If you are babysitting or watching your younger sisters and brothers for your mom or dad, remember the following tips:

• Infants choke on small objects like buttons or coins. Never give them anything that is smaller than a toilet tissue roll. Believe it or not, infants have been known to swallow and choke on objects even that large! (Thanks to one of our site's viewers for conrtibuting that helpful tip!)

• Toddlers move fast. Be alert and ready. Always pay attention to them.

• Younger kids don’t always recognize danger and need to be watched.

• REMEMBER: Be ready to give the child all your attention, be alert, and be prepared for emergencies.

• When you are babysitting or if you are home alone, remember these things:

Write down the address where you're babysitting and keep it near the phone. Sometimes, especially during a crisis, it's easy to forget the address where you are since you're not at home.
(This tip thanks to one of the alert viewers of our site!)

Know where the first aid supplies are kept.

Have emergency numbers ready, such as 9-1-1, the number where the parents can be located (a pager number is ideal), or a contact number for another member of the parents' family. If there is an emergency, always dial 9-1-1 first.

Know what medications the kids are taking and when it should be given.

Ask questions of the parents about anything you're not sure of.

Lock all doors and don’t let anyone in unless the parents have told you someone would be coming.

If someone comes to the door and asks to make an emergency phone call, offer to make it for them, but don’t let them in.

If someone comes to the door and won’t leave, or tries to break in, call 9-1-1 for the Police.

Never tell anyone you are home alone with the children.

WE WANT YOU AND THE KIDS YOU ARE WATCHING TO BE SAFE!

Do you have any helpful babysitting safety tips you'd like to share with the world? Email them to WRFD's webmaster by clicking here. Please include your name and, if you like, we'll be happy to credit the information to you right here on our Babysitters' Safety Page!