Books and Resources to Start Strong
Reading from experienced childcare professionals and business operators gives you a foundation in both the practical and business sides of babysitting. These books address safety, child development, customer relations, and running your babysitting service profitably.
The Babysitter’s Handbook by Harriet Brown
This practical guide covers everything from handling emergencies to managing difficult behavior, building trust with parents, and handling payment disputes. It’s written by someone who’s worked in childcare for years and addresses the real situations you’ll encounter—not just theoretical scenarios. The book helps you present yourself as a professional rather than just a teenager earning pocket money.
Shop The Babysitter’s Handbook on Amazon →
The Business of Babysitting by Christi Vigil
If you’re serious about turning babysitting into a real income stream, this book walks you through pricing your services, managing clients, tracking finances, and scaling from one-off jobs to regular clients. It covers the business fundamentals many babysitters skip, which is exactly why some earn $15 per hour and others earn $25+. You’ll learn how to position yourself above the competition.
Shop The Business of Babysitting on Amazon →
What to Expect When You’re Expecting (Childcare Edition) by Asha George
Understanding child development stages, typical behaviors, and age-appropriate activities makes you more valuable to parents and safer with children. This resource helps you recognize developmental milestones, handle age-specific challenges, and suggest activities that actually engage kids rather than just parking them in front of a screen. Parents notice when you genuinely understand their child’s needs.
Shop child development resources on Amazon →
First Aid for Infants and Children by American Red Cross
Certification books matter, but having a reference guide at home helps you refresh on CPR hand placement, choking protocols, and recognizing serious symptoms. This isn’t just for legally protecting yourself—parents will specifically ask if you’re trained, and having the knowledge builds genuine confidence when emergencies happen.
Shop First Aid resources on Amazon →
Equipment You Need
Most babysitting businesses don’t require expensive startup equipment. Your primary tools are personal protective items, first aid supplies, and activity materials. Here’s what actually matters:
Safety and First Aid
- First aid kit: A stocked kit with bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers, and allergy medication. Many parents expect you to carry this.
- CPR face shield or pocket mask: Protects you and the child during CPR. Small, lightweight, and required if you’re certified.
- Digital thermometer: Parents need to know if a child has a fever. Non-contact thermometers are faster and more hygienic.
- Emergency contact card holder: A small laminated organizer for parent phone numbers, allergies, and medical information during each job.
- Flashlight or headlamp: Useful during evening jobs for finding items, checking on sleeping children, or handling power outages.
Shop first aid kits on Amazon →
Personal Protective Equipment
- Hand sanitizer: Keep a bottle in your bag and at the family’s home during cold and flu season.
- Disposable gloves: Useful when changing diapers, handling sick children, or cleaning up accidents.
- Face masks: Have a few on hand if a child is sick but parents still need coverage.
Shop hand sanitizer on Amazon →
Activity and Entertainment
- Activity books and coloring supplies: Crayons, colored pencils, and age-appropriate workbooks keep kids engaged during downtime.
- Card games and board games: Travel-sized games are portable and work for various ages.
- Craft supplies: Safety scissors, construction paper, stickers, and markers for simple projects.
- Age-appropriate books: Picture books for younger children, chapter books or graphic novels for older kids.
- Portable speaker: For playing music or background noise during nap time. Optional but appreciated.
Organization and Documentation
- Small notebook or app: Track what the children did, when they ate, bathroom use, and any concerns for parent handoff.
- Rate sheet or contract template: Having something printed or digital makes client agreements clear and professional.
- Timer or smartwatch: Keep track of bedtimes, screen time limits, and scheduled activities.
- Calendar or scheduling app: Track which families you work for, regular dates, and payment history.
Shop organizational notebooks on Amazon →
What to Buy First vs Later
You don’t need everything upfront. Prioritize based on what actually generates income and what parents expect immediately.
- Buy first: CPR certification (not equipment, but non-negotiable), first aid kit, thermometer, hand sanitizer, and a simple notebook for tracking jobs and income. Total: under $100.
- Buy next: Activity books, board games, and basic craft supplies once you have your first few regular clients and see what age groups you’re working with most.
- Buy later: A portable speaker, fancy craft supplies, or branded babysitting app subscriptions. These are nice-to-have, not essential for earning money.
New vs Used Equipment
For most babysitting supplies, buying new is both affordable and the right call. First aid kits should be new—you can’t verify when used ones were assembled or if supplies have expired. Thermometers should be new for sanitary reasons. Notebooks and timers are inexpensive enough to buy new.
Used equipment makes sense for books, board games, and craft supplies. Thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace often have boxes of children’s books and games in good condition at a fraction of retail price. Just inspect them for cleanliness and missing pieces before bringing them into a client’s home. Never buy used car seats, baby monitors, or items that directly contact infants—these have safety standards and wear factors that require new equipment.
Where to Buy
- Amazon: Fast shipping, good selection, reliable for first aid supplies and activity books. Use the links above.
- Target and Walmart: First aid kits, thermometers, craft supplies, and games at competitive prices with local pickup options.
- Thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army): Books, board games, and educational toys at low cost. Hit these regularly for inventory refreshes.
- Facebook Marketplace: Local sellers often have board games, activity books, and craft supplies in bulk. Negotiate on larger purchases.
- Dollar stores: Craft supplies, notebooks, small toys, and entertainment items when you need quantity on a budget.
- CPR certification: American Red Cross or local hospitals often offer affordable certification courses. Some can be done online with in-person skills testing.