Quick answer: A babysitter information sheet is a one-page summary your sitter can read in seconds. It should list your phone numbers, your home address, a nearby neighbor, your pediatrician, the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222), your baby’s birthdate, weight and allergies, plus feeding, sleep and bedtime routines and when you will be home.
Leaving your baby with a sitter for the first time is a big step. A clear babysitter information sheet makes it easier for everyone.
This guide from First-Year Family Organizers walks through what to write down, what to show your sitter in person, and where to keep the sheet so it actually gets used.
What should be on a babysitter information sheet?
A babysitter information sheet should cover four things: how to reach you, who to call in an emergency, your baby’s basic details, and today’s routine. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) lists parents’ and neighbors’ phone numbers, the pediatrician, fire, police, the Poison Help line and your home address in its babysitting reminders.
Here is a checklist you can copy onto one page:
- Parents’ names and cell phone numbers, and where you will be
- What time you are leaving and when you expect to be back
- Your full home address, including apartment number and any gate or door code
- A nearby neighbor or relative who can come over quickly, with a phone number
- Pediatrician’s name and office phone number
- Emergency numbers: 911 for fire, rescue and police, and the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222
- Your baby’s full name, birthdate and current weight
- Allergies and any specific needs
- Feeding plan: what, how and about when
- Sleep plan: nap and bedtime routine, and where your baby sleeps
- Diapering notes and where supplies are kept
- House rules: visitors, pets, screens, rooms that are off limits
Which emergency phone numbers does a babysitter need?
A babysitter needs your cell numbers, a nearby neighbor, your pediatrician’s office, 911 for fire, rescue and police, and the Poison Help line. The Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
| Contact | What to write down | Why the sitter needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | Both cell numbers and where you will be | First call for most questions |
| Neighbor or relative | Name, phone number, how close they live | Fast in-person help if you cannot be reached |
| Pediatrician | Doctor’s name and office phone number | Health questions that are not emergencies |
| Fire, rescue and police | 911 | Any life-threatening emergency |
| Poison Help line | 1-800-222-1222 | Free, confidential help 24 hours a day if your baby may have swallowed something |
| Home address | Street address, apartment number, cross street | Sitters often do not know your address by heart when a dispatcher asks |
HRSA says callers to the Poison Help line speak with a specially trained nurse, pharmacist or doctor at their local poison center. Put the number on the sheet and save it in your own phone too.
What should a babysitter know about your baby’s feeding and sleep routine?
Your sitter should know what your baby eats, about when the next feeding is due, how you put your baby down to sleep, and where. Write the routine in the order it happens, in short steps, so the sitter can follow it at 7 PM without calling you.
For feeding, note whether your baby takes breast milk or formula, where it is stored, how you prepare and warm a bottle, and how your baby shows hunger. Add the time of the last feeding before you walk out the door.
For sleep, be specific. The AAP’s guide to safe sleep says babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. It also says to use a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards, and to keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleep area.
A sitter may have learned something different, so put it in writing: “Back to sleep, in the crib, nothing else in the crib.” Then list the soothing steps that work for your baby, such as a song, a pacifier or a dark room.
If you already log feedings and naps, the routine section is quick to fill in. Our post on how to organize your baby’s first year covers what to track in the newborn weeks.
What health and allergy details should you write down for a sitter?
Write down your baby’s birthdate, current weight, any allergies and any specific needs. The AAP advises telling your sitter about allergies or specific needs, and leaving each child’s birthdate and weight, which it notes are useful for medical purposes.
Update the weight after each checkup. Babies grow fast in the first year, and the number on last month’s sheet may already be out of date. The notes you bring home from a well-child visit are a good source. See what to write down before your baby’s first pediatrician visit for a simple way to capture them.
If your baby takes any medication, ask your pediatrician what a sitter should and should not do, and write those instructions down exactly as given. When in doubt, the sitter should call you first.
Want the pages already laid out? The Daycare & Babysitter Information Binder is an organizational workbook with 12 paired arrival and care-session records, so each time someone watches your baby there is a place to write what the caregiver needs to know and what happened while you were out.
What should you show a babysitter before you leave?
Before you leave, walk your sitter through the house and show where things are, not just what is written down. The AAP recommends having the sitter meet your children ahead of time to learn their routines, and touring the home to point out fire escape routes and potential problem areas.
- Where the information sheet is posted
- Exits and fire escape routes
- The crib or bassinet, and how your baby is put down
- Bottles, milk or formula, and how you prepare a feeding
- Diapers, wipes, spare clothes and the changing spot
- A flashlight and first aid supplies
- Anything that is tricky or off limits, such as stairs, a pet or a sticky door lock
Where should you keep a babysitter information sheet?
Keep the babysitter information sheet in one obvious spot that never changes, such as the refrigerator door or the kitchen counter next to the phone charger. Tell the sitter where it is, and point to it during the tour, so nobody has to search during a stressful moment.
How often should you update a babysitter information sheet?
Update your babysitter information sheet whenever something on it changes, and give it a quick read before each new sitter comes. In the first year that usually means after every well-child visit, when your baby’s weight changes, and any time the feeding or sleep routine shifts.
Babysitter information sheet: frequently asked questions
How long should a babysitter information sheet be?
One page is ideal. Put your address and phone numbers at the top, health details in the middle and tonight’s routine at the bottom, so the most urgent information is the easiest to find.
Is a babysitter information sheet a legal or medical document?
No. It is a plain reference page for a caregiver. It does not grant consent or authorization for medical treatment, and it is not an official medical record. Ask your pediatrician’s office what they need from you if someone else may bring your baby in.
How old should a babysitter be?
The AAP’s babysitting reminders say a sitter should be at least 13 years old and mature enough to handle common emergencies. The AAP also suggests checking references and asking whether the sitter has first aid and CPR training.
Should I text the information or print it?
Do both if you can. A text is easy to send ahead of time, and a printed page on the refrigerator still works when a phone is locked, lost or out of battery.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Babysitting Reminders
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): The Poison Help Line
This article is for general information and organization. It is not medical advice. Always follow the guidance of your child’s pediatrician and care team.
