First off, do you clean before the babysitter comes? I was going to run the vacuum and pick up the clutter but that's it ;)
Second, are there any questions I should as this girl or anything she needs to know? She's pretty quiet on the phone. I've never met her, but my MIL recommended her and my MIL is THE MOST nervous, serious person when it comes to who watches her kids, so I already trust this girl. My older kids are really good listeners and I know they'll give her 30 minutes of hell (just showing off), then go to bed, LOL ;) I've got her coming over at 7pm tmrw and we're leaving about 7:45, so I figure that's enough time for her to get to know the kids, the kids get to know her, show her the house, give her the rules, show her how to use the t.v., and get her comfortable.
I'm leaving her our 2 friends cell phone numbers and my in-laws numbers in case of emergency. We don't have a cell, but the friends whose number I'm leaving her will be with us. My IL's are right down the street and she's already comfortable with them. Is this enough, is this okay? Anything I'm forgetting? I might even put the baby down before we leave (he goes to bed at 8pm anyway).
Is this right?
Our sitter is pretty quiet on the phone/in person as well, but she does a nice job. We had her come to the house and just spend some time with the kids for an hour before actually going out. We left her phone #'s of where we were going, cell #'s. I think you've got it covered.
I wouldn't worry too much about cleaning, but definitely put away the clutter so she can start with a "clean slate".
If you have any "rules" regarding cooking or food limitations for either the sitter or the kids, jot that down and point it out to her. The kids are going to have a great time with her, but remind them of the "house rules" before she arrives and you may want to jot a few down for her too!
We don't get help from my husband's family so we have a date night sitter (college student) and we LOVE her! My son will ask when "Miss Megan" is coming over to play.
The only other thing that you may want to do (we do it) is call the neighbors and let them know that you will be out for the evening and the sitter will be at the house- just in case!
I did an internet search for a baby sitter checklist and found many online. I printed one and filled it out for the first time that we left our little one with a sitter. It made me feel better knowing I had given her all the information I could in a nice format.
Meeting a babysitter for the first time is always going to be awkward especially if she is already shy. For me, we had the sitter come several times while we were at home before they got left alone. It helped us all get aquainted and the kids were comfortable getting to know her. They just played while I hid in the back room or outside in the garden. It was a better transition.
