It’s hard not to get excited for date night when you are the parent of dogs and kids! What could be better than leaving your littles at home with a babysitter and spending the evening without parenting responsibilities? Of course, it’s hard to be totally relaxed when you worry if the kids and dogs will be safe while you are gone. Will the dog keep jumping on the babysitter while she is holding the baby? It sure would be great if he doesn’t get into the diaper pail or the kitchen garbage again. While some babysitters can practically run your household with their eyes closed, others may be less experienced and can use a little more coaching and support.
Managing babies, toddlers and young children is a difficult task. If it wasn’t, you might not be as excited for your night out! That said, with a little planning, you can make your babysitter’s job a lot easier. If they are unfamiliar with your dog’s (or child’s) quirks, routines and rules, they will be unable to do their best work. So it’s up to you to leave an easy to follow plan.
Dog Bites Happen Even When Someone’s Watching
I worked with a client recently whose daughter got bitten by their dog while the babysitter was on duty. The toddler got too close to the dog while she was eating. The dog, who was very protective of her food, growled, asking for more space. The child didn’t understand that the dog’s growl was a warning, and didn’t back away. The babysitter didn’t understand it either, nor did she intervene until it was too late.
After a couple of sessions, we set up a safety and management plan and practiced. When the dog eats, she now goes behind a door or a baby gate, so the toddler can’t approach and make her feel unsafe. When it’s time to snuggle on the sofa for bedtime books, the sitter knows she has to sit between the toddler and the dog. And when it’s time to change diapers, the dog rests quietly on her bed until the kiddo is asleep, at which time she gets all of the attention to herself.
Download Your Free Babysitter Planning Template
I don’t want what happened to my client to happen to you. So fill out the form below and you’ll get a free template for you to print, customize and share with your babysitter.
- Circle options for maximum kid and dog safety
- Fill in specific details related to your family
- Avoid common mistakes that could put your kids and dogs in danger
It will make her job much easier and will give you peace of mind. You deserve it. Now, go enjoy your night out.
