Online Training for Caregivers

Being a caregiver for children is a big responsibility. Whether it's working in a childcare setting, providing at-home care as a nanny, taking care of special needs children, or just babysitting the neighbor's kids down the street—having the right caregiver training is an essential part of the job. Luckily, there are several caregiver courses available, many of them online.

What is Online Caregiver Training?

An advanced caregiver certification course not only teaches you the lifesaving skills you need to act in the event of an emergency—it should also include training in leadership, child behavior and discipline, professionalism, safety, basic childcare (bottle feeding, holding, etc.) and more. These online courses will keep you engaged in virtual environments, supported through additional activities and informative videos. Note: This type of program is not intended as certification for state licensed child-care providers and does not meet all state requirements for such certification.

Do Caregivers Need to Be CPR Certified?

Depending on where you work, you may be required to have Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. For instance, many childcare facilities require that you have CPR training, First Aid and/or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. If you're working as a private, in-home caregiver for a family, it may not be a requirement, however, it is still a critical skill to have. As mentioned previously, if you're interested in working at a state-licensed childcare facility, it's important to understand that you will need an even higher level of training, as they're regulated at the state level, and typically require that you meet a specific criteria.

Where to Take an Online Caregiver Course

Red Cross offers Advanced Child Care Training and Babysitting Basics courses online, which teach you the knowledge and skills necessary to responsibly care for children and infants both inside and outside of the home. Our classes fit just about any schedule and learning style. We also offer BLS certification, child/infant CPR training, First Aid and more.

For more than a century, the Red Cross has prepared people to respond to emergencies of all sizes, from the everyday to the large disaster. Find your class, sign up today, and join the millions we train every year with the skills needed to save a life in the moments that matter. Be sure to visit the Red Cross store to see our collection of caregiving products, including babysitter books and training sets, child care handbooks, DVDs and CD-ROMs, and more.