Question: have you turned on a radio, computer, phone or television today? Answer: this is a blog so obviously you have. Good, that means you have heard that the Duchess of Cambridge, or more commonly known as Kate Middleton, has entered the Lindo Wing of London’s St. Mary’s Hospital. Now, the whole world waits and speculates. How big will the baby be? Will it be a boy, girl or some kind of mythical being? What will his/her name be? What will he/she look like? These are all questions that I have seen asked on social media and discussed by news agencies around the world. But one, dare I say more important, question has yet to be asked – who will be the royal babysitter?
Obviously, this will be a very important job. The royal babysitter will literally have the future of the British monarchy in his/her presumably capable hands. The babysitter will not only get to hang out with royals all day, but he/she will most likely be compensated generously and get to travel the globe with world’s best known family. So, now I know you’re thinking “How can I land this amazing gig?”. Well, the Duke and Duchess probably have a list of qualifications and characteristics they are looking for when they hire a babysitter. But, you can be sure they want someone who will keep their royal bundle of joy safe. How can you meet this qualification? By becoming a Red Cross certified babysitter, of course!
So, before you book your plane ticket and print out your resume, here are some tips every childcare giver should know:
- Keep children and pets at least 3 feet (or 0.9144 meters) away from any heat source (hot food/liquid, table lamps, stove/oven that is in use). Do not leave items in or on the stove unattended.
- Keep the phone numbers for the parents, local emergency officials and the address of where you are babysitting easily accessible.
- Remove all sharp objects from play areas.
- Use proper protective gear for outdoor activities, such as helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads for bike riding and skate boarding.
- Be sure to support the head, neck and back of infants under 6 months old. When feeding an infant, use the cradle hold. When walking with or trying to calm a baby, use the shoulder hold.
- Never warm a bottle in the microwave. Rather, warm a bottle by running it under lukewarm faucet water or placing it in a pot or bowl of hot water.
Interested in learning more about how you can become a qualified babysitter and applicant for the most coveted childcare job in the world? Click here to find out more about the babysitting courses offered by the American Red Cross.
Also, check out this video to find out exactly the type of babysitter the Royal family will not be entrusting their child to.