Whether you hire a neighborhood teen or a more seasoned sitter, you want to set her up for success. Armed with a little insider info and your mom-knows-best tips, she’ll be ready for whatever kid chaos develops in your absence.

“Mom. Come here, now,” my three-year old whispers urgently as he pulls me toward the yard. “Red eyes,” he says, shivering with fear. “Red eyes.”

Here’s the sugary scoop: American kids consume far too much of the sweet stuff. According to the American Heart Association, toddlers are getting 12 teaspoons instead of the recommended 4 (19 grams), and school-aged children who should have no more than 3 teaspoons (14.2 grams) are consuming 21. Preteens and teens take the cake; instead of the recommended 5 to 8 teaspoons (23.7 to 38 grams), they’re getting up to 34.3. That’s over two-thirds of a cup per day.