Babysitting Contract Template

Babysitting Contract

1. 1. 1. Parties and Sitter Information

   This Babysitting Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on [DATE] between [PARENT OR GUARDIAN NAME(S)], residing at [HOME ADDRESS] (the "Parents"), and [SITTER NAME], residing at [SITTER ADDRESS] (the "Sitter"). Contact numbers are [PARENT ONE MOBILE], [PARENT TWO MOBILE], and [SITTER MOBILE]. The Sitter will provide care at [SERVICE ADDRESS] and will not take the Children to any other location without prior approval from the Parents, except in an emergency. This Agreement is for occasional, hourly babysitting and does not create ongoing employment, a guaranteed number of hours, or any expectation of future bookings by either Party.

2. 2. 2. Children Covered and Daily Routines

   The Sitter will care for the following children: [CHILD ONE NAME, AGE], [CHILD TWO NAME, AGE], [CHILD THREE NAME, AGE] (the "Children"). Routines for the engagement are as follows. Dinner is at [DINNER TIME] and consists of [DINNER PLAN]. Snacks permitted are [APPROVED SNACKS]. Bath time, if applicable, is at [BATH TIME]. Bedtime is [BEDTIME] for [CHILD NAME] and [BEDTIME] for [CHILD NAME], preceded by [BEDTIME ROUTINE, e.g., two books and a night light left on]. Comfort items are [COMFORT ITEMS, e.g., blue blanket, stuffed rabbit]. If a child wakes during the evening, the Sitter should [NIGHT WAKING INSTRUCTIONS]. The Sitter will follow these routines and will contact the Parents rather than improvise if something is unclear.

3. 3. 3. Dates, Times, and On-Call Arrangement

   This Agreement covers the following engagement: [DATE], from [START TIME] to [EXPECTED END TIME], at the address in Section 1. Where the Parties have agreed to an ongoing on-call arrangement, this Agreement applies to each future booking confirmed in writing by text or email, and the confirmation will state the date, the start time, the expected end time, and any change to the children covered. A booking is confirmed only when the Sitter replies to accept it. The Sitter will arrive [ARRIVAL BUFFER, e.g., 10 minutes] before the start time for a handover. The Parents will state before leaving where they will be and whether they will be reachable by phone throughout the engagement.

4. 4. 4. Rate, Minimum Booking, and Additional Children

   The Sitter will be paid [HOURLY RATE] per hour for the first child, plus [ADDITIONAL CHILD RATE] per hour for each additional child. A minimum booking of [MINIMUM HOURS, e.g., three hours] applies to every engagement and is payable even if the Parents return earlier than the expected end time. Time is rounded up to the next [ROUNDING INCREMENT, e.g., 30 minutes]. A higher rate of [OVERNIGHT OR HOLIDAY RATE] applies to overnight care, to care beginning after [LATE START TIME], and to the following holidays: [HOLIDAY LIST]. If the Parents ask the Sitter to care for a child who is not named in Section 2, including a visiting cousin or a friend of one of the Children, the additional child rate applies and the Sitter may decline.

5. 5. 5. Late Return by the Parents

   The Parents will notify the Sitter as soon as they know they will return later than the expected end time. Time worked past the expected end time is paid at [LATE RATE, e.g., 1.5 times the hourly rate], calculated in [LATE ROUNDING, e.g., 15-minute] increments beginning [GRACE PERIOD, e.g., 15 minutes] after the expected end time. If the Parents return more than [SIGNIFICANT DELAY, e.g., 60 minutes] late without notice, the Sitter will attempt to reach both Parents and then the emergency contacts in Section 9. The Sitter will not leave the Children unattended under any circumstances. If the Sitter has a commitment after the engagement, the Sitter will state that at the handover so the Parents can plan a firm return time.

6. 6. 6. Payment at the End of the Engagement

   Payment is due in full at the end of each engagement by [PAYMENT METHOD, e.g., cash, Venmo, Zelle], unless the Parties agree in writing to a weekly settlement for recurring bookings. The Parents will confirm the total with the Sitter before the Sitter leaves. Reimbursable costs incurred at the request of the Parents, such as takeout for the Children, activity admission, or parking, are added to the total against a receipt or a photo of the receipt. Rideshare or transportation costs for the Sitter are [REIMBURSED / NOT REIMBURSED], up to [TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE] for engagements ending after [LATE END TIME]. Amounts unpaid after [PAYMENT GRACE, e.g., 48 hours] may result in the Sitter declining future bookings.

7. 7. 7. Cancellation Notice

   Either Party may cancel a confirmed booking by giving at least [CANCELLATION NOTICE, e.g., 24 hours] notice by text or phone call. If the Parents cancel with less notice, the Parents will pay [LATE CANCELLATION FEE, e.g., 50 percent of the minimum booking] to compensate the Sitter for the reserved time. If the Sitter cancels with less notice for any reason other than illness or an emergency, no fee is owed by the Parents and the Sitter will make reasonable efforts to suggest an alternative sitter known to the Parents. If the Sitter arrives at the agreed time and the engagement does not go ahead, the minimum booking is payable in full. Illness in the household on either side should be disclosed as soon as it is known.

8. 8. 8. House Rules During the Engagement

   The Sitter will remain in the home with the Children for the entire engagement and will not leave the property with them except as approved in advance in writing. The Sitter will not drive the Children in any vehicle. No personal guests, friends, or family members of the Sitter may come to the home during the engagement. The Sitter will not consume alcohol, cannabis, or any impairing substance before or during the engagement. Personal phone use is limited to what does not interfere with supervision, and the Sitter will keep the phone charged and audible. Screen time for the Children is limited to [SCREEN TIME LIMIT] and to [APPROVED CONTENT]. Additional rules: [HOUSE RULES, e.g., no swimming, basement off limits, no answering the landline].

9. 9. 9. Allergies, Medications, and Authorization to Administer

   The Parents disclose the following allergies and medical conditions: [CHILD NAME — ALLERGY OR CONDITION — REACTION AND RESPONSE]. Emergency medication kept in the home is [MEDICATION, e.g., epinephrine auto-injector, rescue inhaler], stored at [STORAGE LOCATION]. The Sitter [IS / IS NOT] authorized to administer that emergency medication and, if authorized, has been shown how to use it. Routine medication to be given during the engagement is [MEDICATION NAME], dosage [DOSAGE], at [TIME], for [CHILD NAME]. The Sitter will not give any other medication, including over-the-counter pain or fever medicine, without speaking to a Parent first. The Sitter will record the time and dose of anything administered and report it to the Parents on their return. Foods that must not be given to any child are [PROHIBITED FOODS].

10. 10. 10. Emergency Contacts and Authorization for Medical Care

    The Parents authorize the Sitter to call 911, to seek emergency medical or dental treatment for the Children, and to consent to treatment recommended by a licensed provider when neither Parent can be reached. The Parents will pay all resulting costs and will leave copies of the insurance cards and a signed medical authorization form in [DOCUMENT LOCATION]. Key information is: pediatrician [PEDIATRICIAN NAME AND PHONE]; nearest emergency room [HOSPITAL NAME AND ADDRESS]; poison control [POISON CONTROL NUMBER]; emergency contacts [CONTACT ONE NAME, RELATIONSHIP, PHONE] and [CONTACT TWO NAME, RELATIONSHIP, PHONE]; nearby neighbor [NEIGHBOR NAME AND PHONE]. In any emergency the Sitter will call 911 first, then the Parents, then the emergency contacts in order, and will stay with the Children throughout.

11. 11. 11. Home Safety, Alarms, Locks, and Unexpected Visitors

    The alarm code is [ALARM CODE] and the disarm and rearm procedure is [ALARM PROCEDURE]. Doors are locked by [LOCK INSTRUCTIONS], and the keys are kept at [KEY LOCATION]. In a fire or smoke alarm, the Sitter will get all Children out of the home immediately without stopping for belongings, meet at [MEETING POINT], call 911, and then call the Parents. In a power outage, flashlights are at [FLASHLIGHT LOCATION], the breaker panel is at [PANEL LOCATION], and the Sitter will keep the Children in one room and call the Parents. If an unknown person comes to the door or calls, the Sitter will not open the door or confirm that the Parents are out, and will call the Parents or 911 if the person does not leave.

12. 12. 12. Pets in the Home

    The following pets are in the home during the engagement: [PET NAME, SPECIES, BREED, TEMPERAMENT]. The Parents confirm that no pet in the home has a history of biting or aggression toward children, or disclose that history here: [BITE OR AGGRESSION HISTORY]. Pet duties during the engagement are limited to [PET DUTIES, e.g., letting the dog into the yard at 8:00 p.m., refilling the water bowl] and do not include walking, bathing, or administering medication. Pets that must be kept separate from the Children are [SEPARATION INSTRUCTIONS]. The Sitter will not leave a young child alone with a dog. Any bite, scratch, or injury caused by a pet will be reported to the Parents immediately, and the Parents remain responsible for the conduct of their pets.

13. 13. 13. Sitter Representations, Photographs, and Termination

    The Sitter represents that the Sitter is at least [MINIMUM AGE] years old, has provided accurate references, consents to a background check where the Parents request one, and holds current certification in infant and child CPR and first aid dated [CERTIFICATION DATE]. The Sitter will not post, share, or transmit any photograph, video, or written description of the Children, the home, or the household on any social media platform, group chat, or public site, and will not disclose the address of the Parents to third parties. Photographs taken during the engagement may be sent only to the Parents and then deleted on request. Either Party may end this arrangement at any time by written notice, and any completed engagement remains payable.

14. 14. 14. Signatures

    By signing below, both Parties confirm they have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to it for the engagement described in Section 3 and for any later booking confirmed under that section. PARENT OR GUARDIAN: [PARENT NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [PARENT SIGNER NAME]. Date: [DATE]. SITTER: [SITTER NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [SITTER SIGNER NAME]. Date: [DATE]. If the Sitter is under the age of majority, a parent or guardian of the Sitter signs here: [SITTER GUARDIAN NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Date: [DATE]. Electronic signatures and photographed copies have the same effect as originals.

15. 15. Disclaimer

    This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Rules on paying occasional caregivers, the minimum age at which a person may babysit, whether a child may be left in the care of a minor, and when a family becomes a household employer differ by state and sometimes by city. Medical authorization forms may also need to follow a specific format to be accepted by a provider. Review and adapt this document for your own situation and consult a licensed attorney if the arrangement becomes regular or long-term. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.