5 On Your Side

Is it safe to get a babysitter right now? Experts weigh in

Experts weigh in on how safe it is for a sitter to enter your home and what precautions you and they should take to stay safe.

Posted Updated

By
Monica Laliberte
, WRAL executive producer/5 on Your Side reporter

As many school districts transition to an online-only start to the school year, many families are looking at getting a sitter during the day.

Emily Sickbert-Bennet, Director of Infection Prevention at UNC Hospitals, said it's important to have flexibility and good communication when welcoming a sitter into your home.

"Make a promise to them that if your kids are not feeling well or someone in your family is ill and getting tested that you won't expect them to be in your household," she said.

You can also ask the sitter to stay home if he or she feels unwell. Tell them how much they are appreciated but that you can make other plans if needed, Sickbert-Bennet said.

Depending on the age of your child, having the sitter and the children keep a distance from each other may be smart, she said. Consider having both wear masks.

"It may make sense for them to wear masks some of the time," she said, "depending on the age of the kids and the relationship you have with the babysitter."

And of course, Sickbert-Bennet said to make it a requirement that everyone wash their hands often.

If the child care includes help with school work, consider setting up a table outside to do the school work. Research shows that the coronavirus does not spread as fast outdoors and when people are wearing masks.

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