If a
child is really sick, hopefully the parents won’t
be going out. If they still wish to and you don’t
feel happy or confident about it, you would be within
your rights to refuse to sit.
However, there are some ailments that can suddenly
arise once the parents have left. Children can get
sick with alarming speed and it’s a good idea
to know how you would handle this – before
it happens!
If a child or baby does suddenly become ill for
whatever reason, you must contact the parents. It
may be something initially fairly trivial like running
a fever, but if the parents are aware, it gives them
the option of deciding whether to return home or
not.
It also covers you, as a sitter. If you don’t
contact them and they return home to find their child
sick, they may be angry that you didn’t make
that call.
Fever!
Children up to the age of five can suddenly run
a fever for no apparent reason. It is a good idea
to ask the parents whether the child is prone to
doing this. They may have a stock of the medication
that the child usually receives – or they may
just open a window, take off the bedclothes and repeatedly
sponge the child with a cloth wrung out in tepid
water to lower the fever.
It’s important to get the temperature down
as quickly as possible as some children can develop ‘febrile
convulsions’ – a type of fit caused by
high fever. If this happens, lay the child on their
side and let the fit take its course, simply staying
with the child until the fit is over to ensure their
safety. It used to be common practice to put something,
like a spoon or stick into the mouth during a fit
but this is now considered unhelpful and possibly
dangerous.
If the child is known to be prone to febrile convulsions,
the parents will need to take them to see a Doctor
the following day.
If they have never had a fit before or if you are
worried, always call 911.
I feel sick…
Children are also prone to upset tummies. They will
already be over-excited and may have over-indulged
in food or drinks. They may become tearful, or very
quiet, complain of feeling sick or that their tummy
hurts.
If vomiting and / or diarrhoea occur, you will need
to overcome any squeamishness, bathe the child and
get them into fresh nightwear and possibly a clean
bed.
Try and get the child to drink some water or soda
to replace the lost fluid. Don’t give them
a milky drink as this can trigger another attack
or prolong a viral tummy bug. Once the child is comfortable
and settled, you can deal with any soiled nightwear
or bedding. It’s often easiest to initially
put soiled bedding into the tub to soak prior to
washing.
This is freaking me out!
These scenarios sound worrying but the chances are
that none of these things will ever happen while
you are babysitting. However, if you recognise that
they might and you would rather be prepared, it can
be lot less scary.
The general rule when kids get sick is to try and
stay calm and deal with what you can. Most ailments
will be fairly harmless and short-lived but can be
alarming to deal with when you are alone and in charge.
Don’t forget that you can always call your
own home and ask your Mom and Dad for help or support.
The golden rules are:
Always call the parents.
If you feel out of your depth, call your Mom or
Dad or a neighbour close to the family that you are
sitting for.
If a child has collapsed, stopped breathing, had
an accident or you are really worried about their
health, call 911 first.
Disclaimer: This is not intended as a first aid
or other medical guide, we recommend it as a starting
point for you to inform your training - Superbabysitting.com
cannot accept any responsibility or liability for
your actions based on this information article. When
babysitting, if you do not have proper medical training
you should seek the advice of a trained person as
soon as practicable.
If you wish to use this article on your own web site, please ensure the following credit appears, including the links ...
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