The Babysitter Info Sheet Every Parent Needs on the Fridge
You're halfway out the door, shoes on, keys in hand, and the babysitter asks: "What's the WiFi password? Does she have any allergies? What time is bedtime again?"
You start rattling off answers while texting the restaurant that you're running late. Half of what you say, the sitter will forget before you've pulled out of the driveway. The other half you'll forget to mention entirely — like the fact that your youngest won't sleep without the hallway light on, or that the dog gets anxious when strangers open the back door.
This is why a babysitter info sheet exists. Not because your sitter isn't capable. Because nobody can absorb a dozen details in a rushed two-minute handoff at the front door.
What Belongs on a Babysitter Info Sheet
A good info sheet answers every question your sitter might have after you've left. Here's what to include, broken into two groups: what they need immediately, and what they'll need if something comes up.
The Essentials (Page 1)
Start with your contact information — both parents' cell phone numbers, where you'll be, and what time you expect to be home. Then list emergency contacts: someone local who can come quickly if needed, your pediatrician's after-hours line, and poison control (1-800-222-1222). This last number matters more than most parents realize. The American Association of Poison Control Centers handles over two million calls a year, and a significant portion involve children under six.
Next, write down each child's name, age, and any allergies or medical conditions. If a child takes medication, note the name, dose, and time. Even if you've told your sitter verbally, having it on paper means there's no guessing if they can't reach you by phone.
Finally, include the practical details that make your sitter's evening easier: the WiFi password, the alarm code if you have one, and where to find basic supplies — first aid kit, flashlight, extra diapers, clean pajamas.
The Details (Page 2)
This is where your family's specific routines live. Meal plans and snack options, including any foods that are off-limits. Bedtime routines — the exact order matters more than you'd think. If your child needs stories before songs, or won't brush teeth unless they get to pick the toothpaste flavor, write it down. What seems trivial to you is the difference between a calm bedtime and a meltdown for your sitter.
Include house rules around screen time, going outside, and having friends over. If you have pets, note feeding times and any behaviors the sitter should know about (does the cat bolt for the door? does the dog need to go out before 8 PM?).
Leave a blank space at the bottom for additional notes. Every family has at least one thing that doesn't fit neatly into a category — "the upstairs bathroom door sticks, just push harder" or "if Grandma calls, she'll want to talk to the kids."
Why Paper Beats a Text Message
You could text all of this to your sitter. But texts get buried under other messages. They're hard to scan quickly when a child is crying and the sitter needs to find the allergy information right now. A printed sheet on the fridge is visible, immediate, and doesn't require unlocking a phone.
There's a psychological benefit too. When your sitter has a clear, organized reference sheet, they feel more confident. And confident sitters make better decisions. They're not second-guessing whether that snack is okay or whether bedtime is 7:30 or 8:00 — they just check the sheet.
Fill It In Once, Update as Needed
The best part of a printed info sheet is that most of the information stays the same. Your address doesn't change. Your emergency contacts rarely do. You fill it in once, and then all you need to update is the evening-specific details: where you're going, when you'll be back, and anything unusual about tonight ("she had a late nap, so bedtime might be closer to 8:30").
Keep a few blank copies in a kitchen drawer. Before your sitter arrives, spend two minutes filling in tonight's details, and pin it to the fridge. That two minutes buys you an evening where you're not fielding questions by text from the parking lot of the restaurant.
A Template That Does the Organizing for You
We built the Babysitter Info Sheet as a 2-page printable PDF because the hardest part of making one from scratch is figuring out what to include and how to lay it out. Our template covers everything in this article — emergency contacts, medical info, routines, house rules, pet care, and notes — in a clean design that's easy to scan at a glance.
Print as many copies as you need. Fill them in by hand. Give one to every sitter, grandparent, or neighbor who watches your kids. It's $3.99 for the instant download.
One More Thing
If you're also caring for aging parents — and many families are juggling childcare and eldercare at the same time — our Aging Parent Care Binder does the same thing for the other end of the caregiving spectrum. Same idea: one organized document with everything a caregiver needs, so you're not trying to remember it all under pressure.
And if your family's situation is more complex than a template can cover, get a personalized care plan for $2.99. We'll help you figure out exactly what your household needs.
Because the goal isn't a perfect sheet of paper. The goal is walking out the door knowing everyone's going to be fine.