How to Convince Your Parents to Let You Babysit

Research! Your parents wouldn't let you cook without knowing how to, would they? No, they wouldn't, so why should they let you babysit if you don't know what you're doing? Look up different articles about babysitting and what to do and what not to do; this way, if your parent asks you a question (i.e. What would you do if a baby cries?), you have answer. You can research the following things:

• Entertainment ideas for children of all ages
• Easy meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner
• What to do if a child has an allergic reaction, a bee sting, a cut or scrape, etc.
• The ultimate do's and don't's in babysitting
• Questions to ask the parents before they leave
• What to wear to the job
• What to pack in a babysitting bag
• Practical safety to enforce during the babysitting hours

Ask your parents if you can take a babysitting class. If they say "We told you, we don't want you to babysit," say it will be good to know what to do for the future. The American Red Cross offers babysitting courses for ages 11-18 but can let people younger in, and once you take the course, you can be certified in First Aid and CPR. If the classes aren't possible, you can simply do your research on basic First Aid, CPR for kids and infants, and the Heimlich Maneuver.

Schedule a time to talk with your parents. Don't choose to bring it up when they're watching the game or when they're both running around the house trying to find a pacifier for the baby. Make a pros and cons chart of babysitting (make sure you have more pros than cons!) and show it to your parents. If after or during the talk they say no, don't get mad and start yelling. This just increases their opinion that you aren't mature enough to babysit.

Help out around the house. Clean your room, do the laundry, feed your pets, and do other jobs without being told to. This will show you how responsible you are, and it also shows that you are old enough to start having a job of your own. Maturity is the key. Besides, why would they let you babysit if you have a hard enough time trying to take care of the dog?

Don't nag your parents over and over again. The more you pester them, the less likely they are to ever give you what you want. Bring it up a few weeks or even a month or two later (again, pick a suitable time where you can sit down alone with your parents and talk to them). Give them a talk on why you think you are ready for the job, what safety precautions you will take (for instance, getting them to meet your clients first) etc. If you are nervous about talking about it to their faces, make a power point presentation to do the speaking for you.

If they say yes, make sure you show that you appreciate their co-operation and generosity. A 'thank you' goes a long way, but you could always buy them a small gift to show how pleased you are that they've let you take on this new responsibility. If you are only babysitting for your siblings you can tell your mom that you don't need to get paid. This will show how considerate you are for not getting paid. It can only be one time if your mom and dad agrees, but it's the nice thing to do.

If they say no, offer to "mothersit". If they're still saying no, you can "mothersit," or babysit while the mother of the kiddos is still there. This is for moms who are busy and don't have enough time for their baby. Find a mom interested in your service, and have your parent come with you to supervise. This way they'll see what it will be like for you: use all your skills and try not to ask for help - just pretend your parents aren't there.