Should I bring friends on my babysitting jobs?

Many babysitters bring friends with them when they babysit. But is it a good idea? There are many things you have to consider before you let a friend come along on a babysitting job. I have had experiences where this has been good, and where it has been bad. When I first moved into a new town I had a girl that brought me on her babysitting job. There were three boys, and the extra hand she found was nice. The boys loved having somebody else to play with. The children were happy so the parents were happy. They began hiring both of us each time because the kids loved it so much. So, in that situation it turned out to be a very good thing. You just have to assess the situation in full before you decide what to do. Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Is my friend responsible and will he/she make a good impression on the parents?

If your friend is the kind you can trust with children and being in other people’s homes that is a good thing. If your friend is trustworthy but has three earrings, a nose ring and an eyebrow ring, that person may not be your best choice. The parents will be hesitant to leave their children with that person, even if you are there. Unless you have multiple body piercings too, you don’t know how the parents will respond. Make sure the person you bring looks as or more respectable as you.

Is my friend good with children?

If your friend can’t stand children, and avoids them at all costs, you may not want to bring this friend. However, if they love children and are very good with them, they could be quite helpful. You don’t want a friend who will treat the children you are babysitting any differently than you do. If the children report to their parents that the friend you brought was “mean” or “used bad language,” the parents may not call you again in case you will want to bring that friend along.

Will the children still be my first priority?

You don’t want to bring your friend if you will spend your time talking to them instead of playing with the children. If you think bringing a friend along will distract you, don’t bring them. Most children don’t take kindly to being ignored, and if they report to their parents that you only talked to your friend all day, they won’t be inclined to hire you again.

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