Leaving your child with a babysitter or scheduling a playdate may raise concerns when your child has a bleeding disorder. Using the tools and resources below can help lessen some of those anxieties.

The resources below are designed to help you find and prepare a babysitter, so you all feel prepared, even if there is an emergency.

This section covers:

Telling Babysitters or Other Parents About Your Child’s Bleeding Disorder

Tips on Finding the Right Babysitter

How to Prepare and Support Your Babysitter/Caregiver

Tips and Resources for Babysitters & Other Caregivers

Telling Babysitters or Other Parents About Your Child’s Bleeding Disorder

It can feel like a big decision to disclose your child’s bleeding disorder to someone you are going on a playdate with, or to a prospective babysitter or a daycare. How do you prepare? When do you bring it up? What do you say? How will they react? Below are some helpful tips to keep in mind when you are telling others about your child’s bleeding disorder.

  • Find out as much as you can about your child’s bleeding disorder before you tell others. You can ask your local bleeding disorder chapter and Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) for resources or look on Steps for Living! Have accurate information (pamphlets, fact sheets) that you can give out. This will help you answer questions that may come up and correct any misinformation.

If you want more information about the different bleeding disorders, please go to Basics of Bleeding Disorders.

  • Practice what you want to say first. You can practice by going over it in your mind or by role-playing with a friend you trust. You can also talk with someone from your chapter, a mental health provider, or the Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) team for suggestions on how to get the conversation started.
  • Think through all the possible reactions the person might have and how you might respond. Think about their possible concerns and what information you might need to provide.
  • Plan to discuss privacy regarding your child and their bleeding disorder. Share with that person what information about your child and their bleeding disorder you would like them to keep private and how you want them to follow up with you if they get questions from other adults or kids.
  • Choose a time and place to talk that is convenient for everyone and will minimize distractions. It is important to give yourself and the other person enough time to speak openly, safely, and without interruption. Encourage the person to ask questions. Remember, the person may also need time to think about things on their own, so a follow-up conversation may be needed.
  • Many people don’t know a lot about bleeding disorders. You can offer an opportunity to talk to your child’s HTC or healthcare provider, if appropriate. You can also find resources online at bleeding.org. If you want more information about available resources and publications, please go to Read Our Publications | National Bleeding Disorders Foundation.
  • Know that people may need time to absorb the information. Remind yourself why you are disclosing your child’s condition: to keep your child safe in someone else’s care; to make sure those caring for your child know what your child can and cannot do; to help caregivers understand what to do in an emergency and the signs and symptoms that indicate something isn’t right.

Here is a brief example that you can use or adapt for your needs:

 

Tips on Finding the Right Babysitter

Tips on Finding the Right Babysitter

Choosing the right babysitter is an important decision for any parent and especially a parent of a child with a bleeding disorder. Finding a babysitter who you can trust and who understands how to care for your child is possible. If you can’t find someone with experience caring for children with bleeding disorders, you can train them and work more closely together at first as the trust builds.

If you don’t know where to look for a babysitter, here are some suggestions:

  • Contact your HTC or local bleeding disorders organization to find other parents of children with bleeding disorders. These families might have older children who could care for your child or who have babysitters they like and trust.
  • Ask your neighbors or colleagues for recommendations.
  • Ask your faith community or contact your health care provider for suggestions.
  • If your child is enrolled in day care or after-school care, ask staff there if they babysit or if they can recommend someone who does.
  • Look into professional services or online portals that help you find prescreened care providers.
  • Look into local community centers, local nonprofits, hospitals, YMCAs/YWCAs, and the American Red Cross. Some of these organizations offer specialized training to prepare new babysitters and keep lists of participants who have completed their courses. Some organizations provide certification in infant and child CPR.

Questions for Potential Babysitters

No matter how you find a babysitter, it is a good idea to interview them and check their references to make sure you feel comfortable. During interviews, it can be helpful to have your child around to see how they react and interact with the potential babysitter.

Here is a list of questions you might ask a potential babysitter:

  • Have you ever worked as a babysitter or caregiver? Describe your experience. How old were the kids? How long did you babysit for them?
  • Have you ever cared for a child with a health condition? Describe what you did differently to support that child.
  • Why do you enjoy working with children? Which age group are you most comfortable with? How comfortable are you caring for more than one child, such as siblings?
  • Have you taken any babysitting training courses? Which ones? What other type of childcare training do you have?
  • Are you certified in CPR/basic first aid?
  • Have you ever been in an emergency situation while babysitting? How did you handle it?
  • Under what type of situation would you call me? At what point would you call a health care provider or 911?
  • Do you have any health restrictions that could affect your ability to babysit?
  • Is there an adult or family member nearby in the event of an emergency whom you could contact? (applies to minors only)
  • Do you know how to change a diaper?
  • Have you ever administered medicine to a child you were babysitting?
  • Are you comfortable being in my home at night or for an extended period?
  • How comfortable are you preparing meals?
  • Do you know how to feed an infant? A toddler? Do you know what to do if a child is choking?
  • How do you handle discipline? What will you do if my child will not listen or exhibits unwanted behavior?
  • How comfortable are you with pets? Do you have any fear of pets?
  • How do you feel about following a set of rules or a routine when caring for a child? How do you feel about being on time? What sort of activities do you normally do with children my child’s age?
  • What is your preferred method of communication?
  • These are the days and times we need a sitter. Are you available for those all the time? Some of the time?
  • What are your rates?
  • Do you have a list of references?

If you think you might want or need your sitter to drive your child, you can use these questions:

  • Do you have a driver’s license?
  • Are you comfortable driving my child in our car? In your car?
  • What safety precautions do you take with driving with children?

Print out a copy of Questions for Potential Babysitters

How to Prepare and Support Your Babysitter/Caregiver

The Babysitter’s Tool Kit

The  Babysitter’s Tool Kit helps you organize your important information and contacts for your child’s babysitter, whether they are a paid sitter or a family member or friend watching your child. It is a great resource to leave with them, while you are out of your home. Make sure your sitter knows where to find this information and that it is readily accessible with any medications that might be appropriate.

Print out a copy of the Babysitter’s Tool Kit.

When leaving your child with a babysitter or caregiver:

  • Make sure your work phone and/or cell phone numbers are clearly posted, as well as any other instructions on how to reach you. Consider advising your sitter to take a picture of it for their cell phone so they have that info with them if they go out with your child
  • Leave the telephone and/or cell phone numbers of your child’s health care providers Leave the phone number of your HTC
  • Post all emergency numbers and your house address (include cross streets) in large print near all telephones in the event of an emergency call to 911
  • Consider having a trial run of how the babysitter/caregiver would contact you in case of an emergency
  • Make sure the caregiver understands the kinds of situations that would require them to contact you

Tips for On-going Communication

It is important that parents and babysitters have open communication to ask questions and check in on how things are going.

Here are some tips for on-going communication:

  • Discuss the preferred way to communicate for each person (phone call, text, in-person conversation).
  • Check-in when you pick your child up or return home. Ask the caregiver: What did my child do today? How is my child doing? Are there any problems I should know about? Ask if they have any questions or concerns.
  • Voice any specific concerns about your child, including the following:
    • My child just doesn’t seem like themself
    • My child is being extra quiet
    • My child seems to use one limb more than another
    • My child doesn’t want to play
  • Never be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions helps you understand more about your child’s needs and the needs, questions, or concerns of the caregiver.

Tips and Resources for Babysitters & Other Caregivers

Tips and Resources for Babysitters and Other Caregivers

You may have some questions about taking care of a child with a bleeding disorder. One of the first things to remember is that a child with a bleeding disorder is like any other child. Children with bleeding disorders like to do things that every other child likes to do. You may have to watch the child more carefully and know some basic emergency procedures, but you can enjoy spending time and doing activities with this child just as you do other children. Curious to learn more about bleeding disorders? Watch a few short videos to help you better understand the experience and feel more prepared.

Talking to a Parent of a Child with a Bleeding Disorder

The more you know about the child’s disorder and the care involved, the more you will feel comfortable spending time with them.

Here are some helpful questions you as a babysitter can ask parents:

  • What do I need to know about your child’s health condition?
  • Are there any activities that your child cannot do or games your child shouldn’t play because of the bleeding disorder? What kinds of play are okay?
  • Does your child have any food allergies, require any special medications, or have any other special needs?
  • What signs should I look for in your child that might signal a bleed? What should I do if a bleed occurs?
  • What are the kinds of situations when I should contact you?
  • When should I call 911? When should I call you?
  • Where will you be going and how can I reach you? What are your cell phone numbers? When do you think you will return?
  • Can you give me the names, numbers, and addresses of nearby friends, neighbors, or relatives to contact in case I cannot reach you?
  • What is the name and contact information of your child’s health care provider and Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC)?
  • What is your insurance company and who is the policyholder in case of an emergency? Do you have an insurance card for your child?
  • If I need to administer medication, can you provide written instructions and show me what I’ll need to do?

Print out a copy of Questions to Ask a Parent.