Professional nanny of over 25 years details the dangerous mistakes parents make when hiring babysitters

Leaving your children in the care of a stranger can be extremely nerve-wracking.

The wildly popular new Peacock series All Her Fault highlighted some of the dangers of not taking the right precautions when hiring a nanny or babysitter to look after your kids.

The show, starring Sarah Snookfollows a mom who arrives to pick up her son from a playdate and discovers that he was kidnapped by their nanny.

While extremely rare, scary incidents with babysitters and nannies can and do occur.

But according to professional nanny known online as Miss Monique, there are simple things you can do to avoid treacherous situations and ensure your little one is in the best hands possible.

She shared the common – and potentially dangerous – mistakes that parents make when hiring babysitters in a bid to help moms and dads avoid making them.

Monique, who has worked in childcare for more than 25 years, explained to the Today show back in 2023 in a recently republished interview that the first common mistake parents make is not sharing enough information with the babysitter.

She explained that more is better when it comes to hiring a stranger to look after your kids.

Leaving your children in the care of a stranger can be extremely nerve-wracking. While extremely rare, scary incidents with babysitters and nannies can and do occur (stock image)

The wildly popular new Peacock series All Her Fault highlighted some of the dangers of not taking the right precautions when hiring a nanny or babysitter to look after your kids

She stressed the importance of going over schedules, bedtime routines, food restrictions and any important rules before hand.

‘Parents and sitters should communicate. Mommy and Daddy know what’s best,’ she explained.

‘They should provide a schedule for meals, (including) specific rules about screen time or preferred activities.’

According to Monique, many parents also make the mistake of assuming a sitter knows the ropes – including how to use essential items.

She said it’s vital to show them how to use things like the bottle warmer, stroller or noise machine before you leave to ensure things go smoothly.

And if you have a ‘tricky lock’ on your door, take an extra moment to teach them how it’s done.

She also reminded parents to show all babysitters where first aid kits are kept and provide them with emergency phone numbers.

‘Think ahead of time (about) any contingencies and leave a clear and detailed list of any important details or contacts,’ she stressed.

According to professional nanny known online as Miss Monique, there are simple things you can do to avoid treacherous situations and ensure your little one is in the best hands possible

‘Have a clear list of contacts and details just in case there is an emergency have them written down and put them somewhere the nanny can see.’

Monique added that parents should also take extra time to go over any medication that the sitter needs to give the child.

Lastly, the experienced nanny said a common mistake that parents make is not paying enough attention to the babysitter’s needs.

‘If your sitter drove to your house, be sure to check in with them later to make sure he or she got home,’ she suggested.

‘If the sitter walked to your house or used public transportation, be sure to drive them back home, or call them an Uber car.’