What can I expect my sitter to do?Updated 9 months ago
Evening and overnight babysitting
Rest assured you don't have to get your children to sleep before your sitter arrives. All our sitters are experienced childcare professionals and are very happy to read favourite stories and finish off the bedtime routine.
For early evening bookings (starting well before bedtime), we understand that some parents may require their sitter to carry out additional duties above and beyond simple babysitting. For example, if you'd like your sitter to prepare and clear away after a meal or oversee bath time and get your children ready for bed, please discuss and agree this directly with them in advance. It's important that you're happy that your sitter has understood your requirements and is, in your opinion, capable of what you expect of them.
For overnight bookings, if there are any additional requirements that you'd like your sitter to attend to, either during the night or in the morning, then these should be outlined and agreed with your sitter prior to the start of the booking.
Daytime childcare
During daytime bookings, your sitter's main priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of your children within your home or holiday accommodation. They'll engage your children in age-appropriate activities, such as reading, drawing, colouring, playing board games, or crafting, while fostering interaction and fun.
It's important to note that Sitters childcarers are not expected to undertake household chores while caring for your children.
Food preparation
During daytime bookings, it's reasonable to expect your sitter to handle simple food preparation for the children, such as making sandwiches or reheating food in the microwave. They'll also take care of clearing away after the meal. However, it's essential to provide clear instructions beforehand to ensure smooth coordination. If you have specific preferences or require additional tasks, communicate these clearly to your sitter. Keep in mind that they may not be familiar with your kitchen equipment, so clarity is key to avoid any misunderstandings.
For babies and toddlers who require formula milk, if you prefer not to prepare bottles in advance, make sure to provide clear instructions to the sitter regarding milk preparation. This ensures that your child's feeding routine is followed accurately and gives you peace of mind while you're away.
Care outside of your home or accommodation
Sitters' services are primarily for your home environment. We do find from time to time that parents need more from the service, for example school drop-off and pick-ups, or taking their children to a park.
It's important that you check with your sitter prior to their arrival, that they are happy and able to accommodate other tasks outside of care in the home so that everyone is confident and comfortable.
It may be that they do not have the relevant insurance or experience (for example; asking them to take a child swimming, since being able to swim is not part of our selection process requirements).