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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To order an Indian takeaway while babysitting?

207 replies

IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 21:44

I’m babysitting for my SIL and brother next weekend. I love doing it and love seeing their kids, but it always leaves me in a bit of a pickle in terms of getting dinner. I try not to order out because I’m losing weight, but this weekend I just want to treat myself.

I love Indian food but live at home and my dad cannot stand the smell of it. My mum thinks if I order it I’m being very rude and it’ll annoy them, but they always offer to pay for one so I don’t know if it’s a bit unreasonable?! How would you feel if your babysitter ordered Indian?

OP posts:
BluntPlumHam · 21/10/2025 22:44

Ponderingwindow · 21/10/2025 22:30

In my very niche situation I wouldn’t be happy because I am extremely allergic to things like garam masala and don’t want it in my house.

I would be happy for a babysitter to order most takeaways and will pay for it too.

Wow never heard of anything allergic to that! It’s a blend of a lot of different spices. You must be allergic to a lot of spices then !

BluntPlumHam · 21/10/2025 22:42

If you were my sibling and babysitting for
me then the Indian take out would be on me and fridge stocked up of whatever else you like. If you’re fortunate enough to have a village to help with your kids then you should look after that village x

HedwigEliza · 21/10/2025 22:36

I’d be furious if someone ordered that to my house, even my siblings. I put a lot of effort into keeping the house smelling nice - my idea of nice - so I’d be livid if someone ordered in hot food I hadn’t agreed to. I certainly wouldn’t do it if I were the one babysitting. It’s not my house, I shouldn’t treat it as such.

Eenameenadeeka · 21/10/2025 22:36

If someone in my family was watching my kids, I'd order them the takeaway. Indian wouldn't bother me at all, I don't think a takeaway leaves a smell like cooking it in the house does.

DropHopStop · 21/10/2025 22:35

All food smells...
Feels like a non-issue.

Original poster
IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 22:35

Bobiverse · 21/10/2025 22:29

Just text your brother. Honestly not something you need a mumsnet thread about. I guess you’ve never lived away from home so you’re just used to asking permission to do anything.

I don’t ask permission for anything I do.

I just wanted to check I wasn’t being an arsehole.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 21/10/2025 22:30

In my very niche situation I wouldn’t be happy because I am extremely allergic to things like garam masala and don’t want it in my house.

I would be happy for a babysitter to order most takeaways and will pay for it too.

Bobiverse · 21/10/2025 22:29

Just text your brother. Honestly not something you need a mumsnet thread about. I guess you’ve never lived away from home so you’re just used to asking permission to do anything.

Emsie1987 · 21/10/2025 22:26

To be honest I really don’t like having Indian takeaways at home as they do leave the house smelling. So order rarely.

however, if someone was babysitting my kids for free I would be happy for them to order it. I would think it was really polite if they let me know in advance (not asking permission) just in case I had guests the next day.

Trabbling · 21/10/2025 22:23

Do you have such a bad relationship with your brother that you can't just ask him if they'd mind?? Maybe they get Indian takeaways all the time!

CheeseWisely · 21/10/2025 22:16

IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 21:53

My mum just thinks because it smells, it’s rude to do because I don’t know if they’re happy with their house smelling!

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Personally my happiness about the free trustworthy childcare from someone who loves my DS would far outweigh the bother of having to open a window to clear a takeaway smell!!

Hall84 · 21/10/2025 22:15

If anyone was looking after DD for free they could order what they liked and help themselves to anything in the cupboards. If I didn't like the smell I'd open the windows the next day (after I'd eaten the leftovers)

Tralalalama · 21/10/2025 22:14

I think your parents issues with curry smell have made you understandably a bit over anxious about this.

it’s fine to do, enjoy! :)

Original poster
IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 22:12

LillyPJ · 21/10/2025 22:09

If I'd hired a babysitter and came home to a house smelling of curry, I wouldn't be pleased. Any other takeaway, I wouldn't mind as long as they'd cleared up afterwards.

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I’m not hired as such because I’m doing it for free but this is exactly why I asked! Usually I will literally just sit on their sofa and watch telly so I don’t know what’s wrong or right for me to do!

OP posts:
LillyPJ · 21/10/2025 22:09

JadziaD · 21/10/2025 21:47

why on earth not? genuine question? I wouldn' tblink if my paid babysitter ordered herself a takeaway? I'm genuinely confused anyone would have an issue.

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If I'd hired a babysitter and came home to a house smelling of curry, I wouldn't be pleased. Any other takeaway, I wouldn't mind as long as they'd cleared up afterwards.

Original poster
IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 22:09

Bobiverse · 21/10/2025 22:06

Are you very young? Because this is not a thing adults worry about. At all. If they’re going round to their brothers to watch the kids, they’d just text their brother and say “alright if I order in a cheeky Indian?”

This is not something that would take up any time in anyone’s head.

I don’t think there’s a need to be quite so snarky and rude.

I’d not describe it as “cheeky” because it’s not 2015 anymore. I’m asking because I don’t have kids and thus have never actually used a babysitter before, so what might seem normal to me is actually a massive liberty!

OP posts:
Bobiverse · 21/10/2025 22:06

Are you very young? Because this is not a thing adults worry about. At all. If they’re going round to their brothers to watch the kids, they’d just text their brother and say “alright if I order in a cheeky Indian?”

This is not something that would take up any time in anyone’s head.

Original poster
IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 22:02

SwedishEdith · 21/10/2025 21:59

Your parents are weird about the cooking smells. Is it only Indian food they're hung up about? It's completely normal to eat food while you're babysitting.

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They also hate anything that’s a strong garlic smell

OP posts:
FuzzyWolf · 21/10/2025 22:01

If you are worried about the smell run it by your brother first of all but I’d have no objections to anyone ordering a takeaway if they were babysitting at my house.

SwedishEdith · 21/10/2025 21:59

IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 21:53

My mum just thinks because it smells, it’s rude to do because I don’t know if they’re happy with their house smelling!

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Your parents are weird about the cooking smells. Is it only Indian food they're hung up about? It's completely normal to eat food while you're babysitting.

TimeForTeaAndG · 21/10/2025 21:57

Presumably your brother knows what your mum is like. Tbf my mum also didn't like the smell of curry but I strongly suspect some autistic traits so would explain that.

Just ask your brother if they mind you ordering. Problem solved. Don't tell your mum.

304l · 21/10/2025 21:55

IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 21:53

My mum just thinks because it smells, it’s rude to do because I don’t know if they’re happy with their house smelling!

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It will air out it’s not a permanent state, get your Indian and enjoy, you’re doing them a favour

Original poster
IJustWantATakeaway · 21/10/2025 21:53

CheeseWisely · 21/10/2025 21:51

Wouldn’t phase me at all. The last time SIL babysat our DS her teen daughters joined and they all got Dominos as a treat because they deliver to our address but not theirs. I don’t know why it would be an issue?

My mum just thinks because it smells, it’s rude to do because I don’t know if they’re happy with their house smelling!

OP posts:
CheeseWisely · 21/10/2025 21:51

Wouldn’t phase me at all. The last time SIL babysat our DS her teen daughters joined and they all got Dominos as a treat because they deliver to our address but not theirs. I don’t know why it would be an issue?

Bananafofana · 21/10/2025 21:50

I’d be mortified if my babysitter ordered IndIan…because if they’re babysitting over a meal period I provide food for them