There's often nothing more nerve wracking when going on a night out and leaving the kids at home in the care of someone else.
But, for the sake of your relationship, your self-esteem and your mental health, you really need time out, adult conversation and a chance to be the person you used to be - if only for a short while.
How much trouble could they be?
How do you stop yourself from spending all night with your mobile in your hand in case the babysitter calls? I'm talking here about toddlers and older children, by the way, rather than very young babies. My parents and sister would babysit for us when the children were babies.
Make sure your babysitter is up to the job.
There is no legal age requirement for a babysitter but the NSPCC recommends that no-one under the age of 16 should be left alone to look after children.
Frankly I think even 16 is too young, no matter how responsible their own parents may claim them to be.
You may feel differently if the babysitter is a member of your own family or an older sibling of course, but I would rather play safe and ensure that a responsible adult was looking after the kids in case of accident, sickness or some other emergency.
There are babysitting websites such as www.findababysitter.com where you can buy a monthly subscription (currently £25 a month).
You can post your requirements and receive messages from prospective babysitters free of charge but you'll need to subscribe to message them if they do not include a contact number.
Whilst schemes such as these offer the added peace of mind of being able to put you in touch with far more local babysitters than you could probably drum up by just asking around, and some background checks are carried out, you may find that lots of your messages are from eager teenagers looking to earn some pocket money.
I also found lots of messages from babysitters who lived so far away from me it would have taken them a couple of hours to get home!
You still need to take steps to ensure you find the right person to look after your kids, even if it is just for a night out.
I always interview any new babysitter and make sure that they meet my children.
I've found the babysitters who are truly interested in the job generally don't mind a quick 20 minute meet 'n' greet.
Kids are usually very upfront about whether or not they like someone and it's a great way to see how the babysitter interacts with the children.
Sitting on a sofa clutching a coffee and observing them from the other side of the room isn't that great a sign.
The best babysitters I have had have found themselves dragged off to play / colour / inspect toys and haven't minded in the slightest (well, maybe just a bit!).
Leave a list of emergency telephone numbers
It's a good idea to have a typed list of emergency telephone numbers to give to the babysitter.
We usually visit the same restaurants on our rare nights out so I add the restaurant telephone numbers to the list.
I also include the number of a nearby responsible adult (in this case my parents) in case we are in an area where mobile reception is poor.
Leave stuff for the kids to do.
Our current babysitter always brings a selection of craft material and some DVDs but you may want to have similar things available to help the babysitter out.
Leave clear instructions about bedtimes and bedtime routines.
Our babysitters know to put our kids to bed at 8 pm.
We've found in the past that telling a babysitter to put them to bed "when they're tired" means kids will suddenly be bright eyed and bushy tailed way past 9 pm. It helps the babysitter to know which toothbrush / toothpaste/ comforter is required and whether doors should be shut and lights left on or off.
Leave even clearer instructions about any medicines to be given and in what situation.
Generally, I'm talking about antibiotics and medicines like Calpol or Nurofen here.
Make sure the babysitter knows where they are and most importantly when the last dose was given.
To be honest, if my kids are unwell enough to need medicine we usually stay home but this isn't always possible I know.
Let the babysitter know under what circumstances you must be called.
This will vary according to the level of trust you have in the babysitter.
If your child just wakes and needs comforting, the babysitter should be able to handle this but if your child is sick, for example, you really need to know so you can come home.
Be clear about when you are likely to be back.
We are not exactly rock 'n' roll types (any more) so we are usually back before 11 pm.
There are two reasons for this.
Firstly I don't think it's particularly fair on the babysitter to leave them there into the small hours and secondly, given that the average hourly rate for a babysitter is between £6.50 and £7.50, you can quickly find a night out becomes very expensive indeed.
Check that the babysitter can get home safely
But, for the sake of your relationship, your self-esteem and your mental health, you really need time out, adult conversation and a chance to be the person you used to be - if only for a short while.
How much trouble could they be?
How do you stop yourself from spending all night with your mobile in your hand in case the babysitter calls? I'm talking here about toddlers and older children, by the way, rather than very young babies. My parents and sister would babysit for us when the children were babies.
Make sure your babysitter is up to the job.
There is no legal age requirement for a babysitter but the NSPCC recommends that no-one under the age of 16 should be left alone to look after children.
Frankly I think even 16 is too young, no matter how responsible their own parents may claim them to be.
You may feel differently if the babysitter is a member of your own family or an older sibling of course, but I would rather play safe and ensure that a responsible adult was looking after the kids in case of accident, sickness or some other emergency.
There are babysitting websites such as www.findababysitter.com where you can buy a monthly subscription (currently £25 a month).
You can post your requirements and receive messages from prospective babysitters free of charge but you'll need to subscribe to message them if they do not include a contact number.
Whilst schemes such as these offer the added peace of mind of being able to put you in touch with far more local babysitters than you could probably drum up by just asking around, and some background checks are carried out, you may find that lots of your messages are from eager teenagers looking to earn some pocket money.
I also found lots of messages from babysitters who lived so far away from me it would have taken them a couple of hours to get home!
You still need to take steps to ensure you find the right person to look after your kids, even if it is just for a night out.
I always interview any new babysitter and make sure that they meet my children.
I've found the babysitters who are truly interested in the job generally don't mind a quick 20 minute meet 'n' greet.
Kids are usually very upfront about whether or not they like someone and it's a great way to see how the babysitter interacts with the children.
Sitting on a sofa clutching a coffee and observing them from the other side of the room isn't that great a sign.
The best babysitters I have had have found themselves dragged off to play / colour / inspect toys and haven't minded in the slightest (well, maybe just a bit!).
Leave a list of emergency telephone numbers
It's a good idea to have a typed list of emergency telephone numbers to give to the babysitter.
We usually visit the same restaurants on our rare nights out so I add the restaurant telephone numbers to the list.
I also include the number of a nearby responsible adult (in this case my parents) in case we are in an area where mobile reception is poor.
Leave stuff for the kids to do.
Our current babysitter always brings a selection of craft material and some DVDs but you may want to have similar things available to help the babysitter out.
Leave clear instructions about bedtimes and bedtime routines.
Our babysitters know to put our kids to bed at 8 pm.
We've found in the past that telling a babysitter to put them to bed "when they're tired" means kids will suddenly be bright eyed and bushy tailed way past 9 pm. It helps the babysitter to know which toothbrush / toothpaste/ comforter is required and whether doors should be shut and lights left on or off.
Leave even clearer instructions about any medicines to be given and in what situation.
Generally, I'm talking about antibiotics and medicines like Calpol or Nurofen here.
Make sure the babysitter knows where they are and most importantly when the last dose was given.
To be honest, if my kids are unwell enough to need medicine we usually stay home but this isn't always possible I know.
Let the babysitter know under what circumstances you must be called.
This will vary according to the level of trust you have in the babysitter.
If your child just wakes and needs comforting, the babysitter should be able to handle this but if your child is sick, for example, you really need to know so you can come home.
Be clear about when you are likely to be back.
We are not exactly rock 'n' roll types (any more) so we are usually back before 11 pm.
There are two reasons for this.
Firstly I don't think it's particularly fair on the babysitter to leave them there into the small hours and secondly, given that the average hourly rate for a babysitter is between £6.50 and £7.50, you can quickly find a night out becomes very expensive indeed.
Check that the babysitter can get home safely
It's just courtesy to ensure that your babysitter isn't wandering off home alone in the dark.
Have their pay ready and make sure you've agreed what that will be beforehand.
This is your chance to dress up, glam up and be a woman again.
Some of you might have managed to maintain immaculate levels of grooming despite having children but I seem to have been welded into a pair of black leggings so it makes a nice change to see my legs again and slip into a pair of heels.
Have their pay ready and make sure you've agreed what that will be beforehand.
Make sure you have the right money to pay the babysitter on hand as soon as you get home.
You don't want to be rifling through bags, pockets and down the back of the sofa to find the right money - and your babysitter will be eager to get home.
Dress up
You don't want to be rifling through bags, pockets and down the back of the sofa to find the right money - and your babysitter will be eager to get home.
Dress up
This is your chance to dress up, glam up and be a woman again.
Some of you might have managed to maintain immaculate levels of grooming despite having children but I seem to have been welded into a pair of black leggings so it makes a nice change to see my legs again and slip into a pair of heels.
Try to relax
This is your time so make the most of it. I find I often get so stressed before I go out I get a headache. I'm working on becoming a little more chilled.
Don't just talk about the kids
If you have made sure you have the best babysitter for the job then you should be able to relax a little and concentrate on your date.
Chat about your holiday plans, what you'd like to do in the future, how your partner's job is going, what your ambitions are.
Don't just talk about the kids
If you have made sure you have the best babysitter for the job then you should be able to relax a little and concentrate on your date.
Chat about your holiday plans, what you'd like to do in the future, how your partner's job is going, what your ambitions are.
This is your chance to try to reignite any spark that may be less bright than it was between you.
Don't constantly look at your mobile.
Put it next to your plate if you must but try to concentrate on your date. On the other hand, make sure your phone is fully charged when you go out.
Eat something
Yes I know - you're spending money on yourselves - so try to enjoy it!
If you're like us, it may be quite a while before you're able to go out again so try to make it memorable.
The world won't implode if you have a Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Book your taxi home before you leave.
Worth considering if it's a Friday or Saturday night and you face a long wait to get a cab.
And if you're taking the car, put your mind at rest by checking the fuel level and having cash on hand for the car park.
I always love coming home after a night out and going upstairs to give Caitlin and Ieuan a sneaky good night kiss and to straighten their bed covers.
They look so angelic when they sleeping.
And I feel extra happy, having had a break of a couple of hours.
Don't constantly look at your mobile.
Put it next to your plate if you must but try to concentrate on your date. On the other hand, make sure your phone is fully charged when you go out.
Eat something
Yes I know - you're spending money on yourselves - so try to enjoy it!
If you're like us, it may be quite a while before you're able to go out again so try to make it memorable.
The world won't implode if you have a Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Book your taxi home before you leave.
Worth considering if it's a Friday or Saturday night and you face a long wait to get a cab.
And if you're taking the car, put your mind at rest by checking the fuel level and having cash on hand for the car park.
I always love coming home after a night out and going upstairs to give Caitlin and Ieuan a sneaky good night kiss and to straighten their bed covers.
They look so angelic when they sleeping.
And I feel extra happy, having had a break of a couple of hours.
