Your babysitter's first evening.

💬 Before the night

Once you've booked, you get your babysitter's number straight away. Send a hello on WhatsApp a day or two before, and agree:

• The times. When to arrive, and roughly when you'll be back.
• The rate. Most Hermanus households pay R60 to R150 an hour, depending on experience. Not sure? See What's fair to pay?
• Getting home. How they'll get home at the end of the night. More on that below.
• Finding you. Your address with a map pin, the gate code or how to get in, and where to park.
• Your pets. So nobody gets a surprise from a big dog at the gate.

If you can, meet before the night. A quick visit to your home is ideal. If your children are old enough, tell them who's coming. A name and a photo help.

Local tip: staying in a holiday rental? Send the exact pin, not just the street. Holiday homes can look alike, and house numbers are hard to see after dark.

👋 When they arrive

The first time, ask them to come 20 to 30 minutes early, and count it as paid time. Use it to:

• walk through the house, the doors and the alarm
• go through the bedtime routine, with the children there
• show them where the first aid kit is
• spend a few minutes together while the children get used to them

Then go. A short, happy goodbye is easier on little ones than a long one.

📝 What to leave out

A short note on the counter covers most of it:

• Your numbers, and a neighbour or friend nearby who can come over if needed.
• Your address, written down, in case they need to give it to someone in a hurry.
• Who to call in an emergency: your armed response company, your doctor, and the nearest after-hours emergency unit.
• Allergies and medicine. What to give, how much and when. If it isn't on the note, they shouldn't give it.
• Bedtime. Times, stories, night lights, and the toy that has to be there.
• Food. What the children can eat, and what your babysitter can help themselves to.
• House rules. Screens, sweets, and the pool if you have one. Most families keep it simple: no swimming while you're out.
• The wifi password.

🚕 Getting home safely

This one matters, and it's yours to sort out before the night. Either:

• you drive them home, or
• you add a transport amount, about R100, so they can get home safely after dark.

If you've had a drink, don't drive them. Pay for a ride instead. If it's going to be very late, ask whether they'd like to stay over. The hours they sleep are usually paid at about half their hourly rate.

Before they leave, ask them to send a message when they're home.

💳 Paying, and after

• Pay at the end of the night, the way you agreed, in cash or by instant EFT. Round the hours up, not down.
• Ask how it went. What did the children eat, and how did bedtime go?
• Leave a review. It helps your babysitter find their next family. If something worried you, you can tell us privately in the review, or WhatsApp us.

Went well? Book them again. Pick another free evening on their calendar, or book the same evening every week.

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