Babysitting and CPR / First Aid: What Every Babysitter Should Know
Written by Maria McCutchen
Updated November 2026 with current pediatric CPR, choking, and First Aid guidance.
Babysitting is more than simply staying in the house while parents are away.
A babysitter may be responsible for meals, bedtime routines, playtime, medications, allergies, transportation, and most importantly, keeping a child safe when something unexpected happens.
That is why babysitter CPR and First Aid training can be one of the most valuable skills a young caregiver develops.
You hope you never need to perform CPR or respond to a choking emergency.
But if you do, that is not the time to learn what to do.
Babysitting Comes With Real Responsibility
Parents are trusting a babysitter with someone extremely important to them.
Before accepting a babysitting job, you should understand the needs of the children you will be caring for.
An infant requires very different supervision than a 4-year-old.
A toddler may be exploring everything within reach.
An older child may be more independent but still need clear rules, supervision, and help during an emergency.
Being prepared means understanding both the child and the home.
What Should a Babysitter Know Before the Parents Leave?
Before the parents walk out the door, make sure you know:
- How to contact both parents
- The home address, including apartment or unit number if applicable
- An alternate emergency contact
- Any allergies the child has
- Medical conditions you should know about
- Medications and specific instructions from the parent
- Bedtime and feeding routines
- Foods the child should not eat
- Where First Aid supplies are kept
- Whether there is an AED nearby or in the building
- Any areas of the home that are off limits
Knowing the exact address is particularly important.
If you ever need to call 911, you should be able to tell the dispatcher where you are without having to search for it.
Babysitters Should Know CPR
Children can experience breathing and cardiac emergencies.
For infants and children who are unresponsive and not breathing normally or are only gasping, current American Heart Association guidance calls for activating emergency medical services and beginning high-quality CPR.
Pediatric CPR training teaches you how to recognize that emergency and what to do next.
It also teaches an important difference between adult and pediatric emergencies.
Cardiac arrest in children is more likely than adult cardiac arrest to follow a breathing problem or lack of oxygen. Because of that, rescue breaths are especially important in pediatric CPR.
A trained babysitter should know how to provide CPR to both infants and children, not simply adult Hands-Only CPR.
Choking Is One of the Most Important Skills for Babysitters
Young children are especially vulnerable to choking.
Food, toys, coins, balloons, and other small objects can become airway hazards.
The 2025 American Heart Association CPR guidelines updated the response for severe choking.
For a conscious child with severe airway obstruction, rescuers should alternate:
5 back blows → 5 abdominal thrusts
Continue until the object comes out or the child becomes unresponsive.
For a choking infant, alternate:
5 back blows → 5 chest thrusts
Abdominal thrusts should not be used on infants.
If the infant or child becomes unresponsive, begin CPR.
Do not blindly sweep your fingers inside the child’s mouth looking for the object. That can push the obstruction deeper.
CPR Techniques for Infants Have Changed
Someone who learned infant CPR years ago may remember being taught to use two fingers for chest compressions.
That recommendation changed with the 2025 AHA guidelines.
For infant CPR, the AHA now recommends either the heel of one hand or the two-thumb encircling-hands technique. The older two-finger compression technique is no longer recommended because it may not produce adequate compression depth.
This is a good example of why CPR training should be kept current.
Emergency techniques do change as new evidence becomes available.
First Aid Matters Too
Not every babysitting emergency requires CPR.
Babysitters are much more likely to encounter everyday injuries and illnesses.
A good pediatric First Aid course helps prepare someone to respond to situations such as:
- Cuts and bleeding
- Falls
- Burns
- Allergic reactions
- Breathing problems
- Seizures
- Low blood sugar
- Heat-related illness
- Poisoning
- Possible head injuries
Current AHA and American Red Cross First Aid guidance emphasizes that infants and children require age-appropriate techniques because of their size and developmental differences.
Know About Allergies Before Babysitting
Food allergies deserve special attention.
Ask parents whether the child has any known allergies and what you should do if a reaction occurs.
If the child has prescribed emergency medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector, parents should clearly explain:
- Where it is kept
- When it should be used
- Who is authorized to administer it
- What emergency plan they want followed
Do not guess about medication.
If you are unsure about instructions, ask before the parents leave.
Medication Instructions Should Be Clear
Some children need medications while a babysitter is caring for them.
Parents should provide clear instructions.
The babysitter should know:
- The medication name
- The correct dose
- The time it should be given
- How it should be administered
- Any special precautions
Never give a child medication simply because you think they need it.
Follow the parent’s instructions and call the parent if something does not make sense.
Preventing Emergencies Is Part of the Job
Good babysitting is not just about responding after something goes wrong.
Prevention matters too.
Keep small choking hazards away from babies and toddlers.
Keep medications, cleaning products, sharp objects, firearms, matches, and other hazards inaccessible.
Closely supervise children around:
- Bathtubs
- Pools
- Ponds
- Stairs
- Driveways
- Pets
- Cooking areas
- Outdoor play equipment
A few seconds of distraction can matter around water or traffic.
Do Not Spend the Evening on Your Phone
Babysitting requires attention.
A babysitter who is absorbed in texting, social media, gaming, or a movie may not notice a dangerous situation developing.
That does not mean you cannot relax once the children are safely asleep.
But while children are awake and active, supervision should come first.
The job is to watch the children, not merely be present in the building.
Know When to Call 911
Some situations should not wait for the parents to return.
Call 911 for a serious or life-threatening emergency, including when a child:
- Is unresponsive
- Is not breathing normally or is only gasping
- Has severe trouble breathing
- Has a severe choking emergency
- Has uncontrolled severe bleeding
- Experiences a serious allergic reaction
- Has a seizure lasting unusually long or according to the child’s emergency plan
- Suffers a serious injury
- Has another condition that appears immediately life-threatening
If you are unsure whether the situation is serious enough, the 911 dispatcher can help guide you.
Call the parents after emergency help has been activated when the situation is life-threatening.
Do not delay calling 911 while trying repeatedly to reach a parent.
Babysitters Should Have an Emergency Information Sheet
Parents can make babysitting safer by leaving one simple sheet with:
Home address
Parents’ phone numbers
Emergency contact
Pediatrician information
Allergies
Medical conditions
Medications
Insurance information if appropriate
Household safety information
It can be stored somewhere easy to find, such as on the refrigerator.
Even if all of this information is already saved in a phone, having a written backup can be helpful during a stressful situation.
CPR and First Aid Training Builds Confidence
Knowing CPR does not mean you will never feel nervous.
It means you have practiced what to do despite being nervous.
A quality pediatric CPR and First Aid course gives babysitters hands-on experience with:
- Infant CPR
- Child CPR
- Adult CPR
- AED use
- Rescue breaths
- Infant choking
- Child choking
- First Aid emergencies
The American Heart Association’s current pediatric First Aid CPR AED program includes CPR for adults, children and infants, AED use, choking response, drowning emergencies, severe bleeding, breathing problems, and other pediatric First Aid situations.
The AHA also notes that children 12 years and older can be taught effective CPR and defibrillation, which means these lifesaving skills can be appropriate for many teenagers beginning to babysit.
Parents Should Ask About CPR Training Too
Parents interviewing a babysitter may want to ask:
Are you CPR and First Aid trained?
That one question can tell you a lot about how seriously the sitter approaches childcare.
Certification does not replace good judgment, maturity, or supervision.
But CPR and First Aid training adds another layer of preparedness.
For parents, that can provide valuable peace of mind.
For the babysitter, it can provide the confidence to act when a child truly needs help.
Babysitting Is More Than Just “Sitting”
A good babysitter entertains children, follows routines, prepares meals, settles arguments, handles bedtime, and keeps the household running until the parents return.
But above all else, a babysitter keeps children safe.
That is why learning babysitter CPR and First Aid is worth the time.
You may babysit dozens of times and never encounter a serious emergency.
That is exactly what everyone hopes for.
But if one does happen, knowing what to do could make all the difference.
Learn CPR and First Aid Before Your Next Babysitting Job
In-Pulse CPR provides hands-on American Heart Association CPR, AED, and First Aid training.
👉 View Upcoming CPR and First Aid Classes
Schools, childcare centers, youth organizations, churches, and other groups can also arrange private training.
👉 Learn About Private On-Site CPR and First Aid Training
Babysitting may start as a part-time job.
The responsibility that comes with it is very real.
Updated November 2026: This article was originally written by Maria McCutchen and has been revised to reflect current American Heart Association pediatric CPR, choking, AED, and First Aid guidance.
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