Questions to Ask Parents Before You Babysit: A Checklist for Sitters

Asking parents the right questions before a babysitting job is not awkward — it is professional. The parents who gave you this job want you to know what their child needs. The questions that feel presumptuous are often exactly the ones that matter most. Here is the complete list, organized from most to least critical.

Medical questions — ask these first, always

These questions have the highest stakes. Ask them before the parents leave, not when a situation has already developed:

• "Does your child have any allergies?" — If yes: what is the allergen, how severe is the reaction, what does the reaction look like, and what do you do? If there is an EpiPen, where is it, and can the parent walk you through how to use it before they leave?
• "Does your child take any medications tonight?" — If yes: what is the medication, what is the exact dose, when should you give it, and do you need to call the parent before giving anything?
• "Does your child have any medical conditions I should know about?" — Asthma, seizure disorder, diabetes, severe anxiety, heart condition. What does it look like if it becomes an issue, and what should you do?
• "Is there an EpiPen, inhaler, or other emergency medication in the house?" — Ask even if allergies were not mentioned. Some parents answer the allergy question and forget to mention the EpiPen. Ask specifically.
• "What is the name and number for your pediatrician?" — And: is there an after-hours line?

Emergency contact questions

• "What is the best number to reach you tonight?" — And: what is your partner's number, in case I cannot reach you?
• "Where exactly will you be?" — Not just "out to dinner." The name and address of the restaurant, theater, or venue.
• "Is there a local backup contact if I cannot reach you?" — A neighbor, a grandparent, someone who can be here in 10-15 minutes.
• "When do you plan to be home?" — And: how should I contact you if plans change?
• "When should I call you versus when should I call 911?" — Ask for the specific rule. Most parents will say "call me for anything non-emergency; call 911 for breathing problems, serious injury, or anything you are genuinely scared about." Having heard it explicitly means you act faster in the right direction.

Routine questions for the evening

• "What is bedtime and what is the bedtime routine?" — Get the exact time and the specific sequence: bath, books, songs, what the child needs to actually fall asleep.
• "What can the kids eat tonight, and what are they not allowed to have?" — Dietary rules beyond allergies: no soda, no dessert before dinner, a child who will ask for the same forbidden snack every single night.
• "What are the screen time rules?" — How much, which platforms or shows are approved, and what is off-limits.
• "Is there anything I should know about how the kids are feeling today?" — Tired, coming down with something, upset about school, had a hard day. Context that explains what you might walk into.
• "Is there a nap for any of the children?" — For young children: when, the routine, and what to do if they resist.

The questions most sitters are afraid to ask

These feel presumptuous, but asking them is exactly what a responsible, professional babysitter does:

• "Who is authorized to pick up the children tonight?" — If anyone besides the parents might come to the door, you need to know who they are and that it is authorized. You should feel comfortable asking a stranger to wait while you call the parent if they are not on the list.
• "Is there any custody situation or any person who is not authorized to take the children?" — Ask directly. The discomfort of asking is much smaller than the discomfort of a situation where an unauthorized person appears and you do not know what to do.
• "If your child has a medical emergency and I cannot reach you, am I authorized to consent to emergency care?" — Some parents will have a written consent form; many do not. Asking the question makes the gap visible. A parent who does not have a consent form may quickly write one, or may at least have an explicit verbal conversation about what they want you to do.
• "Is there anything about your child's behavior that is hard or that I should handle a specific way?" — Meltdowns, tantrums, sibling conflicts, specific fears. Parents know the answer; they often do not volunteer it because they are embarrassed or do not want to sound like their child is difficult.
• "What is the most likely thing to go wrong tonight, and what does it look like?" — The honest answer to this question is more useful than a list of abstract possibilities.

House logistics questions

• "Can you show me where the first aid kit is?"
• "Is there an alarm, and what is the code?"
• "Where are the kids' medications / EpiPen / inhaler?" — Ask even if the parent has mentioned the location — confirm by physically seeing it.
• "What is the WiFi password?"
• "Are there any pets, and is there anything I need to know about them?"
• "Are there any areas that are off-limits for the kids?"

What to do if the parents are rushed or the handoff is brief

If a family is always in a hurry when they leave, ask for the most critical information first: allergies, the emergency contact number, and bedtime. Then ask them to text you the rest — the pediatrician number, any medications, whatever did not get covered. A brief handoff is not a reason to skip the medical questions; it is a reason to prioritize them.

You can also ask in advance — before you arrive. A text the day before with a few key questions ("Are there any allergies I should know about? What time is bedtime?") gives the family time to think about it and reduces the doorstep rush.

The pre-babysitting question checklist

• Any allergies? Severity, reaction, EpiPen location?
• Any medications tonight? Dose, timing, approval required?
• Any medical conditions? What to do if it flares?
• Pediatrician name and after-hours number
• Your cell and partner's cell
• Exact location tonight and return time
• Local backup contact
• When to call you vs. when to call 911
• Who is authorized for pickup tonight?
• Bedtime and routine for each child
• Food: what is allowed and what is not
• Screen time rules
• How the kids are doing today (context)
• First aid kit location
• Any behavioral notes or likely friction points tonight
• WiFi password

Some families use Baton Pass to share this information as a link before you arrive. If the family you work with uses it, you will be able to open the link and see allergies, medications, emergency contacts, and routines all organized in one place before the parents even have to answer your questions at the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it rude to ask parents so many questions?

No. Professional babysitters ask these questions. Parents who care about their children's safety are relieved when a sitter asks about allergies and emergency contacts rather than assuming everything will be fine. The sitters who do not ask these questions are the ones taking unnecessary risks — with the child and with themselves. Ask every time, with every family, even if you feel you already know the answer.

What if parents get impatient with my questions?

Cover the top three — allergies, contact number, bedtime — before they can get away. Then ask them to text you the rest. "I know you are rushing — can you text me the pediatrician number and any medications on the way?" Most parents who were impatient at the door will text you the information within five minutes of leaving, because they now know it matters.

What should a babysitter do if a parent doesn't know the answers to these questions?

Some parents are genuinely disorganized about this information. The most useful thing you can do is ask each question specifically: "Do you know if she has taken penicillin before and had any reaction?" Many parents know the information — they just have not organized it. Your questions prompt them to access what they know. If they genuinely do not know, that is important information for you to have as you make your own decisions about what the role requires.

Should I write down the answers to these questions?

Yes. Write down every medical answer, every phone number, and the exact address of where the parents are going. Do not rely on memory during an emergency. A simple note in your phone with the family's information — allergy, pediatrician number, parent cell — is worth having regardless of whether the family provides a written sheet.