Mealtime Tips for the Sitter
Use food to your advantage. As most of us know, food can be a powerful tool for ingratiation. Consider relaxing the house rules forbidding junk food if you think it will endear the kids to the sitter and vice versa. Or have the babysitter make a favorite meal the first night with a special dessert.
Plan a meal schedule. Make it as simple as you can. Buy groceries before you go, and leave a rough schedule for what everyone should eat for dinner each night. Provide a list of favorite meals (and recipes), snacks that are OK and off-limits, and phone numbers for takeout. Be sure to note any food allergies. For toddlers and infants, the list should be as detailed as possible (crusts on or off?). Include special tricks for getting them to open their mouths. If Junior eats vegetables only when you sing “The Wheels on the Bus,” make sure the sitter knows.
