What to leave written before you go out

One sheet in the kitchen is worth more than ten instructions said at the door.

Write it down, don't rely on memory.

Instructions said in a hurry while putting on a coat are remembered by no one. Written ones stay, and matter most exactly when they're really needed: when something goes wrong and the person in the house is stressed.

The sheet in the kitchen

Your numbers, both of you, and a second reachable contact (a grandparent, a neighbour)
Paediatrician — name and phone number
Home address written out in full. Sounds absurd — it matters if whoever calls the emergency services doesn't know it by heart
Single emergency number 112 (valid in Italy and Switzerland)
Allergies and intolerances, in large letters, even if you've already said them out loud
Treatments — what, how much, at what time. Never from memory, never «give it to her if she needs it»
Times — dinner, bath, bedtime
House rules — screens, snacks, off-limits rooms
Who is allowed in, or allowed to pick up the child

The practical things nobody thinks to mention

Where the medicine box is, the fuse box, the spare key. How to lock the door. Whether there's an alarm. Whether the dog bites. Whether the intercom rings often and shouldn't be answered.

Agree on expectations

Does a message mid-evening reassure you or annoy you? Do you want a photo, or would you rather not? Say it beforehand: these are the most common misunderstandings, and every one of them is avoidable in thirty seconds.

On photographs

Worth being explicit: no photo or video of your child should be published or shared, not even in private chats. On AlpenSitter it's a rule in the code of conduct that every sitter accepts, but putting it in writing between you too doesn't hurt.

The fee

Agree it beforehand, in writing, including surcharges for evening or holiday hours and what happens if you come home later than planned. Arguments about money at midnight ruin relationships that were working perfectly well.

Did you know? In Italy, 116117 gives access to the tourist medical service: it's designed exactly for people on holiday without a local family doctor. Almost nobody knows this.

This is not medical advice. This page collects common-sense good practice, not health guidance. If in doubt, or if a child is unwell, there is only one rule: call the parents and, if needed, emergency services. Single emergency number 112, valid in Italy and Switzerland. In Switzerland also 144 for the ambulance and 145 for the poison control centre (Tox Info Suisse). For paediatric first aid, take a certified in-person course: no written text can replace it. All emergency numbers here.

Looking for someone in your valley?

Browsing profiles is free. Every profile lists the checks carried out, with the date.

Find a sitter