Safety Tips

It can be a lot of fun taking care of a baby or a toddler, and it starts with feeling ready and relaxed—and knowing you’ve taken the steps to keep the little one safe and protected. We’ve got a few tips to help you get ready for babysitting with safety in mind, from organizing and babyproofing your home to being ready for little emergencies, no matter your level of vision.

One way to feel confident, moving about with the baby and finding what you need, is to babysit at your own home.

To get your home ready, you’ll want to check out the surroundings from the baby’s viewpoint. Go ahead and get down on the floor, and use your hands and remaining vision to search for objects a baby might put in their mouth. To keep track of where you’ve checked, search the room with a grid pattern, moving your hands in a fan shape or a circular motion in each section of the grid. Exploring the floor with bare feet is another great technique for finding objects that need to be picked up.

You can also ask for help from a sighted family member or friend who’s familiar with babyproofing. Together, you can look for things like knickknacks that might be within the baby’s reach, or tablecloths that could be pulled on. There are even professional babyproofing services that can come to your home.

For any babyproofing devices you need, look for products that are easy to use with one hand, so you can access things quickly, even when you’re holding the little one.

Be sure to practice opening and closing the devices ahead of time. Then you’ll be comfortable using them, and you’ll know what kind of clicks or other sounds to listen for, to make sure they’re in place. For tips on using tools to help you install any babyproofing devices, check out our workshops on home repair.

When it’s time to babysit, keeping track of what’s on the floor is still a big area of focus. When the baby is playing on the floor, it’s helpful to limit the number of toys you put out, so you minimize any tripping hazards for yourself.

Another option for putting the baby down to play with toys is to use a travel crib that folds up for storage, sometimes called a pack-and-play. Or you can use a larger play yard or play fence. These options can be especially helpful when you’re cleaning, checking an area for safety, or preparing a bottle or meal.

If you’re babysitting a little one who can roll, crawl, or walk, it’s a good idea to have them wear wrist rattles so you can listen for their movements. Or you may be able to listen for the crinkle of their diaper as they move. Another technique is to fasten bells on the baby’s shoes using a diaper pin, several stitches with a needle and thread, or another secure method they won’t be able to pull off. You might consider turning your tv down or off so you can tune your listening skills to the baby.

For a little one who’s walking, one handy way to stay with them is to use a little backpack that works as a safety harness. These are often shaped like a stuffed animal, and they have a strap on the back for you to hold onto.

When it’s time to carry the baby—whether you’re moving to another room; pointing out things to hear, touch, and name; or comforting a little fussiness—a front-facing baby carrier is a great way to keep your hands free to navigate. Or, if you don’t have a carrier, try a few different ways to hold and carry the baby to find the method that works best for you. If you’re holding the baby with one arm, have your hand in a position that protects their body and head, so if you bump into anything, your hand and arm will touch first.

If you’re carrying the baby with both arms, keep your elbows out front to protect both of you from any obstacles. And walking slowly gives you more time to react if you do make contact with something.

One situation to watch for is a change in the sounds the baby’s making. If babbling turns to humming, or “mmm” sounds, that’s a good cue to check and see if they might have put something in their mouth.

You can also use your hearing and other senses to check for symptoms like congestion or fever. If you’re concerned about a cough or wheezing, place your ear on the baby’s chest to hear whether their breathing is clear. And if the baby feels too warm, having a talking thermometer available can help you check for a fever.

As always, if you need more information or you've got your own tips to share, contact a Hadley learning expert. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience and practice, and you'll get there.