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The Pocket Guide to Babysitting.Children's Bureau (DREW), Washington, D.C.DREW-OHD-74-75[74]49p.Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government PrintingOffice, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Stock Number1791-00197, $0.70)

MF-$0.76 HC-$1.95 PLUS POSTAGE*Adolescents; *Child Care; Childhood Needs; FirstAid; *Guides; *Homemaking Skills; *Parents; Play;Safety*Babysitting

ABSTRACTThis booklet, designed as a convenient guide for

young baby-sitters, covers the essentials of providing good childcare and establishing a good relat&onship with parents. There arebrief discussions on d,:aling with parents and the sitter's limitswithin the home; other sections provide a guide to: (1) getting alongwith and protecting the children; (2) games and toys appropriate foryounger children; (3)hints on feeding and dressing young children;(4) common problem situations and easy ways to handle them; (5)

putting the child to bed; (6) common and serious injuries andillnesses which may arise, including some simple first aidprocedures. (ED)

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CI U S DEPARTNIENT OF HEALTH.EDUCATION & WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

LW EDUCATION'NIS OCCuINENT HAS SEEN REPRODuCED EXACTLv AS RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR OPGANI:AT TON ORMIN*TING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONSSTATED DO NOT NEcESSAkiLv REPRESENT OFFICIAL NATIONAI I IL*, arrE OFEDUCATION "OstTION OP 4k.ICY

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Welcometo the 1,000,000When you Jecide to become a babysitter,you are joining a group of over one millionteenagers enjoying the trust of Americinparents and the many agencies andbusinesses dedicated to the care anddevelopment or well-being of infants andchildren. It is a serious job and one whichcan be fun.

With training and practice most youngpeople can become first rate sitters. Takingcare of young children is a natural jobfor teenagers because they usually likeyoungsters and often have a real knackfor playing with them. Also, most childrenlike being with young people.

Safety first

If we had to sum up the most importantpart of your job in one word, this wouldbe it: Safety. The children you care formust be kept away from harm. Later on wewill have more to say about this. Fourother points to keep in mind right at thestart are these:

When you become a sitter you take theplace of the parent. This does not

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mean that you become the parent.You must handle the child to the best of

your ability according to the rules setdown by the parent.

You yourself are a special human beingwith special skills and ways of yourown. It pays to understand yourself asa sitter, the things that work for youand the things that don't work.

As a sitter, you're a pretty importantperson in the life of the child. He maywatch you closely, and copy fromyou. Be sure you're setting a goodexample.

The sitter is not the parent

Of course, you know well that you aresubstituting for a parent when you take ona sitter's jobyou don't try to become aparent for the hours you are with thechild. You can't love him just like theparent does. You can't punish him likesome parents might (spanking, forexample). And you can't be responsiblefor some of the not-so-nice habits andways that a few children learn long beforeyou became their sitter!

In other words there are real limits to yourjob. As you are not the parent, you alsoare not nurse, doctor, or housekeeper.Once in a while you run across a parentwho forgets this. Then it may be up to youto let the family know about the limitsto your job. Sometimes this may not be soeasy. But you probably know by now thatevery job has its problems, and child careis no exception.

Do as the parents asked you to do

This is one of your chief obligations as ababysitter. Even though you are not theparent, you must try to treat the child verymuch in the same way that the parentwould.

Th:s is important because small childrencan get upset if grownups handle themin different ways. Children get used todoing things in certain ways and accordingto rules. When someone comes along andchanges all the rules, it's as if the worldhas suddenly changed. As you know, theworld of a child is a very much smaller

place than your world or the world ofparents.

In order to do like the parent does, youhave to find out from the mother or father:

What the child is really like.How the home is actually run.What the parent wants done with the

child regarding bedtime, snacks,enjoyable games, etc.

Of course, this is a big order, and no sittercan be expected to know every last littlething about the child or the home. Inthis handbook we will :nention a numberof important things you will have to lookout for. Even though we will try to giveyou a few hints on how to handle differentsituations, in every case you must askwhether it fits in with the special home andthe special child you happen to be caringfor.

Use your own know-how

What about yourself, your special skillsand abilities? You're probably the bestexpert on that. Maybe youtre the carefuland quiet type who does best with onechild at a time. Or maybe you have a realgift for working with older and pretty activechildren, but small babies make you abit nervous.

Understand your own preferences andmake use of your own brand of know-how.If you have special talents, be sure to putthem to work. Perhaps you're a bornstoryteller, or maybe you can pick out atune on the guitar. Do you know how tofold newspaper into George Washingtonhats or rowboats? When you were littledid you learn songs or riddles with handmovements? It may not seem like a greatdeal to you, but children can get a big

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kick out of watching and trying thesethings with you.

You have to protect yourself aswell as the child

For your own sake it's important to letyour own parents know exactly where youwill be when you take on a sitting job.Also, they should know when they canexpect you home. Whenever possible, yourown parents should meet and get to knowtie new families you sit for.

Sometimes people advertise for sitters inplaces such as schools and Y's. Also, yousometimes run across ads in laundromats,supermarkets, drug stores, or club houses.Be very careful when you answer suchadr... Try to find out about the person whoput in the ad. It is often best to ask yourparents to do this for you, or you canfind out if any of your friends have eversat for this person. If you can't make surethat the job is one you will be comfortableIn, pass it up. Babysitters are in muchdemand; you will have no trouble findinganother opportunity. Above all, do not gointo a strange neighborhood or into anapartment or house which is new to youunless you have a parent or friend to takeyou to the door and meet with the parentrequesting the sitter. Also, never agree totake a car ride with a strange person tothe place where you are supposed to doyour sitting.

During nighttime sitting, it's a good ideato lock the front and back doors of thehouse. in case you have a visitor, makevery sure who it is before you decide toopen the door.

Another precaution for your safety and thechild's: Do not take a sitting job whenyots are feeling sick.

Special pointers for girl sitters

Whenever you have a late sitting job, aparentusually the fathershould seeyou back to your home. This is importanteven if you live only a few blocks away.

Some parents don't mind if you havefriends on the job. But usually they expect

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these to be girl friends and not boy friends.Be sure to ask the parents how theyfeel about this matter and agree on "houserules" before your job begins. Whetheror not you have other teenagers with you,one thing you have to be very clear about:

* *YOUR MAIN JOB IS

TO WATCH THE CHILD

If you are permitted to have company,never leave the child with themevenfor a minute. Remember you took on theresponsibility. It cannot be delegated tosomeone else. Also do not take the childto a place his parents have not OK'd inadvance. If you're the kind of girl whojust can't help getting into those long,long talks with friends, then it might bebest for you to do your sitting by yourself.

One last point: Some men forgetoralmost forgetthat sitters are sitters. Theytry to treat them like girl friends insteadof babysitters. You'll probably never runinto such a man, but if you do, turn thechild ovsr to him and leave promptly. Ifyou think you may have misunderstoodand he was only being friendly, it still paysto be on your guard. Don't accept laterjob offers in a household where you havebeen uncomfortable about a male visitoror member of the family.

Special pointers for bay sitters

More and more boys are being hired assitters. They're great favorites with childrenand also with many parents. You canunderstand why mothers and fathers,when they go away for the evening, feelsafe in having "a man around the house."Boys can be very good with groups ofchildren and usually have lots of energyfor playground or group activities.

Young men often are big eaters. If you

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have refrigerator privileges, try not to eatthe parents out of house and home. It'sokay to make a sandwich, but don't eatthe whole ham.

Also, try not to become too active ortoo rough with young children. Manyyoungsters will want you to whoop it upwith them for as long as you can take it,but too much roughhousing can be hardon small bodies. Sometimes too, unlessquieting activities, such as storytelling aretried with the child, he may be too excitedto go to sleep at bedtime. Save thespecial stunts for fun with your own pals.

Some men and boysand it doesn'tdepend on their agehave a special needto let the world know they're superman.But children know you're a male and nota female. You don't have to go out ofyaw way to prove it to them. Be especiallycareful about your languagethis goesfor girl sitters as well the children yousit with may know some bad words butyou don't want to encourage their use orto teach any new words. Also, you won'tkeep the job long if the parents notice anew vocabulary cropping up.

Don't be afraid to be gentle and lovingwith children. They expect and needtender handling, whether the sitter isyoung or old, a boy or a girl.

Getting Alongwith ParentsThere are as many different kinds ofparents as there sre different kinds ofchildren. Some are strict, some are easygoing. Some tell the sitter exactly whatthey expect of him, others leave thingspretty much up to the sitter.

In getting along with different kinds ofparents, it will help if you have certainrules of your own. Here are a fewsuggestions for you to consider.

Put it in writing.This is the best way to rememberinstructions. The following are especially

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important and should always be inwriting:

Phone numbers where a parent can bereached while the sitter is in the home.

Phone number where a doctor can bereached in case of emergency.

Phone number of special emergencyservicessuch as rescue squad, theand police departments.

You might want to make a list of theimportant information you should alwayshave at hand. Some of the things you willwant to include are listed below and onpage 10.

THINGS TO WRITE DOWN

Important phone numbers:

Whore parents can be reached

Where doctor can be reached

Close friend or neighbor

Police Department Dial "operator"

Fire Department Dial "operator"

Spool& Information

Bedtime

Meal (or snack) time

THINGS TO KNOW

Names and nicknames of children

When parents are expected to return

TV rules for children

Sleeping arrangements

Where clothing, toys and special equipmentare kept

Favorite stories, game3, and activities

Where children play

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Dangerous or "off limits" areas in houseor yard

Special habits or problems of children(fear of the dark, etc.)

Sitter's privileges regarding TV, stereo,refrigerator

De clear about money matters.If the parent forgets to bring this up aheadof time, then you will have to do so. Lethim know what your rates are. If youcharge time and a half after a certainhour, you will have to make this clear.When the job is over, present your bi:ibefore leaving the house.

Don't monopolize the telephone.If you spend most of your time on thetelephone, this makes you a phone addictand not a babysitter. Also, somebodymight want to phone you or leave animportant message for the parents. So tryto keep the telephone free for receivingcalls.

Frankness is the best policy. Let theparents know what the score is. Reportthings that go wrong, accidents, orhappenings that you think parents shouldknow about.

Don't be afraid to own up to your ownmistakes.Most parents will respect you for this.Suppose you lost your temper, or supposeyou just couldn't handle a child so a certainsituation. Perhaps you have brokensomething. Your best bet is to let theparent know, to talk about it.

If you don't know, ask.May you have a visitor on the Job? Areyou permitted to take a snack from therefrigerator? Will the parents expect youto phone and remind them if they do notreturn after a certain hour? How longcan you play the TV without disturbingthe neighbors? Is there equipment (stereo,taw, recorder) that is not to be used bychildren or the sitter? If you have doubts,parents will appreciate it if you ask aboutthese matters.

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Be clear about added duties.Parents sometimes expect sitters to doextra chores, such as cleaning up, washingdishes, or even ironing. Have it clearlyunderstood what jobs you do or don't do.And remember: Your main job is to be ababysitter, to keep the child safe andsecure. All other chores come s3cond tothis.

Be responsible; be polite. This shows inmany ways:

By dressing neatly and sensibly.By speaking in a friendly way to parents

and children.By coming on time.By letting parents know as far ahead of

time as possible in case you get sickor can't keep your engagement.

Getting Alongwith ChildrenBefore we mention some of the manythings that sitters have to know about, it'sa good idea to say a little about whatchildren are like in general.

No two are alike

All children are different (as if you didn'tknow!), and the good babysitter is theone who has a keen eye for the differences.

Just to know that you're going to bewatching a 4-year-old doesn't tell youvery much. He may be a fast or a slowgrowing 4-year-old.

1. Children can be ahead and behind atthe same time. Let's take Nancy as anexample. She's 5 and big for her age.When you meet her she seems verybright, talks a lot, knows many words andasks a lot of intelligent questions. Butwhen you get to kri,v, her better, youfind out that Nancy isn't very good atoutdoor games, has trouble in gettingalong with other children, and sometimesmakes a big fuss in separating from hermother. In other words, Nancy is aheadin some ways but behind in others.

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2. All children learn, but not the samethings. Mark and Tommy live in the sameblock, bot:1 are 6 years old, and playtogether. Neighbors keep saying how muchthey seem alike, "just like brothers."But when you sit for Mark or Tommy youfind out that no matter huw alike they mayseem, they,are both unique persons.

They're both bright and active but not inthe same way. Mark is blunt. He tells youexactly what he thinks. He never asks forhelp, even when he really needs it, andhis main interest right now Is in buildingrailroads and space stations.

Tommy asks a lot of questions and alwayswants to know what you think. He's verypolite about asking for help, and his chiefinterest is in animals. He knows moreabout horses and dogs than you do. Eventhough Mark and Tommy are quite a bitalike, they have learned different thingsabout the world, and different ways ofgetting along with people, including baby-sitters.

There's usually a reason

Of course we can't always figure out thereason, but behind all the strange orunusual things that a child might do thereis often a very definite cause. Peoplewho take care of childrenincludingprofessional people like teachers, nurses,and psychologistsfind that they do abetter job when they try to look for thereasons that cause behavior.

This doesn't mean that whenever you facea problem with a child you have to sit downand think about it for a half hour. Thiswon't work. Also there are some thingsthat may endanger a child and theserequire prompt, definite, quiet action.Other things can be ignored because theywill pass if you don't make a fuss.

But as you get to know a child you cansometimes figure out what makes him actthe way he does. This can be very useful toyou. It will make your job more interestingand satisfying. It will also sometimes giveyou a chance to be of real help to a child,and this can be one of the most wonderfulthings about babysitting.

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Words, words, words

Most 3-year-olds are beginning to talk insentences, and kerning quickly. Everyday they pick up new words. Every daythey discover new and exciting thingsabout the world, and as they grow older,children learn to put these discoveries intowords.

It's important for all grownups to helpchildren lea: new words, to help them totalk, and to answer their many questions.When sitting with very small children, it'susually best to avoid "baby talk." But eveninfants too young to understand what yousay benefit from being talked to and canappreciate your friendly tone of voice.

Try to be a good and honest teacher. Ifthe child asks questions which are up tothe parent to answer, then direct the childto his mother or father. And let the parentknow about it.

Always on the go

Children learn not only through words; theyalso learn with their bodies.

Most children don't want to be watchersor lookers-on. They want to be doers.Whenever you can, try to give the childa chance to bring up his own ideas, andthen to carry them out. Sometimes sittersbring new ideas into a child's play to tryto make the game even better. This Is fineif the child is getting bored, but it candistract him if he isn't. When the child isplaying happily, the sitter should leavewell enough alone.

Children love to touch, feel, smell andtaste things. They try over and over againto find out what things are really like. Thisis why small babies are always puttingthings into their mouths, and why olderchildren are such great explorers.

You can't always allow a child to do whathe wants with his body, because what hewants to do may be dangerous. Sometimesyou can suggest other things to do. Andsometimes you can help the child learnthrough words, through looking and talking

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and listening, and not with his body.

Children have important feelings

Everybody has feelings. This includesbabies 9 months old, as well as people 90years old. It includes the babysitter, too.

As we get older, we learn to talk about ourfeelings. We don't bite or kick or yell.instead, we use words to let the otherperson know how we feel. (Sometimes thefeelings are so strong that we forget to usewords, and end up by kicking or yellinganyway.)

It isn't always easy for children to bring outtheir feelings. Grownups have to help them.We do this by helping the child find goodways to bring out his feelings. Usually thisis through words ?And during play. Othersections of this handbook will give yousome ideas about helping children bringout their feelings in ways that are goodfor children and good for grownups.

How about your own feelings? As a sitter,certain things are bound to make youupset or angry or worried. You have a rightto talk about these feelings with theparents of the children you sit for, and alsowith your own mother, father and friends.But while you are with a child, you must becomforting, loving, and protective. Untilthe job is over. do your best to put awayany hurt, irritation or fear you may feelbecause, right now, you are responsiblefor his care. Generally, you can trust yourinstincts when deciding how to respond tohimif, of course, you like yourself andthe children you are caring for. A youngperson with any doubts about these twomatters should find work other thanbabysitting.

Sometimes you can run across one childwho stirs up angry feelings in you, a childthat you just don't get along with. In thiscase, your best solution is to let the parentsknow that you don't consider yourself thebest sitter for their child.

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Keep Them SafeKeep Them SoundYour most important job as a sitter is towatch over the physical safety of yourchildren. This means that you must keepthem away from harm. A general rule:"Never leave a young toddler alone evenfor a minute." (former Chairman ofAmerican Academy of Pediatrics,Committee on Accident Prevention)

Of course, the best way to do this is toremove dangers and keep accidents fromhappening in fho first place.

So, the first e is: Safety through preven-tion. in other words, don't wait for thingsto happen. Be on top of the situation aheadof time.

The following sections list some hints onsafety. We are giving quite a lot ofinformation, because we think you'll wantto know what to look for and what to dojust in case.

But this doesn't mean that, as a sitter, youalways have to expect the worst. Afterall, most children are pretty strong andsturdy. They aren't made of sugar candy,so they don't melt or fall apart at the firstbang or scratch. They do get into thingsand need to be watched closelya bettername for babysitter probably would bebaby watcher because you really don't domuch sitting when children are awake.

Check on danger zones

A home isn't a big boobytrap, but peoplein the house can have a lot of :ciaents.Here are some things to look out for:

In the kitchen, make sure that childrenstay away from hot stoves, hot electricalappliances, and cords. Wipe up water orgrease right after it's spilled. If a glassbreaks, wipe up with wet paper towelingand put the pieces in a paper bag marked

See Children's Bureau publication. "Young Childrenand Accidents in the .Home" DHEW PublicationNo. (OHD) 74-34

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"broken glass." Sharp knives are foradults; keep them out of reach of children.Turn handles of hot pans to the back of thestove so they won't be pulled out byexploring fingers. Check to see that gasjets are turned off. If you smell gas, opena window and call the parents. They maytell you to call the fire department or gascompany immediately. If, for some reason,you cannot reach the parent make thecalls on your own.

Nothing delights a child more than a fire,but he should watch it and stay away fromit. Never, never, allow a child to play witha match.

Most homes have small machines thatwhirl and slice. Fingers can be hurt ifallowed to touch a revolving machine orany electrical appliance with moving parts.Keep children away from cleaning materialsstored in cabinets or under the kitchensink. In the living room and bedrooms pickup pins, needles, and other sharp objectsand place them in a container out of reach.Babies and small children do not realizetheir dangers.

Open windows and balconies and upstairsrailings are always dangerous. Keep smallchildren away from any area where a badfall could occur.

Of course, electric sockets and outlets canbe poked Intowith shocking results. Ifthese are not closed with a plastic safe-guard, you will have to keep a constant eyeon the child. If a child is playing by himselfbehind a baby gate, always look into thesituation when things get "too quiet." Inthe bathroom, the medicine chest oftenholds razor blades, powerful medicines,

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aspirin, cosmetics, and small but sharptools. Each is dangerous in the hands ofchildren. If after all your precautions, thechild gets into something that may bedangerous, act promptly and quietly andwith encouraging reassurances if the childbecomes frightened or aware of danger.

If the parents want you to bathe the baby,they must tell you exactly how to do it.When bathing a child remember to test thewater. Very hot water can burn young skin,and a small child can drown in less than6 inches of water. Never leave a youngchild alone in a tub of water, even for aminute. If the telephone or doorbell rings,remove the child fron the tub, wrap himwith a towel, place the child in his cribwith the sides up, or carry him with youbefore answering. Wipe water off the floor.Don't allow children to run in the bathroom.

Sometimes small children lock themselvesin the bathroom. This can be very scary,for the child as well as the sitter. Usuallyit is best not to let a young child (under 7or 8) go into the bathroom unless you arewith him.

In dressing children after a bath or chang-ing a baby's diaper, gather up all pins youmay have removed and put them in a highplace. Be sure they can't be reached bychildren who climb. Sitters generally shouldrefuse to give medicineseven aspirin orcough syrup. But, if these things are to beused at the parent's direction for anyreason, be sure you understand thecorrect dosage and how to give themedication. After use put them back in alocked or very high place. (Be sure to tellthe parents where to find articles you haveput away.) On the stairways, keep thesteps free of toys that can be tripped over.Hold on to the banister when carrying achild; in going up stairs walk in back, ingoing down, walk in front of the toddlerwho Is learning to use steps.

If you're watching a small baby and thereis a stairway nearby, it should be blockedoff with a gate. You can also use a heavypiece of furniture. But make sure it cannotbe shoved down the stairs by the baby!

If there is a basement, keep the doorclosed.

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If you're going to spend time with childrenout of doors, then here are some otherdanger zones:

In the garage or storage shed, there aremany things #.hat can catch fire. So oncemore: no ma:chest Also, play away fromempty (or full) gas cans, paint buckets,rusty nails, sawn mowers, and sharp orpointed tools, like rakes and spades. In thebackyard, check climbing equipment forsturdiness and the ground for holes, glass,nails, stones. etc. Direct children to a saferpart of the yard, or put barriers around thehazards. Block off outside basement stepsor play away from them. Backyards cancontain some dangerous objects. A teeter-totter, for example, can come down on achild's head. Swings can be pushed toohigh or cometoo close to children standingon the ground. Tops of sliding boards makedangerous places to fall fromand fenceor tree climbing also can result in falls.Always stay with children playing out ofdoors. If there is a swimming or wadingpool, then you will have to keep your eyeon it from the second the child climbs in itto the second he gets out. Be alert too,for creeks, ponds, sewers and drainageditches near the property. Make surechildren don't stray toward them.

Driveways and roads mean moving carsand maybe racing bikes. See that childrendo not play in either driveway or street.Also curbs are not good places for sitting.

Big worries: fire and water

Two really big dangers are fire anadrowning. Fire prevention. The main thingis to keep matches and cigarette lightersaway from children.

This means that if you're a smoker, youhave a special problem. The most sensibleway out seems to be this: if you've gotenough will power, don't smoke on the job.If you don't, keep matches hidden anddouse each cigarette under the faucet.

Sometimeswe hope not for youa fire inthe home does occur. If this does happenget the children and yourself out of thehouse. Then call the fire department andask a neighbor for help. Be sure that, while

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you are doing this, somebody doesn't runback into the house.

If caught in a smokefilled room, cover noseand mouth with a handkerchief or towel,damp if possible. Then crouch down andwalk to the nearest exit.

If clothing catches on fire, wrap a rug,heavy coat, or blanket around the person.Begin at the head and keep flames awayfrom the face. Don't run. This fans theflame and may result in serious burns.

Swimming is funit yOU know how.Babysitters who don't know how to swimshould not be responsible for childrenwho are in a deep pool. You might takethe American Red Cross swimming andwater safety courses, then you can teachchildren how to swim, with the parents'permission, of course.

A wading pool, or a beach at the shore,is a different story, provided you andthe children stay in shallow water.

But in every case, you must watch likea hawk when children are playing aroundwater. A toddler can drown in a bathtubor a wading pool just as easily as hecan in the middle of the ocean. Aswimming pool, covered for the winter(or drained of water) is hazardousbecause rain water and mud collect onthe cover or pool bottom.

Let's PlayBecause all children want to play, theyquickly come to like people whounderstand play and how to make itinteresting.

The good sitter is a good player. He knowsthat children of different ages play indifferent ways. He knows how to keepplay safe as well as interesting for themany different kinds of children that hesits for.

Babies under a year old

Older children have imagination and

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ideas of their own when it comes to play.With babies under a year old, most ofthe ideas have to come from you. Hereare some simple and safe activities thatbabies often enjoy.

When babies are so small that they can'tuse their hands for holding and grabbing,they can still play by watching andlooking. It's great fun for small babies towatch moving or swinging things, suchas large wooden or plastic rings and balls.

Babies who are older, who can crawland use their hands, like to touchand feel things. Large plastic objectsare good, and also cuddly toys.

Sometimes an old hat or big pursewill keep the baby busy for a longtime. (Make sure it's empty.)

Songs, gestures, (Eensweensy spider;Here is the church, here is thesteeple)

Tearing up sheets of newspaper canbe fun. (Of course, you'll have toclean up the mes.: later.)

Keep in mind that small babies need onlyvery short play times. Most of their timeis spent in sleeping and resting.Remember also that everything usuallyends up in their mouths. Be sure they donot have small articles to play with.

1- and 2-year-olds

This is the age when children learn howto walk, run, and use their hands andfeet in many different ways. Most of thehomes that you sit in will probably havequite a few toys, but it's surprising howhappy children can be with very simplethings.

Many 1-year-olds, for example, will get

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more fun out of banging with a bigwooden spoon and a pie pan than theywill out of a fancy windup toy. Or justpushing a small chair from one part ofthe room to another can be more excitingthan playing with an expensive train set.

Push and pull toys are very popular, andso are games of putting in and takingout (such as putting a block into an emptycan). Many children will like it if youjoin in.

As children grow older they becomemore active. They make up all sorts ofjumping and leaping games. You'll haveto make sure that these are safe games,and that the child doesn't get overlyexcited or overly tired.

Jumping from a low chair onto a large,soft cushion can be a safe game for2-year-olds. You'll have to have an oldcushion, though, ale that the parentsaren't too particular about.

After very active play, it's a good ideato have some quiet things to do. Youcan always fall back on singing, picturebooks, and make-believe stories inwhich the child you are sitting for is thehero of the adventure. Old magazineswith lots of pictures are fun if the childis bored with his own books. Many2-year-olds can also spend as much as15 or 20 minutes drawing with largecrayons and big sheets of paper. If

regular drawing paper ;sn't handy, youcan spread sheets of old newspaper onthe kitchen floor.

3- and 4-year-olds

Boys and girls of this age are growingfast in many ways. They are learning

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how to talk, and some of them will askmany questions and tell many stories.It's sometimes hard to keep up with them.

Four-year-olds are very good at saying"no," and they know many ways of notminding. The best way to handle thesebusy children is to have a lot of active,interesting things for them to do. Thisway you can keep one jump ahead. If yougive them a chance, 3- and 4-year-oldswill have great fun playing with sand, clay,water, and mud. Since this can be messy,you have to be cheerful about cleaningup afterwards. (Let the children help you.)

Hide-and-seek or follow the leader gamesare favorites at this age. You can playthem with even one child, and sometimesthe child can be the leader.

Having parties and playing with dollscan keep children busy for a long time.Some 3- and 4-year-olds are very goodat "pretend" games, and you can counton a lot of ideas coming from theyoungsters themselves.

Making a "tent" is exciting for mostchildren, even older ones. Just spreadan old sheet or blanket between piecesof furniture, making a closed-in and cozyspace. You can read, tell stories, orhave parties inside the tent.

5- and 6year-olds

Children at this age are often in anursery school or kindergarten. This meansthat they know many different games andways of playing. Very often they will be

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able to teach you new games.

Still, you have to be ready with someideas of your own in case the child getsbored or fussy. Here are some activitiesto keep in mind:

Simple games of skill. Just give the childsome soft rubber balls or bean bags,and the games will almost makethemselves up. But don't let them get toowild.

Guessing games. One of the easiest andthe best is the one in which you or thechild think of an object in the room, andthen the other person has to guess it.Be sure to give a lot of hints when thechild gets stuck.

Building games. Children will buildalmost anything: stores, bridges, towers,spaceships, train stations, airports, zoos,farms. Wood or plastic blocks of all sizesare a favorite, but you can use otherthings for building, including cartons andboxes and clothes pins.

Role playing games. Children can bevery busy with running a store, arestaurant, a gas station, etc., or havinga party, a school, Potatoes can beused for animal bodies (using toothpicksfor eyes). Paper colored by the childcan be placed on toothpicks to makefeathers or give animals faces.

Cutting and pasting. Have a supply of oldmagazines. Large ones with coloredpictures are the best. Use blunt scissors,and try not to get the furniture all stickywith paste. If parents don't object,children this age are very good at pastingtrading stamps in books.

Storytelling and music. Now the storiescan be longer and more complicated.Fairytales and stories about animals andboys and girls are favorites. Be sure tostay away from scary or "bogeymen"stories. Many children will dance andsing along with records if you suggest itto them.

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The babysitter's service kit '

Experienced sitters have learned that ithelps to come on the job with suppliesof their own. Just like doctors, nurses,and skilled mechanics have their owntools, the really professional babysitterhas his own service kit.

This can be an old suitcase, a heavycanvas or plastic bag, or even an oldshoebox or shopping bag.

The babysitter's kit is your own privatecollection of toys, surprises, andemergency needs. Here are some thingsthat it might contain:

crayons and pencilsblunt scissorscolored paper and yarnold envelopes and stampssmall plastic toysballs and balloonsa notebook and pena flashlightpaper tissuessmall adhesive bandagestwo or three storybooksseveral old magazines with picturessticky tape

Important safety rules during play

Even very active play can be kept safe

I See Children's Bureau publication, "Fun In theMaking." MEW Publication No. (OCD) 73-31.for useful ideas.

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if you hold to a few basic rules:

Tiny, sharp, or pointed things shouldbe kept away from small children.

Toys with small parts that can comeofflike glass or metal buttons onsoft animals should not be usedwith small babies.

All toys should he larger than thechild's two fists.

Children should not be allowed to jumpfrom high places.

Climbing equipment must be checkedto see that it's sturdy and won t fallapart.

Plastic bagslike those used for drycleaning and other objectsshouldbe kept away from children at alltimes.

Keep shoestrings, ties and beltsfastened.

Don't allow any playing in the street.Don't wear jewelry with sharp points

when caring for small babies.

As a near-adult you have lots moreenergy and steam than a child. Sometimesyou can come on strong. So you maywant to take it easy, a bit quieter thanwhen you are with your frie:ius Indhaving fun.

Hints on FeedingOne thing you elm be sure of when you'rewatching chilo.;:n for any length of time:Sooner or later they'll get hungry.

When it comes to preparing food, ababysitter is not expected to spend lotsof time in the kitchen cooking fancydishes. This takes time from yourimportant job of being with the children.Simple foods are most desirable foryoung children anyway.

Parents usually know this, and most likelywill have the snacks and meals plannedand ready for you to warm up or serve.If they forget, be sure to ask, when andwhat food is to be served, and how toprepare it. Find out how the stove works,where foods and utensils are kept.

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Things to remember

Here are some general guidelines forfeeding young children:

Plan your work so as to have the child'sfeeding or meal ready at the timethe mother directed.

Wash your hands and the child's beforepreparing and serving food.

Most young children, especiallytoddlers, are messy eaters.Be pleasant at mealtime and patientwith their clumsiness.Better be prepared to mop up somespilled food. You can help keepyourself clean by wearing an apronor smock. (Don't scold if he spitsfood at you, he's usually beingplayfulnot naughty.)

Allow plenty of time for the meal orsnack. Children sometimes take abite and then look at the food ortalk for a few minutes.This is okay, and they shouldn't berushed.

If the child won't eat at mealtime, don'tget upset.Remember, he may be tired or youmay be strange to him. Give himenough help with eating, but don'tforce him.

If the baby drops eating utensils, orhis bottle, on the floor, wash themoff with hot water or get clean onesfor him.

Meal or snack time should be a happytime. Try to make it a quiet time. If there'sa lot of activity or noise in the room,the baby or youngster may be too excitedto eat. In some homes, children eatmeals while watching TV. If the parentsallow this, then go along with this custom.Ask the parents about other suggestionsas to the best ways to get cooperationat mealtime.

Keep your eye on the child in the highchair. He should not be allowed to standup or to rock the chair. Be sure theuafety catch or leg strap is fastened onthe chair. Be sure his high chair is wellaway from the stove.

Giving the baby his bottle

Most mothers prepare the baby's dailysupply of milk or formula at one time.Find out if this is done. You will need tohave clear written instructions on thetime to feed the baby, and how to warmup the bottle after taking it out of therefrigeratorif that is what the parentswant you to do. Also ask if you are to givehim water or fruit juice in a bottle if hebecomes fretful in between mealtimes.

If you are to warm the bottle, that isusually done by standing it in a smalldeep saucepan with 3 or 4 inches ofwarm water in it. Heat the water quickly.It is not necessary for the water to boil.Shake the bottle several times while itis warming to make sure the mi:k iswarmed through.

Other important points to remember:

The rubber nipple of the bottle mustnot be touched by you, otherwise itwill no longer be sterile (free ofgerms). If the nipple does touchsomething, replace it with a sterile

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one from the mother's clean supplyor use a fresh bottle.

The milk must not be too hot. Mostpeople test the milk by shaking outa few drops on the inside of theirwrist.

Always wash you. hands beforehandling the bottle.

It's best to sit in a chair and hold thebaby in your arms when you give himthe bottle. Allow plenty cf time. Also,when the baby is too young to hold thebottle himself, you must hold it for him:Never try to prop it up.

Ask the parents to tell you about burpingthe baby. This is done after the feeding,or sometimes once or twice during thefeeding. You hold the baby against yourshoulder and pat him on the back. (Becareful not to pat him too hard.) He letsout a burp. This helps get rid of the airthat he sometimes swallows along withthe milk.

Solid food for the older baby

The parents may wish you to use readyprepared solid foods such as infant'scereal, strained or chopped fruits,vegetables and meats for the baby. Thesecanned foods can be warmed up like thebottle in a pan of water. Ask about thekind and amount of food to give and howit is usually prepared to serve the babyor young child.

When the baby is learning to eat solidfoods or new food he may spit some ofit out. You will have better luck if youdon't put too much on the spoon whenyou offer it to the baby. Give him a littlebit at a time. Remember to be pleasantand patient. Don't try to get the baby toeat by amusing him: he soon learns thatrefusing to eat is one way of gettingattention.

Food for older children

You might be sitting for a parent whoexpects you to prepare snacks or evenmeals on your own. in this case ask them

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to leave you a written menu, withinstructions about where the food is andhow to prepare it.

Sometimes an older child helps himselfto food the mother had not planned forhim. These raids might be prevented byknowing what the parent has plannedfor older children and what the motherexpects of you with respect to the olderchild. You should report overeating tothe parents.

Let's Get DressedWhen the baby has to be changed

The mother will probably tell you aboutchanging diapers. Most mothers will havethe following things ready for you:

1. Clean diapers2. Large safety pins3. Paper tissues4. A wash cloth

There are many ways of putting on adiaper. The pictures below will help youlearn one simple way for using clothdiapers. The newer, disposable diapersare ready to use without folding andsome cloth diapers also are made to fitthe baby. Other diapers have tabs whicheliminate the need for pins.

Wash the baby in the diaper region witheach diaper change. Use warm waterand mild soap.

After a wet diaper is removed, it shouldbe dropped in the diaper pail or someother metal container (preferably onewith a cover). Don't leave diapers aroundon the floor.

If the diaper is soiled, put it aside whileyou clean the baby. Clean carefully aroundthe folds of his legs, but don't riskirritating with a lot of v ;ping arounddelicate areas. If the s_iled diaper is madeof cloth, rinse the soil away in the toiletbowl and drop the diaper in the properpail.

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If the diapers are the disposable kind, askthe parents how to dispose of them, orread the instructions on the box.

Important note: All safety pins must beclosed and out of reach of the baby.

Dressing the older child

There Isn't too much you have to knowabout clothing for the older child. Theseare the main things:

Sometimes small children like to runaround without shoes, socks, or evenshirts and pants. If the parents don'tmind, this is okay. If they do mind,you'll have to tell youngsters to keeptheir clothes on.

it can be very hard on a child if hisclothing is too tight. If you have tochange underwear or sweaters, forexample, try to choose the ones thatare loose.

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After playing around water or a pool,it's a good idea to check for dryness.In case the child is pretty wet, heneeds a change of clothing.

For outdoor play in cold weather, makesure the child is warm and buttonedup. Don't forget cap and mittens.When the child comes back indoors,always check for wet shoes andsocks (almost all children lovepuddles).

Children of 2 and older can often helpdress themselves. But you have togo slowly. Even if they are very goodat dressing, always offer help withshoelaces.

What to do if...A babysitter sometimes has to be atroubleshooter. You have to be ready forthe unexpected.

No one in the world can tell you abouteverything that might come up when you'resitting with a child. And every once in awhile you run into a problem for whichthere doesn't seem to be an answer. Youjust live through the problem and hope forthe best.

Still, here are a number of commonsituations with some hints on what to do if:

Baby won't stop crying

Some babies cry a lot more than others,but most of them cry for a real reason. Tryto find out the reason:

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Is he too warm or too cold?Does his diaper need changing?Does he have a stomachache?Is he hungry?Is he sick?Is he just plain lonely?

You already know what to do aboutmeeting the first two problems.

If the baby has a stomachache, it may helpto burp him gently. An air bubble trappedinside can cause pain and even make himthink he is hungry. Often the crying willstop as soon as he burps. Swallowing air isa problem when babies eat and also whenthey have been crying a lot. A baby whohas been allowed to cry often will end uplater on with a stomachache. Sometimesthe air won't come up. It may help to puthim down on his stomach and to rub hisback gently. Sometimes, all you can do isrock him in your arms to make thediscomfort more bearable for him. Eventu-ally the gas will pass and he will be happyagain.

If it has been a while since his last feedingand you think he may be hungry, you mayhave to give him something in betweenmeals. Sterile water (boiled 20 minutes)or baby fruit juice in his bottle may holdhim until the next regular feeding. If hedoesn't nurse with much enthusiasm, ornurses well for a few minutes and thenstops, the problem probably isn't hunger.Some babies will act very eager for thebottle because it is soothing and thenbegin crying again when they realize theyaren't hungry.

Teething can cause crying and the mothermay have left something to ease pressureon the baby's gums. If not, try rubbingthem gently with a very clean finger.

If the baby seems sick, you will have todecide if it is serious enough to call theparents. If not, try to quiet him with rockingand singing (or by walking with him). If hehas a cold and a stuffy nose, he maybreathe more comfortably if he doesn'thave to lie fiat. You can prop him in yourarms or, if the mother has one, you can puthim in a plastic baby carrier which has alittle tilt for his back. Babies with colds

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may have a lot of trouble taking the bottleat feeding time. If their noses are stoppedup, they ::.sn't breathe while they arenursing. They will take the bottle eagerlyand then may begin to scream. All you cando is remove the bottle from the baby'smouth a number of times so he can get hisbreath.

If you think he may be lonely, give him lotsof attention. Maybe he is wide awake andnot ready to have you put him to bed. Ifthis is the problem, hold him and love him.Keep things very quiet though, so he willunwind and get sleepy.

Some babies will go on crying even afteryou've done everything you can think of.Try leaving them alone for 10 minutes andthe crying might stop. But if the babykeeps right on crying and sounds veryunhappy, then it's best to hold him, rockback and forth, or hum a song. You mighthave to keep this up for as much as30 or 45 minutes.

It might save you a lot of trouble, whenyou're watching a baby, to ask the parentsto tell you when and how much the babyusually crias. Some mothers are very goodat figuring out what the baby's cryingmeans. These mothers can give you a goodidea of what kinds of crying to expect froma baby, and what to do about it.

The child keeps popping out of bed

This sometimes happens when children arebeing watched by new sitters. In this case,it's best to give in the first two or threetimes the child comes out of bed to be withyou. Maybe he isn't quite sure about you,and is getting worried about his parents.

Sometimes children are just plain bored,can't fall asleep, and come out looking forSomething to do. If you think this is thecase you might agree to allow a special 5minutes "out-of-bed" time. But let himknow that this is a special privilege, andthat when the clock shows that 5 minutesare up, back he goes. It's a good idea tokeep this "out-of-bed" time a quiet one.Otherwise, the child may become soactive and wide awake that it will takesome time for him to relax for sleep.

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If it looks like the child is beginning tomake a game out of bed-jumping, thenyou'll have to become very firm aboutletting him know you won't play the game.Be gentle, but put your foot down. Offer tostay in hic room with him, to allow a quiettime in bed for a few minutesbut nomore popping out.

Your ger child wants to call hisparents on the phone

Some parents expect to be called by theirchildren at least once during the evening,and don't mind this at all. Find out beforeparents leave how they feel about suchcalls.

If you're a new sitter or the child seemsupset or worried about something, then youmight allow two or even three phone callsif the parents agree.

Rut if Susie wants to chatter with herMommie or Daddy just for fun, then it isn'tfair to the parents. After all, they hired youto be the babysitter so that they could goout for the evening.

You can explain that mother and father arebusy now but will be glad to talk with Susiewhen they get back. Meanwhile, if Susiewants to play a telephone game how aboutdoing it with you the sitter? You cancarry on an exciting "pretend" telephonetalk in which you take the part of the

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parentor anyone else, grandmother,teacher, or a storybook person. Sometimesa call to the "weather lady" (the recordedtelephone forecast service) will delight asmall child.

Temper tantrums

Many different things can cause a tempertantrum:

Being angry or hurtNot being allowed to have your wayA broken toyBeing zick, lonely, frightened, or tiredTrying very much to do something that's

just too hard to doBeing made fun of by another child

There isn't much you can do right duringthe time the child is having the tantrum.ry to keep calm yourself. Stand by to

make sure he doesn't hurt himself or breaksomething.

Tantrums usually don't last long. Whenthey're just about over is the time tocomfort the child, and to offer him an ideaabout something nice or exciting to do. Itusually won't help much to try to have thechild talk about what caused him to havethe tantrum.

Children begin fighting andwon't stop

If you're watching more than one childthere are bound to be a few scraps andarguments. Most of these you can forgetabout.

But you'll have to move quickly to put astop to it if the fighting looks like it'sgetting serious, or if one child seems to bealways hitting away at another one.

The best way to do this is to separate thechildren by getting them to play withdifferent things, or in different parts of theroom. Trying to be the umpire or the judgeisn't much good. It's hard to figure out whostarted what. So try not to get pulled intoan argument along with the children.

Sometimes brothers and sisters fight out ofjealousy. There are probably important

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reasons behind the jealousy, but it'shard for you, the sitter, to know whatthose reasons are.

Your best bet is again to separate thechildren. It's natural to want to side withthe smaller one, but you'll probably domore good by spending extra time with theolder child. Show him ways that he canhave a special good time with you. (That'smore fun than banging on his youngerbrother or sister.)

The child threatens youin a nasty way

Sometimes children who have manydifferent babysitters find special ways ofteasing or playing tricks on the sitter.These may be the older children, or theones with special problems.

Don't take these tricks or threats tooseriously. Whenever you can, try to make ajoke out of them. If the child finds he canmake you flustered, he may keep It up.

If the child looks as it he's about to dosomething really bad, then it pays to bequite firm with him. Let him know thatwhatever he does will be reported to hisparents. With a small child it may help toexpress your disappointment. You mightsay something like: There was such a nicegirl (or boy) here a little while agoIwonder when she will come back. it's alsoimportant to let the child know that youcan't be won over to do something againstthe parents' rules.

Older child wets bed,cries, gets upset

When younger children aren't fully toilettrained, they often wet the bed. Most ofthem sleep right through it, and the parentsare used to this.

But older children can sometimes be bed-wetters too. If a 6- or 7-year-old wets hisbedhas an "accident"he might get veryupset about this and come to you for help.

Your main job is to comfort him, to let himknow that "accidents" can happen toanybody. If you can, offer to help change

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the bed by putting on a clean sheet. Whena child is very sleepy it may be best notto bother with clean linens. He can bemade fairly comfortable quickly if you pulloff wet palama bottoms and place a thickbath towel over the damp spot on the bed.In a chilly house, it's not a good idea to letthe child sleep in a soaking bed. If he iscold and wet, wake him up long enough toput a towel under him and change hisclothes.

Children use "bad" language

Some 4- and 5-year-olds are good at usingpretty strong language. (And so are theolder ones.) They might enjoy using thislanguage on their sitter.

Usually the best thing to do is to overlookthis. Anyway, don't take it personally,because most often young children don'treally understand the "badness" in thewords they use.

Child breaks loose and startsto run away

Some children do this to tease. Some do itbecause a new or strange thing catchestheir eye and they want to see what it's allabout. Very few children ever really wantto run away.

The best way to handle this situation is tostand your ground. TeN the child in a loudbut calm voice that you expect him towait for you, that wherever he wants togo, you can go together.

If you are dealing with a very young childone who's just learning how to run, maybethen there's always danger that he mightrun into the street. In this case, your bestbet is to chase after him as fast as youcan right from the start. Then let him knowthat he'll have to play indoors if he wantsto do any more wild running. When takingwalks, make clear that you insist onholding hands to cross the street. If youdon't trust him to stay with you at othertimes, hold his hand for the whole walk.

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A child acts very shyly

This sometimes happens when the sitter isnew to the family. Also, some children arejust naturally shy, and it takes them along time to warm up to any grownup.

Go very easily with the shy child. Give hima lot of time to figure out for himself thatyou're friendly and that he can trust you.

Often you can get a shy child to play withyou if you begin the activity yourself. Youmight try something like this: Take threecolored balls out of your kit and begintossing them slowly into a basket in athrowing game. After a while, have one ofthe balls roll near the child. It's hard not topick up the ball and at least roll !t back.

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_ft

wA child gets very active or excited

When a youngster puts on a big head ofsteam, it's not so easy to quiet him down.

Some children are very high strung andalways on the run. If you're sitting withsuch a child, of course you'll try to keephim from getting too worked up in the firstplace.

If a child is already worked up, here aresome things you can do to help simmerhim down:

Suggest an active and simple game, butnot quite as active as what he is nowdoing. If he's running around wildly,for example, suggest a "walking race."

Offer him something very good to eat.Active children are often hungry onesas well. But have him sit down at thetable while he's eating. This will atleast get him off his feet.

Have a "test of strength and skill" gamewith him. This is active, but it isn'twild. In this game the idea is for thechild to do a number of "hard" thingsthat you suggest to himlifting a smallchair with one hand, jumping to reacha branch of a tree, doing somethingwhile hopping on one foot, and so on.

Suggest a time limitsay, 5 minutesto his present activity. After this, you'llhave a "surprise" for him. Of course,

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he has to be settled down when you'regiving him his surprise. This can beany little toy for him to keep, such asa fancy balloon, a pipe for blowingsoap bubbles, or a tiny doll. Thensuggest some quiet play using the newtoy.

If all else fails and there is a bath on hisschedule anyway, goo him into awarm tub. Sit quietly by him while hesplashes, then offer a story afterward.

Going to BedVery small babies sleep a lot of the time.If you follow the parents' instructions,you probably won't have much troublewith bedtime when you're watchingchildren under 11/2 years old.

But when children get oldersay,between 2 and 6 yearsputting them tobed can get tricky.

Know the family routine

It will help to know the usual way thechild is put to bed, and then to follow thispretty closely. Most children have a"getting ready" time which can last 10 or15 minutes. This is the time when you givea friendly warning, and help the childfinish his play.

In being friendly, you also have to knowhow to be firm. If you give the child theidea that you are a "softy" and that youdon't really mean business, this can makethings very hard on you and the child. Mostchildren will listen to you when they knowyou are firm as well as fair.

Getting Johnny into bed

Let's say, for example, that the parentshave told you how their Johnny or Susieis usualy put to bed. First Johnny gets intohis night clothes, with your help, and thenhe's allowed to play a few extra minutesbefore actually climbing into bed.

Well, when the time comes, you giveJohnny a fair warning and then help himlido his pajamas. He may make a little fuss,

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but he goes along with you because heknows he'll still have a few more minutesof play. But when those minutes are longpast, and Johnny lets you know that as faras he's concerned he's never going tobedwhat ao you do next?

This is when you have to show your talentsas a babysitter. Here are some things youcan try:

Make a game of having the child put allhis toys to bed, one by one. Thismight put him in a better mood forgoing to sleep himself.

Talk with him for a few minutes about allthe good and pleasant things he'll beable to do the next day, when hewakes up. But for this he needs hissleep so that he'll be fresh andrested and ready to go again.

It might help to put him in the right moodby telling him a story about how ayoung boy or girl just like the childyou are sitting with got ready for bedand went to sleep.

Something warm to drink like hotchocolate works with certainchildren.

Offer to tell his favorite story or to readhis favorite bookbut only after he'sin bed.

With some children it works to justswoop them up in your arms and carrythem off to bed. But you will have toknow how to do this in a pleasant way.Otherwise you may have a tempertantrum on your hands.

After the light is out, offer to sitbeside his bed for a few minutes if hepromises not to talk.

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Bedtime can be a scary time

There are a number of reasons whybedtime can be fearful for children.

Going to bed often means having to bealone in a dark room. And it's natural formany children to be afraid of the dark.

Going to bed also means having to be awayfrom grownups. A swan child can feellonely or unprotected without his parentsor a sitter in the room with him.

To help take away the scariness, hereare some things you can do:

Spend time with the child in his bedroom.Give him three or four big good-nighthugs, and make a big deal out oftucking him in.

Offer to read to him, or to tell a story.Choose a pleasant or a happy story,because talking about ghosts orhaunted houses at bedtime might justadd to the child's fears.

Singing can be fun and pleasant, and youdon't have to have a trained voice. Ofcourse, soft and quiet songs are best.Singing make-up songs about thechild and what he will do tomorrowmay not win any academy awards, butchildren find it comforting andreassuring. Try turning out the lightand singing in the dark while he goesto sleep.

Leaving a small light on can take awaysome of the fear of the dark. Sometimesjust keeping the door open and havinga light on in the hallway works justas well.

If you decide to stay with a nervous childuntil he dozes off, be unhurried about it.Your jumping up and down to leave willmake him more wide awake than ever.Remember, it takes most people about 20minutes to fall asleep.

Nightmares

Another reason why nighttime can bescary is because sleep sometimes bringsbad dreams to the child.

If a child screams, shakes, or goes through

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funny motions in his sleep this might meanthat he's having a nightmare. In this casehe needs to be comforted, to feel that youare there looking out for him, and thatnothing bad will happen when he fallsback to sleep.

It doesn't help much to try to explain all ofthis to the child. Instead, pick him up andshow him that you love him. Or you canrock him in your arms for a few minutes,offer him a favorite toy, or hum a soft tune.

Should you check on the child whenhe's sleeping?

After children fall asleep in a quiet roomthey usually keep on sleeping soundly.

But as a sitter it's your job to make double-sure that everything is okay. It's a goodidea to look into the bedroom every 30 or45 minutes. After seeing that the child is inhis crib or bed, check on the following:

The blanket or bed covering, to makesure that the child is covered properly,but not over his head.

The windows, to see that it isn't too hotor cold, too drafty or stuffy.

Small babies have been known to getvery sick, very silently in the night.When you look in on him, be sure youhave enough light to see his faceclearly to make sure his color is goodand he is breathing comfortably. If helooks at all strange to you, pinkand investigate the situation.

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Keeping awake (the sitter, that is)

After you've made sure that the child issleeping soundly, you may have a differentproblem on your handsto keep yourselfawake.

Although a few parents won't object to asitter sleeping on the jobespecially late atnightit's not such a good idea. Imaginehow you would feel if anything went wrongwhile you were asleep.

The best way to keep awake is to be doingsomething. Studying is good, because itmeans you have to concentrate, to keepyour attention on what you're doing.

Bait sometimes even studying doesn't work,and you find yourself dozing off. Then youmight want to try some of these:

Splash cold water on your face, wrists orneck.

Eat or nibble at something that takesheavy chewing. Peanut brittle is abouttops in this category.

Take a slow walk through the house.Whistle, sing, or recite poems to yourself.

(If you don't know any poems, trymaking some up.)

Hints on First AidEven with the best care in the world,accidents will sometimes happen. Thenyou will have to know what to do.

The general rule is this: Whenever thesituation looks like it might be serious,don't waste time. Get in touch with theparents, a doctor, or the rescue squad atonce.

Here are some commonand some not socommonsituations and what to do aboutthem.

Nosebleed.Have the child sit in a chair with his headback, or have him lying down with a pillowunder his shoulders. Pinch the nostril thatis bleeding toward the center of the nose.If both nostrils are bleeding, pinch the

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nostrils together with your thumb and firstfinger. If this doesn't stop the bleeding,apply a large, cold, wet towel over the noseand face. Be sure he is able to breathethrough his mouth.

Don't allow the child to talk, cough, laugh,blow his nose or walk around. This mightcause the nose to bleed more or to get itgoing again if it has stopped. Call theparents if you can't stop the bleeding inabout 10 minutes.

Bumps and bruiseswith bleeding.Use a thick, clean cloth, and hold it directlyon the open wound. Cali the doctor andparents as soon as you can. Don't removethe cloth. Use pressure if the bleeding isvery heavy.

Sometimes a very had bump can knocka child out. In such cases loss ofconsciousnessyou mustn't move thechild. Call a doctor and the parents rightaway. Then keep the child warm with ablanket until help comes. A bad bump onthe head without unconsciousness callsfor quiet activity for several hours.

Bumps and bruises.The very light ones you can overlook. Ofcourse, you will have to give the child a lotof comfort and loving if his feelings arehurt, even if his body isn't.

Stomach pain.Most of these pains aren't too serious. Justkeep the child rested and quiet. Be sureto report the pain to the parentimmedi-ately if the child seems feverish or verypale.

Animal bites.When they are deep enough to break theskin, they can be serious. Wash with soapand water, and phone the doctor.Remember what the animal looks like. Ifyou have seen him before, tell the parentsand the doctor.

Something in the eye.Don't poke around in the eye. Tell the childnot to rub the area. It's best to call theparents and tell them what has happened.

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Burns.If it's a very light bum, you can run coldwater over It. If it's a deep bum, or spreadover a large part of the body, keep thechild quiet and get help at once. Do notpull off scorched clothing.

Small cut or scratches.When there is only a little bleeding: don'ttouch the wound or the skin near it withyour fingers, clothing or any other object.

Wash your hands, then apply an adhesivebandage.

Make a note of what happened, and whatyou did. Then you can tell the parents whenthey come home.

Choking on an object.If the child begins to cough, don't disturbhimjust allow him to cough. Don't stickyour finger into his throat; you may pushthe object further down. If he stopsbreathing, turn him on the backupside down and smack himbetween his shoulder blades.Call the rescue squad, hospital emergencyroom or a doctor immediately. Do notgive him water or food. Be certain to tellthe parents if you think he has swallowedanything.

Poisons.If the child swallows medicine or ahousehold producteven if you onlysuspect he has done sogive him somemilk or water. While the child is drinkingthis, get in touch with the parents and thedoctor. Try to figure out how much thechild took, and have the container handywhile telephoning.

Hard coughing or "fits" (convulsions).Put the child to bed. Don't cover him,because he may have a fever. Call a doctorright away for advice. (You shouldn't rubwith warm water unless advised by adoctor.)

Sunburn.If the child Will be in direct sunlight morethan 10 minutes make sure he's wearinga light shirt. Also, you can put on oils orlotions, and children usually go for this.

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A good way to find out more aboutfirst aid

If you are under 14 years of age, you cantake the Red Cross Junior First Aid course.It you're 14 or over you can sign up forthe standard course. Both courses willteach you a lot about safety, what to do inemergencies, and also about lifesaving. Ifyou want to find out where these coursesare given in your town or county, just lookup the "American Red Cross" in yourphone book and give them a call.

This is Onlythe BeginningYou may be a teenager and a babysittertoday, but chances are that in not toomany years time you will be a parent. Thenyou'll be hiring babysitters on your ownor you ma! be working in a child carefield as your career.

This handbook touches on only a few ofthe many important matters that a personhas to know about if he wants to takegood care of children. It's not too earlyfor you to begin learning more about whatmakes children t!ck, how to make a goodhome for them, and how to handle specialproblems of childhood.

In the learning, you will come to under-stand yourself better and you will growin the ability to be responsible and trusted.If you have real aptitudes or skills withchildren, your work with youngsters nowwill help you to develop them for futurecareer use.

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IndexBabysitting:

accepting the job 5, 6, 7behavior on the job 6, 7, 8, 11fees 10limits on the job 4, 10, 11

Babysitter's service kit 24Bedtime:

fears before 42getting ready for 40, 41problems before 33, 40

Behavior, reasons for differences m 11, 12Burping 28, 32Crying, when baby won't stop 31-33Danger zones 15-19Diapers, how to change 29, 30Drowning, prevention of 18, 19Feeding:

baby solid foods 28bottle 27, 32general guidelines 25, 26, 27older children 28, 29

Feelings:in children. 14in sitters 14

Fighting 35Fire, prevention of 18First aid 19, 44-47Learning, in children 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22Medicine 17, 46Nightmares 42Play 19-25, 37, 38

for babies 20for 1- and 2-year-olds 20, 21for 3- and 4-year-olds 21, 22for 5- and 6-year-olds 22, 23

Safety 15-19importance of 3, 7, 11, 15rules, during play 24, 25your own 6, 7

Stomachaches 32, 45Teething 32Telephone:

children's use of 34important numbers 9sitter's use of 10

Temper tantrums 35, 41Threats 36Toilet training 36Troubleshooting 31-40Shy children 38Staying awake, hints for sitter 44

9 04 948 GPO : 1491 0 - 551- 031