What to Include on a Babysitter Information Sheet (Free Template)

A babysitter information sheet is only as useful as its organization. The goal is not to put everything in one place — it is to put everything in the right place so that the right information is immediately accessible in the moment the babysitter needs it.

Below is a complete template. Each section is followed by an explanation of what to include and why.

Section 1: Child Information

• Child's full name
• Preferred name or nickname
• Date of birth
• Photo (for identification if needed)
• Any relevant physical identifiers (glasses, hearing aids, prosthetics)

This section exists so that any caregiver — including one who has never met your child — can confirm they have the right child and have basic identification information in case it is ever needed.

Section 2: Allergies [PUT THIS FIRST]

This is the most critical section. It must appear at the top, before bedtime routines and care instructions. In an emergency, a caregiver under stress will not search. She will look at the first thing she sees.

For each allergy:

• Allergen name
• Severity (life-threatening / severe / moderate / mild)
• What the reaction looks like
• What to do immediately
• Whether to call parents first or call 911 first
• Location of EpiPen or medication, if any
• Foods to avoid (with specific examples of hidden sources)

Example: Peanuts — LIFE-THREATENING. Reaction: hives, swelling, difficulty breathing. Give EpiPen (front pocket of blue bag on counter), then call 911, then call parent. Do not give any food that "may contain" peanuts. Check all packaged food labels.

Section 3: Medications

For each medication that may be needed:

• Medication name (generic and brand)
• Dose (exact — milligrams or milliliters)
• When to give it (scheduled time, or on symptoms)
• How to give it (oral, inhaled, injected)
• Where in the house it is located
• Whether it requires parent approval before giving
• Any medications to avoid giving at the same time

Example: Albuterol inhaler — 2 puffs if wheezing or difficulty breathing. Located in the bathroom medicine cabinet. CALL PARENTS BEFORE GIVING.

Section 4: Medical Conditions

For each relevant diagnosis:

• Condition name
• Brief plain-language description of what it means
• What to watch for (symptoms that indicate a problem)
• What to do if it flares
• Doctor's name and contact number

Section 5: Emergency Contacts

• Parent 1 name and mobile number
• Parent 2 / co-parent name and mobile number
• Backup local contact (someone who can be there in 15 minutes)
• Pediatrician: office number + after-hours line
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Nearest emergency room address
• Parent location tonight (name + address of venue)

Phone numbers should be formatted for tapping to call on a mobile device. They should not require the caregiver to copy-type a number in an emergency.

Section 6: Pickup Authorization

• List of people who are authorized to pick up the child
• Name, relationship, and description for each person
• Vehicle make, model, and color (optional but useful)
• Anyone who is explicitly NOT authorized (if relevant)

This section protects both your child and your babysitter. She should never feel uncertain about whether to hand your child to someone at the door.

Section 7: Care Instructions

• Meals: what she can give, what is off-limits, what to do about snacks
• Bedtime: actual time, bedtime routine step by step
• Screen time: how much, what devices, what is not allowed
• Nap schedule (for younger children)
• Behavioral notes: what works, what escalates things, what to do if there is a meltdown
• Sleep notes: does the child wake at night? What do they need?
• Activities: what they can and cannot do

Section 8: House Information

• WiFi network name and password
• Location of first aid kit
• Location of fire extinguisher
• Doors or gates that must be kept closed
• Pet instructions (if any)
• Any areas of the house that are off-limits

The problem with paper sheets

A printed babysitter information sheet is better than nothing. But it has real limitations:

• It cannot be updated — if the medication dose changes, the sheet is wrong
• You have to remember to print a new one and deliver it
• It can be lost or left at home when the babysitter needs it
• You have no way to know if she actually read it

A digital version — specifically one designed for mobile access with allergies at the top — solves all of these problems. When you update your child's profile, every caregiver who has the link sees the updated information immediately.

Baton Pass is built around this template. Every section is structured, organized the same way every time, and accessible on any phone with no download required. Free to start.

How to use this template

1. Fill out each section completely before your first babysitter shift.
2. Put allergies at the top — always.
3. Review and update before each new babysitter engagement.
4. Share it with the babysitter at least a few hours before the shift, not in the car on your way out.
5. Confirm verbally that she received it and ask if she has questions.