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Original poster

To come back tipsy to babysitter

43 replies

RareNightOut · 14/02/2026 13:06

My partner and I are going on a rare evening out, leaving our kids (12 and 10) in the care of a new babysitter.

We'll be back around midnight. I'd like to be able to have a few drinks whilst I'm out. Is it okay to return home a bit tipsy?

What is an acceptable number of drinks to have?

OP posts:
TheChosenTwo · 14/02/2026 18:09

Tourmalines · 14/02/2026 17:27

Why are so unsure of everything we do these days.

I was just wondering the same thing!

I would imagine your babysitter is EXPECTING you to come home after several drinks - it’s really quite normal. Also normal not to as lots of people don’t drink at all but it’s still fairly mainstream to get a babysitter so you can go out and let your hair down, have a few drinks and relax.

Tourmalines · 14/02/2026 17:27

Why are so unsure of everything we do these days.

AgnesMcDoo · 14/02/2026 17:20

Of course it is. Your children aren’t babies.

Thepeopleversuswork · 14/02/2026 17:11

Tipsy is fine, more or less expected. That’s part of the point of getting a babysitter, surely?

Steaming drunk: shouting, slurring, vomiting, not cool.

As long as you’re not planning on doing that, crack on!

magikarpediem · 14/02/2026 17:09

I was once babysitting for someone and she stumbled back in through the door telling me she was ‘pissed as a fart’. I just thought it was funny. It’s fine OP, have a nice night out!

Frenchfrychic · 14/02/2026 16:46

How’s this even a question. No op you need to be teetotal.

Anonanonanonagain · 14/02/2026 16:41

Dear god NO, do not under and circumstance at all have any kind of fun while your kids are gasp with a designated babysitter. What is the world coming to. Leaving your kids AND enjoying yourself? The world has gone entirely mad.

Yes that is sarcasm. Go and get trollied woman the kids are in good hands.

TheBestThingthatAlmostHappened · 14/02/2026 13:14

Unless you're coming home roaring drunk and vomit on them, or both so drunk that the babysitter feels unsafe to leave your children in your care, it's absolutely no issue at all.

TwattingDog · 14/02/2026 13:14

God, every time I babysat as a teenager I expected the parents to come back drunk - it was literally why I was there!

Don't overthink it. Enjoy your night out.

itsgettingweird · 14/02/2026 13:13

My favourite thing about being a teen babysitter back when you were paid cash was the parents coming back tipsy - they usually felt more generous than the agreed rate 🤣🤣

Seriously though it’s fine. As long as you can do a handover and basic conversation your kids are old
enough to be left in the charge of tipsy parentals!

BillyBites · 14/02/2026 13:13

Well, I wouldn’t recommend staggering through the door and vomiting into the nearest plant pot but “tipsy” is totally fine.

gototogo · 14/02/2026 13:11

Fine as long as you are in a fit state to be responsible for children that age, which I should add is different to younger children (one of you really should be sober with little ones) and with teens where it doesn’t matter if you let your hair down once in a while, just expect them to remind you at most embarrassing time to new partner! In my mind, over drink drive limit and giggling a bit too much fine, so drunk that you couldn’t handle an emergency, not fine

NovemberMorn · 14/02/2026 13:11

As long as one of you are sober enough to look after your children after the babysitter has gone home, and the description 'tipsy' implies you will be...what's the problem?

FuzzyWolf · 14/02/2026 13:10

Tipsy is fine. Although make sure you can get back at short notice since there might be an issue with the babysitter since they are new.

Tryagain26 · 14/02/2026 13:09

It depends what you mean by tipsy and whether the babysitter is a teenager expecting a lift home.

Original poster
RareNightOut · 14/02/2026 13:08

Yes the babysitter has her own transport.

I think so, but not sure what is usual in this situation, we rarely use babysitters!

OP posts:
blackreign · 14/02/2026 13:08

The whole point of a babysitter is so you can relax and have fun!! Go out and enjoy yourselves. I wouldn’t know the right number of drinks because it depends how alcohol affects you.

rubyslippers · 14/02/2026 13:07

Isn’t that whole reason of going out?! Or part of it
as long as the babysitter is getting home safely herself and not expecting a lift then yes