Water Safety Rules for Babysitters, Nannies and Grandparents

Before a babysitter, nanny or grandparent is alone with your children, tell them your water rules and leave them in writing. The most important ones fit on a card: stay within arm's reach at bath time, no swimming without permission and an adult watching, keep doors to water locked, and in an emergency call 911 and check the water first.

Caregivers love your children, but they may not know your home's hazards or the newest safety advice. A five-minute talk closes that gap.

Why caregivers need the rules in writing

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Children are often in someone else's care, or someone else's home, when routines change. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that many drownings among young children take place at the home of a friend, relative or neighbor (opens in a new tab).

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's pool safety advice includes a simple step: share safety instructions with family, friends, babysitters, and neighbors (opens in a new tab). Written rules help because:

• a new sitter won't remember everything from one conversation;
• grandparents may have learned different advice years ago;
• a card on the fridge is there when it's needed, in a calm voice.

Use the printable Water Rules for Babysitters card, or add your caregivers to your family water safety plan.

Bath rules to share

• Stay within arm's reach, with a hand on the baby. The AAP says never leave your baby alone or in the care of another young child in or near water, not even for a moment (opens in a new tab).
• If you need to leave, take the baby with you. The doorbell and the phone can wait.
• Older siblings don't supervise. The AAP recommends that children not bathe alone until they are at least 6, and that another young sibling not supervise them (opens in a new tab).
• Drain the tub right away, then close the bathroom door.
• When in doubt, skip the bath. A missed bath is fine.

More detail is in bath time safety.

Pool, yard and outing rules

Be specific about where children may go near water, and when.

• No swimming unless you said yes, at a place you agreed on.
• An adult watches the whole time. Babies, toddlers and weak swimmers need a supervising adult with swimming skills within arm's reach (opens in a new tab) (AAP). If the sitter can't swim, there's no swimming.
• Children never watch children. The AAP says don't leave a baby or young child in or near any body of water under the care of another child (opens in a new tab).
• Doors and gates stay closed and locked. Show the sitter which ones lead to water, and how the locks work.
• Kiddie pools and buckets get emptied right after use.
• No floaties as safety gear. CDC says air-filled or foam toys are not safety devices (opens in a new tab). If you want your child in a life jacket, leave it out with the size marked.
• At someone else's home, the AAP advises that whenever your child will be in someone else's home, always check for ways your child could access pools and other potential hazards (opens in a new tab).

Phones, visitors and other distractions

Most caregivers mean to watch closely. Distractions get in the way.

• Phones away near water. The AAP lists reading, playing games, using the cellphone, or mowing the lawn (opens in a new tab) as distractions to avoid.
• No alcohol on duty. CDC says do not drink alcohol while supervising children (opens in a new tab).
• Visitors and deliveries. Children come inside, or come along to the door.
• Several children. Agree in advance how the sitter will handle a bath for one child while another is awake. Often the answer is: not tonight.

If more than one adult is present, use a Water Watcher card so everyone knows who is on duty. See how to supervise kids around water.

What to do in an emergency

Make sure every caregiver knows:

• The address of your home, and of anywhere they take the children. CPSC advises knowing the address of your location so you can direct emergency personnel (opens in a new tab).
• Where the phone is. Pool Safely says to have a phone close by at all times (opens in a new tab).
• Reach or throw, don't go. It is the Red Cross's rule for safely helping a drowning person (opens in a new tab).
• How to text 911 in New York City if they can't safely speak. The city says to call if you can and text only if you can't (opens in a new tab).

CPR is the most useful skill a caregiver can bring. The AAP says everyone, including parents, caregivers and older children, should learn CPR and safe rescue techniques (opens in a new tab). Ask whether your sitter is trained, and if not, point them to where to learn CPR. The Red Cross also has a free online Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers course (opens in a new tab).

Teen sitters and grandparents

Teen sitters can be excellent caregivers with the right training. For teens who want to learn more, see our free babysitter lesson plan: Water Safety Training for Babysitters and Caregivers.

Grandparents may have learned different advice when they raised their own children. Share the current guidance kindly, and ask about their own swim skills. Our guide to water safety for older adults covers their safety in the water too.

What you can do today

1. Print the Water Rules for Babysitters card, fill it in, and put it on the fridge.
2. Walk your sitter through the house and show every door, gate and lock that leads to water.
3. Write your address on the Water Emergency Action Plan and post it by the phone.
4. Make a Water Watcher card with the Water Watcher card and timer tool for days with more than one adult.
5. Ask every caregiver whether they know CPR, and offer to help them find a class.