A date night babysitter needs two things: enough information to handle anything that comes up, and enough confidence in that information to actually use it. This checklist covers both — a short version for a sitter you use regularly and a complete version for someone new.
For a sitter you use regularly: the quick version
If she has been here before and nothing has changed, confirm these five things before you walk out the door:
- Your cell number — and that it is the right one. Numbers change.
- Where you are going — name and address of the restaurant or venue, not just "dinner."
- When you will be home — approximate time, and how to reach you if plans change.
- Whether anything has changed — new allergy, new medication, new bedtime, new behavior at school. Update her verbally even if you do not have it written down yet.
- Bedtime — confirm the actual time, not the one your child will negotiate.
For a new sitter: the complete date night checklist
Medical information (review before she arrives)
- Allergies — every allergen, the severity, and exactly what to do. If there is an EpiPen, show her where it is and walk through how to use it.
- Medications — any medication she might need to give tonight: name, dose, when to give it, whether she needs to call you first.
- Medical conditions — anything that could flare tonight and what to do if it does.
- Pediatrician number — office and after-hours line.
Emergency contacts
- Your cell and your partner's cell
- A backup adult who can be there in 10 minutes if she cannot reach you
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
- The name and address of where you are going tonight
Kids' routines for the evening
- Dinner — what she can give them, what they will ask for, and what the answer is.
- Screen time — how much, which platforms or shows are approved, and what is off-limits.
- Bedtime — actual time, specific routine (bath, books, songs), what each child needs to actually fall asleep.
- If they wake up — what to do, especially for younger kids.
- Behavioral notes — the one thing most likely to cause friction tonight and what helps.
The house
- WiFi password
- First aid kit location
- Any pets and instructions related to them
- Any doors or gates that need to stay closed
- Whether she should feel free to help herself to food
What to tell her before you leave
The conversation that matters most is the one about when to call you and when to call 911. Make the rule clear:
- For anything she is unsure about: text you.
- For a medical concern that does not feel urgent: call you first, then the pediatrician.
- For anything involving breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, a severe allergic reaction, or a fall with a significant injury: call 911 first, then you immediately after.
Saying this out loud — not just leaving it written — makes a real difference. She needs to hear the permission to call 911 without waiting to reach you.
The date night checklist (one-page version)
- Your cell and partner's cell
- Where you are going: name and address
- Expected return time
- Local backup contact
- Pediatrician number (after-hours line)
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
- Allergies: allergens, severity, EpiPen location if applicable
- Medications tonight: name, dose, when to give
- Medical conditions and what to do
- Dinner: what they can have
- Screen time rules
- Bedtime for each child
- Bedtime routine for each child
- What to do if they wake
- Behavioral note for the likely friction point tonight
- WiFi password
- First aid kit location
- 911 rule: when to call without waiting for you
If you want a shareable link instead of a sheet on the counter, Baton Pass keeps everything in one place. Text her the link before she arrives and she has everything organized on her phone when she needs it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell a sitter about a complicated medical situation quickly?
Do not try to compress it into a verbal summary on the way out the door. Write it down in advance and walk through it with her when she arrives, at a pace where she can ask questions. A 5-minute briefing on a documented allergy is worth more than a 30-second verbal mention of it.
Should I leave cash or a snack for the babysitter?
Yes to snacks if you want to. Cash is useful for true emergencies — a taxi if the car is unavailable, a replacement item if something breaks. It is not required, but many parents leave $20 as a general fund. More important is making sure she knows she can order food if the evening runs long.
What time should I tell the babysitter I will be home?
Give a realistic estimate with a 30-minute buffer. If you say midnight and you walk in at 12:45, she may have had plans. If plans change during the evening, a quick text is considerate and avoids her worrying. For sitters with curfews or transit constraints, confirm the latest she needs to leave before you set your own return time.
Is it okay to have a babysitter come for the first time on date night without a trial run?
It is common, but a short trial visit (even 1-2 hours while you run errands nearby) makes the first longer stay go more smoothly — for the sitter, the child, and your peace of mind. If a trial is not possible, build in extra time before you leave for a thorough handoff and make sure the sitter and child have met before the moment you are walking out the door.
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