Babysitting

Nobody else can provide your child with the love, care and affection that you can offer. But you may need to arrange for your child to be cared for by a third person, especially when its grandparents cannot look after it when you have things to do. Before you decide who to hire, you should consider your child's needs, your own needs and the time this person will spend with your child (from a few hours a week to 8 hours a day). When you take these factors into account, you will be ready to accept candidates!

The Right Choice
The choice of this person, therefore, is very important as, when it's time to leave your child in the supervision of another, it should above all be someone you trust. Begin by asking your friends and your family environment. You can contact offices or ads but be cautious and always get recommendations from others who have worked with these people. Try to find someone who has raised children of their own or has been working with children professionally. No matter who you hire however, make sure they undergo tests for tuberculosis or other infectious diseases. Your pediatrician will advise you on what to do. The most important thing is for the persons who will care for your child to love for what they do, have relevant experience and communication skills.
 

When the time of the interview comes:
•    Firstly, let this person play with your child and watch how they get on together.
•    Learn why they need the job. Are they in urgent need of a job regardless of what? Do they love kids and understand that it is a job that requires patience and time?
•    Ask for her qualifications. She does not need to have a degree in childcare but should speak Greek correctly, be versatile to motivate the child to develop its verbal skills, have experience with children and know how to handle them.
•    Ask how she would handle a situation with a child crying madly, without stopping.
•    Watch how she feeds and changes your baby.
•    Ask if she has attended first aid courses. If not, if she would be willing to attend such.

After the interview ends and she leaves the house, ask yourself some questions:
•    Did she arrive on time for the interview? If she was late, you can assume that she can be late again.
•    Was her appearance appropriate? Clean clothes, nails, hair. If it was not at your first meeting, she will probably take even less care once you hire her. This will have an impact on the daily care of your child, which may not be meticulous
•    Did you like her personality? Do you feel that you can communicate with her? Does she have humour?
•    Did your child seem to like her? How did she behave towards your child? Did she seem patient and show an interest in your child?

After a positive impression at the interview and good recommendations, and before taking your final decision on a permanent cooperation, the next step is to call her again at your home for a trial session. It's worth it. Take one day off from your job so that you can be present there and observe what she does. Also, tell her some basic things, such as the child's routine and any works required. Give her the opportunity to become familiar with your child and with your house. Keep in mind that your child will probably get to know her when you're not around. Therefore, leave them alone for a while during the day. But as long as you're around, keep your eyes open. Finally, follow your instinct. If something tells you that this person is not right for your child, then maybe it is better to look for another.

Be clear as to how you wish for your child to be care for. Explain to her:
•    That it is not right to hit or shake the child.
•    That she should never leave the child unsupervised
•    How often you want her to check on your child when it is sleeping

About other persons coming to the house

So, you have decided on the right person and the first day when you will leave the child with her comes. What you should do:
•    Give them time to play on their own for a while before leaving.
•    Tell her again what you expect about how she should care for your child (when and how to put it to sleep, activities and games, cleaning, mealtimes).
•    To facilitate the job of the person who takes care of your child and to feel safe while you are away, do not forget to mention where you are going, when you expect to return and how she can contact you.
•    Insist that she should not hesitate to contact you in any case.
•    Leave a list with emergency phone numbers by the phone (fire service, police, poison control centre, nearby hospital, taxi).
•    Finally, leave your personal information by the phone (name of the child, your fixed and mobile telephone number, address, the child's health booklet).

Help your child to adapt to the new circumstances

Now that your child's daily routine will change, make sure to talk to it about this change. It may help to read a book that deals with this change together. Introduce it to the person who will be taking care of it while you are away and spend some time with them before leaving. Below, you can find some useful tips for a painless transition!
•    On the first day, schedule to have some time to stay with your child and the person who will be taking care of it, for as long as needed. When it is time to leave, make sure your child is having a good time and repeat what she should be paying attention to, to her.
•    Tell it that you will return very soon.
•    Tell it that you are leaving. Do not disappear unnoticed. The time of separation can be difficult for you and more so for your child, but this will help it understand the transition better and worry less.
•    Make a routine about how you leave. Say and do the same things every day.
•    Call the person caring for your child if your plans change.
•    Make a routine of what you do when you return, give it special attention.


From the editorial team of babyzone.gr with the collaboration of Amalia Kapoulea,
Psychotherapist, Mental Health Consultant 
at the Support Line “Mazi gia to Paidi” 115 25 
(www.babyzone.gr)