What do you like in a baby-sitter?
@owlwings (43897)
Cambridge, England
December 30, 2009 4:39am CST
If you are a parent choosing a baby-sitter, what things do you look for that tend to give you confidence or make you feel happy? Would you choose a girl over a boy (and why)? What would you allow (or expect) a baby-sitter to do ... (and what is definitely a no-no!)?
Do you have a 'baby-sitting circle'? Does it use tokens of some kind (one of ours used paperclips!)? Or do you always pay for baby-sitters (and how much)?
When you were a child, what did you like about the baby-sitters you had? Did you have some really great ones ... and what about the really crap ones?
Almost anyone who has had baby-sitters (either as a child or as a parent) has a hilarious or hairy story or two to tell.
Have I given you enough questions and scope for 'quality' (and entertaining) answers?
2 people like this
6 responses
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 Dec 09
Ah yes, my favorite babysitter growing up, Don. Nice guy. (sarcasm) He hated me and thought my sister was just the sweetest little thing. So one day I went way out of my way to behave and at the end of the evening said, "I was good,wasn't I?" His encouraging response, "sure but you won't be next time."
And Zarela, she babysat us the most often I think. My parents had locks on our bedroom doors (we were a handful and a half) and one day Zarela actually locked me in my room. So I climbed out the window and down off the roof and went and knocked on the door. "Can I come out and play", I asked with an innocent look? Babysitter not amused.
We had two other male babysitters, they only came once or twice, and I think both of them exposed themselves to my little sister. Therefore, having two girls, I'm a bit leery of male babysitters.
Actually we have rarely ever had to hire a babysitter. Because of our son's autism, one is provided for us for about 76 hours a quarter and then we've had family around to watch the children, and we've watched their children.
Quality answer enough? :-)
2 people like this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
31 Dec 09
You were, indeed, a handful, it seems! In the baby-sitting circles in which I have been involved (where parents take it in turns to sit each other's kids), your family would have been marked with a prominent (and cryptic) mark as one not to be sat for lightly!
My daughter was also a 'bit of a one' (she still is, really). One baby-sitter (later her violin teacher) got really exasperated when she would NOT go to sleep. His advice to her was to lie at the edge of the bed. "Why?", said my daughter. "Because if you do that," he said, "you'll soon drop off!"
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
31 Dec 09
Thx for the BR... Being a handful pays off. 
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Dec 09
One of the most important things that I have ever looked for in a babysitter was that they would love my children. What I mean is that they would take care of my children as if they were their own to a certain degree. The last babysitter that we had for my daughter before she started school, is the one that we still use occasionally. She is awesome and she really does love my children.
However, we haven't had luck with the babysitters that we've had. One of the babysitters that we had for our daughter actually mentally abused her and we did end up reporting that particular babysitter to the state. I think these days you have to be very careful about who you trust your children with.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
30 Dec 09
Personally, I have only ever had a babysitter who wasn't family for my kids once and that was someone I already knew well and I don't recall being babysat as a child by anyone other than family either. However, I used to babysit as a teenager and I was a fairly popular babysitter. I assume it was because I didn't charge much! Well, of course people could trust me and I did build a reputation after a while. I do wonder sometimes about people hiring strangers as babysitters. I don't think I would ever do that. I'd want to be absolutely sure that they were trustworthy, wouldn't do anything I would find unacceptable and they would know what to do should they need to actually look after the child(ren). I always found that kids were usually already asleep and I was called upon merely to be there although I did do some day time babysitting where I had to entertain the kids and feed them, etc. I would want a babysitter to do what I asked them to do and abide by my rules. The main thing, though, is that I would want them to be trustworthy, not invite people round without permission and not do anything like have a party or bother the neighbours.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
30 Dec 09
I look for someone my children like, if the babysitter is a teen then I like to meet their parents and know that in case of a problem they will support their child. I have never had an adult babysitter but I have exchanged child care with other Moms I know. If I were to employ someone in my home I would make sure I had hidden cameras and could look in at anytime, in today's world to much can happen to your children not to take proper precautions .
2 people like this
@vingyan06 (2486)
• Malaysia
30 Dec 09
I have two kids now and they both are under my own care, but of course my mom does help me. I don't trust on baby sitter that is why I rather choose to part a way my job and take care my own kids.
Basically a baby sitter need to be caring, friendly, and loving.
The living place of the baby sitter need to be clean, and i prefer to have a female baby sitter.
1 person likes this
@calai618 (1773)
• Philippines
31 Dec 09
We have a baby -sitter for my baby brother right now and it's nice because she doesnt hurt him (at least from what we observe). We all know children can be very tough to control and they can hit you wherever they like so it is really good to find someone with the longest patience as possible and not those who would hit back. What's not so nice about them though is that it seems like the child is their boss because they always follow what the child says and can never have the power to make the child listen. I think a perfect one would be someone with the longest patience but is still able to discipline the child. :D
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
31 Dec 09
I agree that some children can be real pests and know how to wrap a baby-sitter round their little finger! I have never tolerated a child hitting anyone, let alone a baby-sitter. I would give any baby-sitter the authority to do just what I would do in such a case (which is NOT to hit back, except occasionally as a token, but to send them to their room.)
I am glad to say that all of my children were normally very well-behaved with their baby-sitters, who were usually parents of their friends or, sometimes, their grandmother. We generally had good reports, anyway!
