The Distractions of Technology: Phone and Screen Tips for Babysitters
How parents and babysitters can agree on phone use, kids' screen time, photos and social media, so the sitter stays focused and the kids stay safe at home.
Phones have made babysitting easier in some ways. Parents can check in with a quick text, sitters can look up a recipe or a bedtime routine, and everyone can be reached in an emergency. But the same device that keeps a sitter connected can also pull their attention away from the children, sometimes at exactly the wrong moment.
Young children can get into trouble in seconds, especially near water, stairs, kitchens and streets. A few clear expectations, agreed in advance, help sitters stay focused and help parents relax. This guide is written for both sides.
For parents: set expectations before the first night
Most sitters want to do a great job; they just need to know your rules. Cover these points when you hire someone, and again with any new sitter.
Phone use
Be specific about what's fine and what isn't. For example:
- Phone on and with them at all times for emergencies and texts from you
- No scrolling, gaming or long calls while the kids are awake and need attention
- Never on the phone while kids are in the bath, in a pool, near the street or cooking with them
- Free use after the kids are in bed
Kids' screen time
Write down your rules so the sitter isn't caught between a pleading child and a guess:
- How much screen time, if any, is allowed
- Which shows, games and apps are okay
- Which devices the kids can use, and which are off-limits
- Whether screens are allowed at meals or before bed
If your kids use tablets with parental controls, make sure the sitter doesn't need your passcode. If they ask for "just five more minutes," the sitter can point to the limit you set. Our guide to using Guided Access to limit a child to one app is handy if you want a younger child to watch one show and nothing else.
Photos and social media
Decide whether the sitter may take photos of your kids, and whether they can share them anywhere. Many families allow photos sent only to the parents, and nothing posted online. Say so clearly, and explain why: photos can reveal your children's faces, school, home and routines.
Your home's smart devices
If you have smart speakers, video doorbells or indoor cameras, tell your sitter. It's both courteous and, in some places, a legal consideration. Also tell them if a smart speaker can make purchases or calls, and whether kids are allowed to use it.
Emergency information
Even in a connected house, write the essentials on paper and leave it somewhere obvious:
- Your phone numbers and where you'll be
- A backup adult nearby
- Your home address, for emergency calls
- Allergies, medications and pediatrician
- The Wi-Fi password
For babysitters: staying present
Make the phone a tool, not a distraction
- Turn on a Focus or Do Not Disturb mode that lets calls and texts from the parents through, but silences social apps.
- Keep the phone in your pocket, not in your hand.
- Answer the parents promptly; ignore everything else until the kids are asleep.
Keep kids in sight
Phones pull attention in a way that's easy to underestimate. If you need to check something, do it when kids are safely occupied in the same room, not when they're in the bath or outside.
Follow the screen rules, even when it's easier not to
Handing over a tablet can buy a quiet hour, but if the parents said 30 minutes, stick to 30. Kids test new sitters. Calmly holding the line on screen time earns trust from parents and respect from kids.
Have screen-free ideas ready
Bring a few easy activities: card games, drawing, a walk, building with blocks, reading aloud, a simple craft. They make the time go faster for everyone.
Protect the family's privacy
Don't post photos, check-ins or stories about the family or their home unless the parents have said it's okay. Don't share their address, kids' names, or schedules online.
Watch for online problems
If a child you're watching shows you something upsetting online, or you see a message from someone who makes you uneasy, don't brush it off. Tell the parents when they get home, or right away if it seems urgent. Our tips on talking with kids about online safety can help you respond calmly in the moment.
Older kids and tweens
When you're watching older children with their own phones, ask the parents:
- Are there time limits or bedtime rules for devices?
- Are certain apps off-limits?
- Should phones be charged outside bedrooms overnight?
Knowing the rules makes it much easier to enforce them without an argument. Parents might also share their family media agreement so the sitter knows exactly what the kids have agreed to.
A one-page sitter sheet
Parents, consider keeping a single printed page by the fridge:
- Emergency contacts and home address
- Allergies and medications
- Bedtime and routine
- Screen time limit and allowed shows or games
- Phone rules for the sitter
- Photo and social media rules
- Smart devices and cameras in the home
- Wi-Fi password
The bottom line
- Agree on phone and screen rules before the first night.
- Sitters: keep the phone for emergencies and parents' texts while the kids are awake.
- Never use a phone while kids are near water, roads or cooking.
- No photos online without permission.
- Write it all down, so nobody has to guess.
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay for a babysitter to use their phone?
Usually yes, for emergencies, checking in with parents and quiet moments after the kids are asleep. The problem is scrolling or gaming while children need supervision.
Should babysitters post photos of the kids they watch?
Not without the parents' explicit permission. Many families prefer no photos of their children on a sitter's social media at all.
How much screen time should kids have with a babysitter?
That's the parents' call. Write down the limit, which shows and games are allowed, and which devices the kids can use, so the sitter doesn't have to guess.