How would you react?

Dear CliffShep, If I had a babysitter like that, I would not be too worried if she was just joking around but I think it's for you to judge whether she is capable of doing violent things to your children and maybe you need to take some safety measures if you were to leave your children alone with her like for example, setting up a CCTV or probably teach your children to contact you if they are beaten. All in all, how you react to this depends on how tolerant you are towards such acts.

dear CliffShep,don't worry about it,perhaps The babysitter was just joking around about it,if you are worried about it,tall the babysitter don't do it any more!

if you have another person to babysit, then i would get rid of her. most ppl dont say something like that to a child in a joking manner. if you think your child in any way shape or form, felt threatened by her saying that, get rid of her. the person above mentioned setting up a camera thingy, that certainly couldnt hurt...and with how many nannies and babysitters that have been caught abusing kids over the years thru a secret camera...it could only be a good thing. it will either confirm your fears and you can GET RID OF HER, or it will show that your child doesnt like the babysitter and wants to get rid of her. you dont say how old your child is...if he/she is under say 8 yrs old, and she said that, get rid of her. around 8 and up kids can start getting pretty crafty about how to get their way if they dont like something someone. but over-all, this is your childs safety at stake, if know she said that-joking or not-makes you worry, just get rid of her.

I wouldnt let them babysit again and id also make it known to everyone how they could be as cruel to threaten to beat a child, wether they meant it or not no one frightens my children like that and id not let it go for them to possibly scare another small child. I dont beat my own children id be horrified if anyone so much as mentioned it to my children let alone as a threat for acting up to be quite honest id be pretty tempted to frighten the baby sitter as much as she/he had frightened my child by saying that!