Safe Sitter® Grandparents: Getting Started
Grandparents learn what has changed in child care since they raised their own children, refresh lifesaving skills, and set expectations with their adult children.
AT A GLANCE
| AGES | Grandparents and other adult caregivers |
|---|---|
| LENGTH | Three hours, including a break |
| TAUGHT BY | Certified teachers and registered nurses |
| CERTIFICATION | Safe Sitter, Inc. certificate |
SAFETY AND EMERGENCIES
Recognizing an emergency and staying calm
Choking rescue and CPR* for infants and children
Basic first aid and injury management
When to call for help, and what to say
CARING FOR GRANDCHILDREN
Current guidance on safe sleep and infant care
Ages and stages, from infants to school age (under 1 to 10 years)
Holding, feeding and diapering an infant
Snacks, meals and toileting tips
Play and entertainment ideas that fit the age
MANAGING BEHAVIOR
Four rules for disciplining grandchildren
Redirecting behavior without conflict
Setting limits that hold at your house
Staying consistent with how the parents do things
PREVENTING INJURIES
A guide to common dangers, room by room
Getting a home that is no longer childproofed ready for a visit
COMMUNICATION AND EXPECTATIONS
Starting the caregiving relationship on the right footing
Talking through house rules, screens and routines
Knowing who is in charge in the moment
Responding to too many requests to babysit
WHAT IS INCLUDED
A certified teacher or registered nurse as your instructor
A Safe Sitter® handbook for every participant to keep
Manikins and all practice materials
A certificate of completion for every participant
A NOTE ON CERTIFICATION
Participants practice choking rescue and CPR on infant and child manikins with hands-on coaching. The course does not issue a CPR certification card, because a standalone certification requires over three hours of instruction on its own.
Instead, these three hours cover child development, child care duties, behavior management, injury prevention, first aid and communication alongside targeted infant and child CPR instruction. The content follows guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. Anyone who wants a card can add a Friends and Family® CPR class.