do in case of an Emergency
Emergency situations can happen when you least expect them. And when they do happen, you would want your babysitter to know exactly what to do.
Provide a list of reference numbers that your babysitter can contact depending on the type of emergency situation.
And in case she can’t contact you for whatever reason, provide alternative numbers she can call. If you can refer another family member or friend who can immediately help, that’s also a good idea.
3. Be clear on what Activities are Acceptable
Christmas time is one of the busiest times of the year when all the malls, playgrounds and other public places are packed with people. It’s not the best time of the year to bring your kids.
If you don’t want your babysitter to bring your kids to any of these places, be clear about it. At the same time, you should be able to suggest alternative activities that she and your kids can do.
There are a lot of great ideas for fun activities that your babysitter and kids can do together depending on your kids’ interests.
They can do arts and crafts, sing and dance, play with toys and much more. It’s a good idea to prepare in advance the resources that your babysitter can use for these activities.
Moreover, if there are certain activities that you don’t want your kids to do such as watch TV on their own or play with their gadgets for an extended period of time, you should also communicate this to your kids and your nanny.
4. Specify your Food Expectations
The holiday season is the time of the year when you can easily get overloaded on sweets and high fat foods. While it’s probably okay with you for your kids to eat a small slice of cake, you don’t want them to indulge in too much sweets. That is when specifying your food expectations for your kids is important.
If you hired a babysitter who can also cook food for your kids, it’s a good idea to suggest some healthy snacks or meals that she can prepare for them, and make sure you have enough supplies available.
5. Provide a list of your kids’ routine
Providing a list with details on the typical meal time, play time and bedtime routine of your kids can give the babysitter an idea of what your kids are used to. This is especially important if you are hiring someone who is not your regular babysitter.
The list could serve as your babysitter’s guide on what to do for the day. It would be easier for her to plan things out if she is aware of the kid’s typical schedule.
Moreover, having a list of your kids’ routine could also avoid circumstances where your kids will talk her into anything you least expect like late bedtime because they want to watch a movie or do other crazy things.
6. Let your babysitter know when you’ll be home
If you’ll be out for an entire day to attend a party or gathering, let your babysitter know what time you’ll be home. She’ll appreciate it if you don’t leave her hanging when it comes to the time you will be arriving.
If you know you’ll be late, call her and let her know. This is especially important if you hired a live-out babysitter for a day as she might have other plans or commitments too after working in your home.
You may also consider paying for her cab in case you run late on coming home. It’s a small act of kindness for extending her time to take care of your kids.
With all the activities going on during Christmas, having a reliable babysitter who will take care of your kids can give you peace of mind and can make your day less stressful.
Should you wish to book a babysitter now, just contact us and we will help you find the right babysitter for your kids.
