Babysitters play an important role in America. They act as parents’ eyes and ears when parents have to work, run errands or just need a night out and about. Babysitters are often provided unfettered access to homes. They get to make major decisions about how a household is run (at least in the short-run). And they are trusted with parents’ most prized possessions: their children.
They do the shopping. They drop kids off at piano practice and friends’ houses. They save parents time, energy and effort. They are often indispensable.
But are your kids safe in your babysitter’s car?
As parents become more comfortable with their babysitters–and hence allow them to take on more and more responsibility–they need to know with precision that their kids are safe in the sitter’s car. It’s common sense and babysitter safety 101. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to overlook.
Here are five babysitter safety tips to help you make sure your kids are safe in your sitter’s car:
1) Check Your Babysitter’s Driving Record
Information is power. And when it comes to your kids, you can never have too much information. The last thing you want to do is trust a babysitter with a bad driving record to transport your kids to and from school, church and activities.
So why not check your babysitter’s driving record as another babysitter safety tip?
Stop by the DMV and see what information you can get. In Florida, you can order a certified version of anyone’s driving record, which will provide you with a lot of powerful information about whether or not your babysitter is a safe driver.
2) Check References
When you hire a babysitter, you’re probably going to talk to people who have worked with her or him before. So why not ask about her driving skills at the same time you ask about her overall responsibility, ability to be on time and how well she gets along with children?
It’s fast. It’s easy. It won’t cost you a dime. And it puts you in touch with people who likely shared your concerns and questions about the person you are considering hiring to take care of your kids.
3) Go on a Ride-Along
Seeing is believing, so go ahead and see for yourself just how safe of a driver your babysitter is going to be. Go on a ride-along.
Sure, your babysitter will likely be on her or his best behavior while you are in the car, but you’ll likely be able to see whether or not she’s attentive, pays attention to traffic laws and is respectful of other drivers.
When it comes to babysitter safety, you can usually always trust your own eyes.
4) Enroll in a Class
Defensive driving is part art, part science and all about experience. So why not enroll your babysitter in a defensive driving class?
Not only will it provide her or him with valuable experience that can help keep your kids safe with great babysitter safety, but it will also provide you with some peace of mind–and that is truly invaluable.
5) Tap into Technology
Technology is a wonderful thing–until it isn’t. Statistics show that distracted driving is every bit as dangerous as drunken driving. So make sure your babysitter doesn’t use a cell phone while driving. Have her sign a contract and make sure your kids are on the lookout for its use while in the car.
You can also download an easy-to-use-app that lets you track your babysitter’s movements. They are inexpensive, effective and will let you know where your kids are at every moment of every day. Tap into technology and keep your kids safe.
To learn more about how you can find out how your kids can be safe in your sitter’s car, contact us today!
