Now that states are reopening after being in lockdown due to the coronavirus, many parents are returning to work. While parents have always tried to screen the folks who care for their children, many centers may not open after lockdown. This leaves many families in a quandary. How can they work and keep their children and loved ones safe? Is it OK to hire a babysitter if parents have to leave for an emergency, or just want a brief (socially distant) evening out? Whether your kids attend daycare, camps, or have a nanny, parents want to know: Is it safe to hire a babysitter?
Is it safe to use childcare?
Questions to ask a potential babysitter
The primary function of a caregiver is to help keep your child safe and part of that is to limit exposure to the coronavirus. Here are some important questions to ask of a potential babysitter or caregiver:
- How will you keep my child safe from exposure?
- How are you limiting your own exposure?
- Have you been following safety and social distancing rules?
- What types of activities are you currently participating in?
- Are you hanging out with people or going out on dates?
- How many people do you live with?
- What do those people do for a living?
- How would your roommates answer the previous questions?
Don’t hesitate to ask questions and to implement safety protocols. In the end, we all want to do what we can to limit our exposure to COVID-19 and keep everyone as safe as possible.
