Starting a babysitting side business: safety first, then bookings
A friendly plan for teens and students starting out: a safety plan with a parent, a family info sheet, and a simple way to take bookings.
Babysitting is one of the best first jobs there is. Families need someone they can trust, and the sitters they call back are the ones who seem calm and prepared. You can look that way from your very first job with a little setup.
Make a plan with a parent or guardian
- Agree on which families you'll sit for, how far you'll travel and how you'll get home.
- Set your hours: school nights, weekends, late nights or not.
- Decide who you'll call if something feels wrong, and save that number first in your phone.
Learn the safety basics
- Look for a babysitting or first aid and CPR class through your local library, community center, hospital or a youth organization.
- Know where each family keeps the first aid kit, flashlight and fire extinguisher.
- Never leave babies or young kids alone near water, a stove or an open door, even for a minute.
Use a family info sheet
Before your first time with a new family, fill in one page together: parents' phone numbers, a backup contact, the address, allergies and medicines, bedtimes and routines, screen rules, and anything a child is afraid of. Keep it somewhere easy to find on every visit.
Plan the first visit
- Arrive a few minutes early so the parent can walk you through the house.
- Ask about locks, alarms, pets and any rooms that are off-limits.
- Bring a small bag of activities that fit the kids' ages: a card game, crayons, a book or two.
Take bookings without the back-and-forth
- Keep one calendar or booking log with every job, the family and the times.
- Confirm each booking by text the day before.
- Agree on your rate and how you'll be paid before the first job, so there's no awkward moment at the door.
Leave a short report
Parents love a quick note at the end: what the kids ate, when they went to bed, and one nice thing that happened. It's often the reason families book you again and tell their friends.
Spread the word, carefully
Start with families you or your parents already know. Ask happy families if they'll be a reference. If you post a flyer, use a first name and a phone number a parent can see, never your home address.
The Babysitting Business Kit includes the family info sheet, emergency cards, a booking log and flyers.