If you are in a group with other parents, ask if anyone would like to do a swap. Keep trying to you find someone you are comfortable with. It is helpful if the person has had CPR training and a babysitting course. Also do not forget to leave your children s information such as physician and phone number, date of birth, weight, allergies and a phone number you can be reached at, along with a phone number of a nearby neighbor. It can be helpful to carry a pager when you are out for emergency contact, make sure the sitter knows how to use the pager.
Respite care can be for a few hours per week or for an extended amount of time.
Families will sometimes leave their child with special needs for a week while the rest of the family goes on vacation. This may sound harsh not to include one of your children on vacation. However, there are some vacations that would not be pleasurable for a child with special needs. It is often a hard decision, however it can often be the best decision for your family. Of course, there are other scenarios of why you might have to leave your child for an extended amount of time.