Parents advised against sending children to unknown babysitters

Parents of children below the age of four are advised against sending their children to the homes of babysitters hired through online services or advertisements on social media.

Women, Community and Family Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh said parents should instead rely on personal recommendations and learn to look out for signs that could put their children at risk.

In noting the serious shortage of childcare centres (taska) registered with the government, Yeoh today launched guidelines to assist parents who opt to send their children to home-based babysitters.

Speaking during a press conference at the ministry in Putrajaya, Yeoh said there are only 4,378 childcare centres registered with the Welfare Department. This is only approximately 11 percent of 38,333 child care centres that are estimated to be needed nationwide.

She said the estimated figure was derived from the results of a 2010 national survey which projected the number of children aged between 0 and four would reach 2.3 million this year.

"Based on these statistics, if we assume that 50 percent of children aged between 0 and four require child care services, then our country will need 38,333 taska nationwide.

"A shortage of qualified babysitters and registered taska will have an implication on the quality of care and safety of our children," she said, adding that the ministry, under Budget 2019, has allocated RM10 million as a special grant to set up 50 more child care centres in government agencies nationwide.

At the same time, she also urged the private sector to consider setting up child care facilities as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.

Yeoh said parents could also take measures to check whether a potential babysitter has any criminal records, via an online system currently being set up in collaboration with authorities including the police and the Prison Department. She said this would be made available sometime next year.

The guidelines for how to choose home-based babysitters, launched by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, are designed to create awareness among parents of behaviour or warning signs shown by the children or babysitters. 

The guidelines are presented as an infographic, which is available on the ministry's website and its official social media channels.

Yeoh said parents should be aware of signs that could indicate physical, sexual or mental abuse particularly in younger children who have yet to learn how to speak.

She said the signs include excessive crying and wariness of a babysitter or a related individual.

Similarly, parents are advised to closely monitor the home conditions of a babysitter, as well as their personal appearances. - Mkini