Sometimes in life, we have to leave our children in the care of others. Maybe it’s due to work commitments, because of their extracurricular activities and hobbies, or perhaps we just need a break. Parenting is busy and stressful, sometimes you just need a nice date night with your partner away from the kids to keep the spark alive and claw back a bit of sanity! But when our children are so precious, as parents we need to be vigilant about their caretakers. Schools require teachers to have thorough checks done, but not all childcare establishments do, so you have to be careful. Here are some of the ways that you can ensure your child is safe when they’re being looked after by others:

Do a Background Check: When it comes to your kids, you can never be too careful. Doing a background check on anyone who cares for your kids without you there can give you peace of mind. You’re able to pull up past information about people from convicted crimes and warnings to cases that were dropped in court. While it’s not completely foolproof, a clean record can help if you don’t know the person well. Of course, always use common sense and good judgment, but if you just need to know their background to be sure, then this is one way to go about it. Whether it’s a nanny, babysitter, an ex’s new partner, or anyone else who is around you children- it’s always good to be cautious. You could click here for free warrant checks online if this is something that you would benefit from.

Ask About Medical Training: If you leave your children at a daycare, babysitter’s house, or with a nanny- ask about what medical training they have had. Do they know first aid, and can they apply it to children? Don’t feel shy about asking to see certificates for proof. Those who have nothing to hide won’t mind showing you. The same applies to food safety. To avoid illnesses and food poisoning, those looking after children and preparing food for them should have a good knowledge of kitchen safety and hygiene.

Request References: Good references will show you that the person looking after your children is competent and good at their job, as well as has prior experience in child care. If you’re hiring a nanny, for example, you will want to choose the most qualified candidate, and past experience is a great way to judge how well they will do when they work for you.

Use a Nanny Cam: In most places in the US it’s completely legal to use surveillance equipment in your home, without the consent of the person you’re recording. It’s illegal to record in areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy however, so it goes without saying that bathroom areas are off limits but also your live-in nanny or au-pair’s bedroom. But for use elsewhere in the home, a nanny cam can be useful if you want to keep tabs on what’s going on.

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