A concise field guide to Alex.

[rivka]

Alex and I are spending next week at my parents' house, because Michael will be in Kentucky for a mandatory nine-day business trip. The day after we all get back, I'm starting back to work and the babysitter is coming. Therefore, this week I need to put together an information sheet for the babysitter. I have some idea of what goes into something like that, but I'd love feedback about anything I've left out or misphrased.

This is a single large-print sheet, which I'm planning to post on the refrigerator. I'll be able to update it easily as she gets older (e.g., new feeding amounts, medication dosages, favorite things).

Alexandra Wald (Alex)
Date of birth: 4/11/05

Important numbers:
Mom at work: (number)
Mom's cell phone: (number)
Dad at work: (number)
Dad's cell phone: (number)

Pediatrician – Dr. Fragetta: (number)

Emergency: 911
Our address is: (street address)
House phone number: (number)

Health:
Alex has gastric reflux disease. She takes 0.5ml Zantac at 8am, 4pm, and 12am. Zantac and medicine dropper can be found in the diaper bag (inner mesh pocket).

Infant Tylenol in diaper bag – 0.6ml, only on doctor's orders.

Shield her skin from direct sunlight. She is too young for sunscreen.

Routine:
Alex is fed on demand. She currently takes about 4oz of formula or expressed breast milk every 3-4 hours. During feeding and for 30 minutes afterward, she should not lie flat – hold or prop her upright. Burp her carefully and expect spit-up. She is usually awake 1-2 hours between naps. She naps in the sling, in arms, or sometimes in her car seat.

Alex especially likes walks (stroller or sling – avoid the hottest part of day), ceiling fans, mirrors, lying on her back on a blanket, the mobile over her changing table, her bouncy seat (upstairs in Rebecca and Michael's room), and being held. Her current favorite toys and books are kept in a basket on or under the coffee table.

Where to find:
[gives locations of baby soap, bath thermometer, bathtub, blankets, books, bottles, breast milk, burp cloths, clothes, diaper rash cream, diapers, formula, nail clippers, nasal aspirator, thermometer (rectal), towels, toys, Tylenol, washcloths, wipes, Zantac]

Dirty laundry can be dropped directly into washer and left there for next load of wash.

Comments

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

A couple things from a former nanny...
Every phone in the house should have a list of numbers next or attached to it. Along with the numbers you've listed I'd consider adding...
the poison hotline (kids will put anything in their mouth)

Does the babysitter drive? If not, add numbers for a taxi or car service to the list. Also consider providing a car seat if necessary. That way you get to choose a good one. The sitter may not need to take her anywhere by car but I say, plan for the unexpected.

Also consider creating a checklist for the sitter of when/where/how things were done during the day. That way you'll know when/what/howmuch she ate. And if there's anything to know concerning the content of diapers.

Establish how often you wish to be called or will be calling.

Give yourself, Alex and the sitter time to settle everday before you leave. Rushing stresses everyone out--the transition between should be as mellow and low key as possible--but do let her know you're leaving.

I admire your planning ahead!
Anon,

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

More on poison control centers here (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm) including links to local ones as well as the National Toll-Free Number 1-800-222-1222.

Alex is kinda little for that yet, but once she starts crawling and toddling and exploring and getting into stuff ... better to be safe than sorry.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Except in an emergency, Alex is not to ride in the sitter's car. Actually, since the sitter lives four blocks away, her car won't even be at our house. Fortunately we live in a good walking neighborhood.

[caille.livejournal.com]

That suggestion about making sure every telephone in the house has a list of numbers attached to it is so important. I don't babysit, but I do housesit. I don't memorize the phone numbers of the places I stay - it'd be just too many numbers for my little brain. So...thinking in terms of an emergency, I'd probably be at a loss for either the home phone number or possibly the street address. I'd have to run and find my appointment book. A cheat sheet at every telephone would make all the difference.

The sitter also needs to know which keys unlock which doors. Lots of doors have finicky sorts of locks, so it helps to know (for example) that the top lock turns to the left, and the door-knob lock won't turn at all unless you're pressing on the door a little.... Also, she needs to know if there is an extra key stashed somewhere. And she needs to know if anyone other than the parents have keys to the place. You want to make it so that the sitter doesn't feel obligated to answer the door or let anyone in if you haven't cleared it in advance. You want her to be able to call you or 911 rather than having to use her discretion about whether a neighbor dropping something off, or Uncle Rory coming by to say hey is on the up-and-up.

Also clarify if the sitter is ever allowed to have anyone over. I mean, like if her mom is visiting, surely it'd be okay for the mom to join the sitter and Alex for lunch. But in most other circumstances, you'll want to say no from the start.