Baby sitters

Baby sitters

From Media Indonesia

I would like to warn those considering employing a babysitter to be careful with whom they choose, because not all members of that profession are reliable.

Last July, when my baby was two months old, I employed a babysitter from a foundation in the Rawabelong area, West Jakarta. Staff at the foundation told me that the babysitter had been trained but had no practical experience.

According to Cici, the babysitter, she had been with the foundation for two weeks and I had to teach her all about caring for babies: preparing milk, cleaning milk bottles, bathing.

When my child reached six months in age she began to vomit up her food and frequently fell ill to a fever. I had to take her to see the doctor regularly. I even took to her to see a masseuse, who informed me that my baby had twisted her ankle.

Then on Jan. 21 the babysitter left my employment, citing family problems as the reason.

About two weeks later, I was shocked to hear from the maid that twice when under the babysitters supervision my child had fallen from the bed. On another occasion she had fallen out of a chair. The babysitter had coerced the maid into remaining silent about all three of these incidents.

However, the maid thought better of secrecy and opened her heart to me briefly, before she too left my employment on Feb. 4, saying she would not return.

TINI

Jakarta