Start Your Own Babysitting Business

Have you ever wanted to earn some extra money, but are too young to get a full job? Or do you just simply love to watch young children? Then this is the article for you!

Steps

Starting Your Business

  1. Get Convince Your Parents to Let You Babysit from your parents. This is most important, before you begin other steps! They may want to talk to you about the responsibilities and consequences first, or they may have concerns about your age and preparedness to care for someone else.
  2. Gather references and recommendations. Start out by encouraging your parents, friends, relatives and acquaintances to recommend you to anyone they know who needs a babysitter.
  3. Take a babysitting course. Red Cross is recommended, but really any well known course will do. Choose a course that is helpful and informative, and many parents will feel better about leaving their kids with you.
    • Use a search engine to search for "Red Cross Babysitters Training," "Safe Sitter", and other babysitting courses in your area. Safe sitter is recommended because it will teach you about more than just the medical side, and you get a certificate, safety kit, and a nice little manual that tells you everything you need to know.
  4. Choose a name for your business. You can also create some business cards (preferably typed up - that makes it look more professional!) to hand out to people.
  5. Choose the age range that you want to baby sit. If you think taking care of a younger child is too difficult, don't take that job. If you're too close in age to your clients, don't take that job either. It's important that you are comfortable and happy with the age range you have chosen; remember that it is never too late to change your mind.
  6. Decide what you will Charge for Babysitting. Charge the right amount of money, not too much or too little. Depending on your area and expertise, as well as the age of the child, your price should range between 5 and 20 dollars.
    • It also might be a good idea to find what others in your area with the same amount of experience are charging, so you can charge the same or a similar price as them. Example: you live in Chicago and all your friends who have the same amount of experience as you charge 8-10 dollars an hour for one child. So you should charge the same amount.
  7. Make sure you know how to gain control of a situation. Make sure ahead of time that one of your parents is going to be home, in case of an emergency. You need to know how to handle situations like choking, break ins, fires, natural disasters, or hazards in the clients home. It is unsafe to babysit without knowing the proper way to Handle a Babysitting Emergency.
  8. Make sure to Advertise Babysitting. Post fliers or make business cards. Use bright colors to get the parents' attention.
    • Be sure to include ages you will babysit, your phone number, and days or hours you would be available. Do not give out your address or full name yet! Some people may be looking for you for the wrong reasons!
    • Once you have printed all of those off, it's time to start advertising. Paste your fliers in the neighborhood or at your school, library, and so on, or hand them out to neighbors.
    • Consider creative ways to get your name known. Use blogs, cards, flyers, your logo on Valentine's Day candy, etc.
    • Don't over-advertise; pestering clients and potential clients is not professional.

Babysitting

  1. Wait for people to contact you. Stay active by offering your services to parents of children you know.
  2. Talk to the parents of the child ahead of time, to figure out things about their daily lives. This includes how to discipline the child, basic food and eating habits, and rules.
  3. Pay attention! Don't talk on the phone while the baby is playing. Watch them and babysit with care. This is exactly why you got the job, to watch the kids!
  4. Always keep the phone number of their parents by your side.
  5. Get a list of things that the child should eat, can't eat, and are allergic to. This is always good to know so that you can put these things out of reach of the child, who may look around.
  6. Be nice to the kids. Make them feel you are someone they can trust. This doesn't mean the kid does what ever she or he wants, be a little strict but not too strict! Play with them.

Tips

  • Know how to cook, clean and change diapers (nappies).
  • Write down all the rules, health, safety and other, as the parents give them to you. That way, you won't forget them and the parents will be reassured that you're not only listening but you're also recording for future reference.
  • Be responsible at all times. You are in charge of young people, so do not use this as an excuse to ignore them or fail to check on them.
  • Wear comfortable and presentable clothing.
  • Check with your parents that running your own business is okay. If they're uncomfortable about you doing this alone, suggest that you do it with a friend as well.
  • Exhibit a positive attitude. This will help parents feel reassured and they'll appreciate your professionalism.
  • Get infant and child CPR and First Aid certification. Parents will be more likely to hire someone who has these qualifications.
  • First time babysitting is easiest with kids you already know.
  • If you're under 16, it can helpful to bring along a parent or guardian for the initial interview with the people seeking babysitting. This reassures the other parents that your own parents are invested in your success and that you mean business, and it also protects you.
  • It would be good to meet the parent in a public place with assistance to know if it is a scam.
  • Make sure you have the parents phone number or email and make them have your.
  • Make sure your ready for this. It can be difficult. If aren't quite ready for babysitting you can try parent helping which is when you watch the child while the parent is doing jobs or chores.
  • While playing with the child be careful not to give them something they may get hurt on.
  • Don't be scared to be strict with the child and don't let the child get away with bad things.
  • If you are in the 11-14 age group try doing this with a friend, just in case something goes wrong and you need an extra set of hands.

Start off with a neighbor or close friend, maybe even a relative like your aunt or uncle, if they have children.

  • Always have something planned for the children to do. If you keep them occupied, they will want you back. Be fun AND responsible. Make sure you have them to bed in time, follow all rules, and always clean up. If they have fun then you make more money. (Also I have a prize box that they can pick something out of when they are good. Which is every time because well I'm not gonna tell a kid that they were horrible).

Warnings

  • Do not do any of the above without parental consent. Some people may be looking for your phone number and address for the wrong reasons!
  • Don't have friends over while you are babysitting; it's very unprofessional and takes your focus away from the children.
  • Have your parent/guardian meet other parents with you, don't just talk to anyone.
  • Do not start babysitting unless you are experienced enough! You don't want to start babysitting, have an emergency happen and not know what to do
  • Please be sure to be careful and safe while doing this.

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