When a babysitter comes for an evening, a short, clear note can make all the difference. It saves you from explaining everything at the door in a rush, and it gives the babysitter something to check if they are unsure. A note also helps you to think through the evening before you leave. It does not need to be long or perfectly written. A few practical lines, kept somewhere easy to find, are worth more than a long list that nobody reads.
Start with the basics: your mobile number, the address where you will be, and the number of a nearby friend or relative who could help if you cannot be reached. Add the address of the house, in case anyone needs to say where they are. Write down where the torch, the spare keys and the children's spare clothes are kept. Show the babysitter how the front door locks, how the heating works and how to use the television remote.
The routine of the evening
Describe the evening in the order it will happen. What time the children eat, what they usually have, when they brush their teeth and when they go to bed. Mention favourite bedtime stories, the light that stays on and which soft toy has to be in the bed. These small details are what children pay attention to. When the routine matches theirs, they settle much more easily.
Tell the babysitter what the children are allowed to do and what is best left until you return. For example, how much screen time is normal on an evening, whether a biscuit before bed is fine, and where the children may play. Be honest about any little quirks, such as a child who likes to call out for a glass of water. This helps the babysitter to respond calmly rather than guess.
Finish with something friendly. A line to say thank you, and maybe a note of when you will be back. Leave a snack and a drink for the babysitter, and show where the kettle and mugs are. When you return, read what the babysitter has written about the evening, and ask the children how it went. A good note builds trust, and makes it easy for the babysitter to come back again.
