Babysitting During COVID-19: Information for Parents and Babysitters

Babysitters have always been in high demand during the summer months. Parents often prefer in-home care over utilizing day care centers for the summer months and children usually prefer to stay home with a babysitter as well. If you are a teen hoping to babysit during COVID-19 or a parent needing to hire a babysitter, follow these steps to stay safe and healthy.

Steps for Parents:

1. Limit the number of babysitters that come into your home. If possible, hire the same babysitter for the entire summer.
2. Do not have a babysitter in your home if anyone in your home is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell.
3. Make sure your babysitter has access to hand soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products. Demonstrate how you prefer surfaces and toys be cleaned and sanitized after use.
4. Provide specific guidance on outdoor activities that may include other children in the neighborhood or shared, public places such as neighborhood parks.
5. Follow the CDC guidelines and create a household plan of action. Share this plan with your babysitter.

Steps for Babysitters:

1. Always make sure you are available, will be safe, are able, and have your parent’s permission before accepting a babysitting job. To learn other important questions to ask before accepting a babysitting job, watch Questions to Ask Before You Babysit.
2. Contact the employer immediately if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell.
3. Both you and the children should wash your hands frequently especially before meals and after active play. Always assist younger children with handwashing and make it fun by singing songs as you count to 20 seconds.
4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth and always cover coughs and sneezes with either a tissue or the inside of your elbow. If you use a tissue, put it in the trash immediately after use and sanitize or wash hands immediately.
5. Follow the employer’s directions on cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and toys. Prevent poisoning by keeping soaps, hand sanitizers, and disinfectants out of the way of children.
6. The employer may prefer you and the children wear a cloth face covering. Cloth face coverings should not be used on children under the age of 2 because of the danger of suffocation.
7. Follow the employer’s rules on outside play to safely practice social distancing with other children in the neighborhood.

It is important for both babysitters and parents to know that anyone that comes into your home could bring germs and be exposed to your family’s germs. Following these steps can help you minimize potential risk of infection and stay safe and healthy.