Neighbour asked me to babysit her child whilst she works

Absolutely not. You need to be very firm in this. Don’t get drawn into a discussion. Just keep saying something along the lines of I’m sore but it’s just not possible. If you start giving her reasons she’ll try to come up with counter arguments as to why that reason doesn’t work. This is not a debate, this is you saying no. You can feel sympathy for someone without being obliged to help. You have to put your own family first.

Sorry you were in such a horrendous situation.
Some people are absolute piss-takers.
Agree not to touch this one with a barge pole.

I did have a quick look and couldn't see any restrictions on age but the length of time did matter. Yes, absolutely shouldn't be looking after someone else's (or your own) child while working, I agree.

Had assumed she meant around her work, but if not - no it's a ridiculous ask and a very easy out for the OP.

A one off for an emergency maybe, but not reguarly. No way. Unless you are going to b3 a fully registered and insured babysitter and set up for this.
You arent insured for starters. Imagine if something happened. We were in and out of a and e with our little ones, a bump falling over or caught a fever, if anything happens on your watch it would be awful.
I imagine your kids are enough for you already. I certainky wouldnt be taking any more kids into my house and taking my attention away from them.
A baby rules the house routines too. Nap times etc.
Absolutely no way and I wouldnt feel guilty about it. We all have childcare problems i am sure you have your own as well and its not your responsibility.

Ofcourse it isn’t and OP can refuse. Nor is it reasonable to expect any person to take on your child-rearing - however kindness, neighbourliness and caring are perhaps possible for the OP. This young mum is struggling, even having someone to talk to, feeling less alone with the problem, might help a little.

You've clearly never met this sort of person in real life.

Not to mention the lack of care in choosing someone suitable to look after her precious child! The idea of doing handing over you baby to a virtual stranger is horrifying regardless of how much you may be struggling

No way. And being a mother is irrelevant. Lots of us are mothers; we make plans before we pull DC out of nursery. People like this always take a mile. She’s assumed she can emotionally manipulate you (and the rest) into helping her as she ‘has no other option’

Stand firm, OP

Absolutely keep your boundaries. She has none, which is not going to help her get her own life in order, which is what she needs to start doing.

Don't get involved. Not your circus not your monkeys. You did the right thing by refusing. Protect your own and your family.

She’s asking random neighbours she doesn’t really know to look after her baby.

I don’t think she’s big on recognising or abiding by boundaries.

I’m pretty sure that if the child is under a certain age or you have them for longer than a couple of hours, you have to be registered if you’re getting paid for it and you can potentially get into quite a bit of trouble if you aren’t.

Aside from that, it’s quite a dangerous thing to do. You might be ok to work and care for your own child at the time but what happens if your boss calls and realises that you’re running a childcare service at the same time as working for them? Or she hands over an apparently sleeping baby and it turns out that it’s actually a very poorly baby? The implications for you in that scenario would be terrifying.

I get that she’s struggling but this would be more trouble than it’s worth.

It’s not op’s job to facilitate this. Her parents already provide the respite, by babysitting twice a week.

You've summed it all here really well OP - you have a good handle on what sort of person she is. Take back control of any interactions - maybe even just keep moving rather than stopping "Hi, sorry, busy busy today!" Re draw your boundaries. And don't feel bad about not getting involved - trust your instincts, you know whatever you give, she'll want more, and more, and more.

She is a mother in need. I would do as much as I can, whilst setting very clear boundaries and expectations. It is easy to turn our back on those in need because we are too busy or worried about being taken advantage of, but maybe you can do something to give her a little respite even if it is just to invite her round for tea, cake and a chat.

You need to categorically refuse to do this. She sounds like the sort of person where if you give her an inch, she'll take a mile. You have a job already and you don't want to be a childminder. I was a childminder when my children were young and it is much harder and more stressful looking after other people's children than looking after your own.

She also sounds as though she could be quite difficult. I wonder what sort of incident happened at the nursery.

Oooo absolutely not, you would be declaring yourself as a childminder which comes with soo much red tape, taxes, insurances etc. The alternative is that you are knowingly becoming an unregistered childminder which is illegal and you'll probably get fired from your job.
What happens if the child bumps its head or she does something your not happy with, she'll be screaming from the rafters that you are taking money abd injuring her child.
It's really not a difficult decision for you at all, it would be stupid for you to do this. It's difficult for her but you don't risk your job, criminal record and family to make her life easier!

YANBU. That’s a massive responsibility and she sounds like a user.

That is the distinction. That's why nannies don't need to register as childminders as they are caring for children in the child's home.

You must not feel bad about saying no. You have your own priorities and responsibilities and personally, it is easy for someone to turn on the tears if things don’t go their way. Stand your ground OP and focus on your own family.

Do not even start it,not even once! I'm a childminder and have met people like this before and it has red flags all over it.
Besides the fact that you should be registered and insured, you will very quickly end up having her child more and more and for longer amounts of time. Then there'll be payment problems....and if you're not registered she can't use any if the government funding schemes. Tell her no and stick to your guns no matter how many times she turns on the water works!

Op you need to shut her down (probably in a firm but quiet way) then stop engaging with her. If you agree to this it will be the thin end of the wedge and you will never get her tentacles out of your life.

Agree - you are just her latest victim.

Your other neighbours tried to warn you, but maybe it was too subtle for you OP?
"she does try to force a friendship with me (and other neighbours who have also commented on this)."
"Apparently she watches neighbours on her Ringdoor"
"she has asked other neighbours to help"

Ignore the crocodile tears, bet she's used to playing that game. Speak to your other neighbours to spread the warnings far and wide, and warn any future new neighbours.

Surely her parents can babysit, and if they can only do this on the evening, then she can get an evening job, not a day job. (How many people do you know that regularly go out with friends twice a week with a young child? )

Putting in boundaries is the right way to go. It’s good that you’ve recognised that you need to do this.

I wouldn't touch this with someone else's bargepole

I had something similar-a mum at work
asked if I'd have her very young child (unpaid but I don't think that makes a difference)

I agreed and before I knew it,not only was I having the little one,but I was having her older children (I know this isn't the case with you),she kept having a go at me for feeding the child the wrong foods (didn't provide any herself) and doing the wrong activities with them (she didn't want me to take him to the park but was OK if I treated them to a trip to the zoo on my own dime)

The kids broke my stuff (she just laughed it off) and she stopped looking for other childcare as she had me doing it for free and unable to earn money as it slashed my hours at my real job (she was besties with the boss and told him I'd be doing Mondays and Tuesdays so not to add me to the rota on those days,so i lost out on my wages)

When I said 'enough,im not doing this anymore' that fallout had to be seen to be believed (she slagged me off to anyone who would listen and the boss tried to give me a warning and threatened my job-both went nowhere)

I really wouldn't touch this-if you needed a second job,you'd get one,it's a her problem not a you problem