To be a little annoyed by this token gift

You must have volunteered at some point to do this for free, and your siblings have taken you up on the offer.
I find it strange that you then moan about the monitry value of the gift. If you measure your value by material things, then say you feel undervalued and charge them for your time.
If you don't mind babysitting, then continue for free but make yourself less available and only do it occasionally. If challenged remind your siblings that the children are theirs, not yours and you can choose when you offer your time.
The ball is really in your court
If you do/ say nothing, then nothing will change. Is that what you want?

They can’t seriously expect you to commit to free babysitting months in advance, it sounds more like ‘childcare’ when arranged that way, and childcare generally isn’t free.
From what I’ve read so far it looks like they might be taking advantage of your good nature (ie they think you’re a pushover). That’s their bad, not yours, and I don’t think you ‘owe’ them more than a few weeks notice if you decide that you don’t want to continue with the arrangement.
It looks like the token, cheap, gift has made you think differently about the relationship with the parents, which is good, as you don’t deserve to be undervalued and undermined, it’s hurtful. I hope it works out for you.

Then keep to what you’ve committed to but no more and start being unavailable to any extra requests.
I mean I agree with @NewPinkJacketthat any gift shouldn’t be seen as done diet if payment, but to give you something so cheap and to boast about getting it on Xmas Eve (so a last minute idea) speaks volumes - they say it’s the thought that counts… and how much thought did they put into that present?

I think they are treating you very badly, not just because of the paltry gift, but also because of their reaction when you said you couldn't help them as you were going to be on holiday. That shows a disturbing level of entitlement and selfishness.
The gift is actually quite insulting- a last minute Christmas Eve 'got to get something, doesn't matter what' purchase.
I would be revisiting next year's babysitting, and telling them that you are sorry but those dates now don't work for you (the MN staple reply). No further explanation needed...
Good luck!

I agree with this. Don’t make it a quid pro quo or allude at all to their discourtesy. Just call them up and say cheerfully “Ive had a good look at my calendar for the new year and I will be too busy for babysitting!” When they complain just say, equally cheerfully, “oh Im sure it will be fine! Look into getting a nanny.”

You will be so very, very, free once you treat their complaints (anyone’s complaints) not as an order or an action item but just a whine. Them: blah blah so costly” You “Oh no, that sounds hard, well cheer up! Worse things happen in wartime! Im sure you will find a solution.”

Did you also buy the kiddies a Christmas gift OP? And perhaps birthday presents and possibly Easter eggs too? I’d guess that your relatives aren’t only eager to accept the gift of your time (and the £1000’s you save them in childcare) but also gifts for their kids?

Honestly I don’t really believe you. I mean I believe you think this is true but I doubt that it is.

Yeah, you know me far better than I do apparently 🤣🤣

🙄

They’ve taken you for granted and treating you appallingly. Not classy at all. I’d explain that you're prioritising your time differently in 2026…give them a date you’ll no longer be available. I’d say April .

Honestly I don’t really believe you. I mean I believe you think this is true but I doubt that it is. Its a statement about how different your experience is from OP’s. Either the people in your life express appreciation for you in ways that you accept and enjoy or you don’t put yourself out for selfish people so you have no real knowledge of the situation. No visceral grasp of what it is to come up to a moment of gift giving/solemn and festive season of recognition of family ties, and see yourself as a begrudging afterthought.

What was the gift though? Some people arent big on presents, I doubt it’s personal.

But this is all besides the point. OP is doing it for love and she wants only to be recognized with love. Her family can recognize her with a gift, or a huge fuss, or with a costly/fussy gift but mere money won’t do it. She will feel cheap asking for cash or food and they will respond even more contemptuously relegating her to a servant.

A £3 gift chosen by the children...fine as long as its accompanied by something more substantial from the parents!

Errm no.

If I would, I wouldn't have bothered saying I wouldn't 😳

Stop babysitting for them very simple

Un-commit then

Send them a list of your (new and now) hourly rates. 😉

Oh wouldn’t you, aye?

Yes, very hurtful indeed. People like that only place as much value on you as you insist they place. I would cancel all sitting for the forthcoming year. Just say you now have plans that make those suggested times impossible.

Unfortunately, if you are the kind of person who gets taken for granted, this never changes unless you decide to not let it happen again.

It is FINE for you to no longer be free to sit for them next year, fine to tolerate the discomfort this causes. If you like, you could say, you made it pretty clear at Christmas how little you value me, and that made me reflect on how much I am willing to be there at your convenience.

Let them squirm.

Give them enough notice to get other childcare. Make yourself leas available. They've shown what little they think of you. They take you for granted.

Then uncommit yourself. Now you know how little you’re valued.

This is not what gaslighting means...

The gift and the babysitting are two separate things.

These are your nieces and nephews, so presumably your sister or brother’s kids. it’s not your responsibility or duty to care for them. You can do it if you want to, but it’s at your convenience not theirs. Their kids, their job.

So what if they don’t like it? You have the power over your own time and what you do with it. Say no.

Your sibling could do better at presents. And you don’t need to babysit.

Stop gas-lighting her.
Her brother is treating her like a doormat.

Three times a month is a lot - you are being used. They clearly don’t care enough about doing this to you.
In a few days time please do message them and say your New Year’s resolution is to X and that will mean you’re not as available so can only do one evening per month maximum. Then reduce that to one evening per six weeks. Do go over and see them for lunch/ a cuppa but please regain your time and self worth.

I think that somewhere along the line the generous gift of your time babysitting has become an expectation and an obligation. Now you know that, and the gift is just a symbol of this, you need to reset the whole thing.

No-one has to babysit for anyone, and 200 hours a year is a huge amount. I'd say once a month is fine for me, let them know asap or in New Year, say you are taking up the gym more/going out more, and that's what's on offer, if they fuss or say anything negative, then you know that this has gone out of control and may want to step back further.

They have a lot of money, know what you like, know you give the gift of your time all the time and that's what they are prepared to do effort-wise, it's up to you to reset this unbalanced dynamic.