How to Prep Your House (and Your Kids) for a Babysitter

So you can leave the house without a “where’s the charger/diapers/snack drawer?!” emergency

Whether you're heading out for a long-overdue date night, a Target run in complete silence, or just need a few hours of not being the default parent—a babysitter is a beautiful thing. But before you make your escape, there are a few things you can do to make sure your kids, your home, and your babysitter don’t spiral into chaos the second you leave.

1. Set the Scene (aka, Fake Clean)

You do not need to deep clean. I repeat: do not waste a single Swiffer pad. Just clear the path—literally. Pick up random shoes, rogue LEGO mines, and that one mystery sock. Make it easy for your sitter to walk around without injury or confusion.

Bonus points: Light a candle or plug in something that smells like you didn’t just microwave chicken nuggets in there 20 minutes ago.

2. Write the “Cheat Sheet”

No one wants to scroll through your text novel labeled “bedtime routine.” Make a quick sheet or whiteboard with:

• Emergency contacts (you, your partner, the neighbor who’s a nurse)

• WiFi password (they’re human)

• Bedtime routine in 3 steps or less

• Where snacks, wipes, diapers, and chargers are

• Kid quirks (he calls bananas “boops” and will cry if you correct him)

Stick it on the fridge and boom—you're now the organized one.

3. Feed Them First

Your kids. Not the babysitter. (But maybe leave snacks for them too)
Feeding the kids before you leave saves everyone from the hangry meltdown that happens exactly 4.5 minutes after you're out the door. If the sitter wants to give them dessert or a snack later, great. But full bellies = smoother evening.

4. Prep the Pajamas

You do not want to come home to your kid passed out in jeans and light-up shoes. Lay out the jammies, diapers, and loveys before you leave so there’s no “I can’t find his favorite ones with the trucks” panic.

5. Give the Kids the Pep Talk

Even the best babysitter needs a little backup. Take five minutes to remind your kids that the sitter is in charge, even if she doesn’t do storytime voices as good as you. This helps set expectations and cuts down on power struggles. (Fingers crossed.)

6. Do Not Ghost

Unless your kids are tiny and separation anxiety is major, do say goodbye. A quick “Love you! Be good!” and confident exit is better than sneaking out. It builds trust—and honestly, you don’t want the sitter texting you mid-margarita because your kid is sobbing by the door like a Disney princess.

7. Hide the Sugar and the Markers

Trust me. That combo has ended friendships. Babysitters are not responsible for your rogue glitter slime or the Costco tub of lollipops you forgot was in plain sight. Set them up for success and lock the chaos down.

8. Tell Them What to Text You

Let the sitter know when it’s okay to check in (“Hey! Kids are asleep, everything’s great!” = yes). And when it’s an emergency (“Someone cut their own bangs” = probably worth a text). Boundaries are good for both sides.

TL;DR:

Make things easy to find. Feed your kids. Leave instructions that don’t require a decoder ring. Then GO. You’ve earned a break and the kids are fine. Probably.