Babysitting: More than changing nappies

By CATHERINE MASTERS

Anna-Louise Hoffman, aged 15, confesses that some of the girls giggled when the boys on the St John Ambulance babysitting course had a go at changing nappies.

Students of the course - who must be 14 and over and sometimes include mothers - are given a dummy baby which they must look after for the entire day-long comprehensive session as if it were a real child.

They must carry it around, bathe it, learn how to feed it and change its nappies.

If they go to the toilet they are not allowed to put it down or dump it somewhere and instead have to make sure someone else is caring for it.

Anna-Louise is proud of the certificate she got at the end, which she hopes will help get her work during the winter.

She thinks it will help convince parents that she knows what she is doing and that she is dependable.

And she learned all kinds of things. "We learned how to bathe them [the dummy babies] safely so they don't drown or whatever. At one point we had to try baby food and it smelled and tasted disgusting," said Anna-Louise.

Boys also go on the course. On hers they were "really funny boys because they had no idea what they were doing and when it came to changing the babies they'd put the nappy around the wrong way."

The course taught cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and she feels more confident about handling emergencies.

"You can be responsible in any situation, not just for yourself, but if something happens to your friend you know what to do, even CPR. We learned how to do it on infants but we also learned how to do it on adults."

Isabel Benjamin tutors some of the courses which are held according to demand and to turn out responsible babysitters.

But they also teach other skills. Students learn how to put together a curriculum vitae to show parents their skills, how long they have been at school and whether they have any experience with babysitting or caring for younger siblings.

"So you've got that information together and it looks very professional when you go there. It looks as though you are interested and keen and wanting to look after these kids well, not just get the money.

"We talk about saying how much you want, and working out what your normal fee will be, because that will be something parents ask," said Mrs Benjamin.

Students are taken through how to look after children of different ages, how to feed them, what kind of games to play with them and what will keep them entertained.

They are taught the importance of asking parents about routines, any medical or other conditions the child may have and are told they must have not only a contact number for the parents, but an extra number for emergencies.

They learn how to deal with a toddler who hits, how to get to bed a child who does not want to go - threatening them with the boogie monster is not the right thing to do.

Personal safety is also taught. Babysitters should ask the parents if they are expecting anyone to arrive and what to do with telephone calls.

"We do emphasise with the children their safety, that you don't just go opening the door."

And they are taught not to go through their employer's belongings.

Mrs Benjamin believes that 14 years old is fine for babysitting if that person is responsible. She says most of the young adults who go on the courses are.

The course costs around $70.

Rates do vary, but expect up to $10 an hour


Rates for babysitting vary greatly, but seem to range from $5 to $10 an hour.

It comes down to negotiation, says Colleen Fakalogotoa from Plunket.

"There isn't any kind of set figure and I think this is where the young person is going to have to experiment a bit and see what they can get. It's a sort of a free market out there."

The going rate she believes is $8 to $10 an hour, plus nibbles, which can add up to an expensive night out for parents.

St John Ambulance babysitting course tutor Isabel Benjamin said the going rate was anything from $5 to $10.