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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the babysitter might tidy up??

146 replies

ahcomeon · 16/02/2014 09:58

Just back from a night out. The living room is like a bomb site! Sitter puts the kids to bed and literally sat on her ass all evening without so much as putting the toys away. Not to mention empty popcorn packets and juice cartons etc..
I couldn't sit there amongst all the crap, it would drive me nuts and I wouldn't be able to relax!
But what's pissing me off is that I handed her 60 quid for the night and she couldn't be arsed even tidying up.
Not unreasonable to expect to come back to a somewhat tidy house is it?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 16/02/2014 09:58

Yabu

Babysitters don't tidy

LoopyDoopyDoo · 16/02/2014 10:00

Mine does. Her mum is our cleaner and she comes a bit later when the kids are in bed and cleans. We pay them well. :)

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 16/02/2014 10:01

£60????

I'll do it next time, I'll clean the toilet if that's what you want Grin

CoolaSchmoola · 16/02/2014 10:03

Even at 14 getting 10 for the night I'd tidy up anything that had been brought out whilst I was in charge. If the children were old enough I'd get them to help too.

YANBU.

Lucylouby · 16/02/2014 10:03

I would tidy the toys away if I was babysitting. Especially if they were paying me that much.

asmallandnoisymonkey · 16/02/2014 10:04

You handed her 60 quid to make sure your children didn't come to any harm whilst you were out, maybe you should specify if you'd like a maid service to go along with that.

birdybear · 16/02/2014 10:04

How long were you out for? 60?!

jennifleurs · 16/02/2014 10:04

Any mess that's made while the babysitter was in charge should have been cleaned up IMO.

NickNacks · 16/02/2014 10:05

If you're just back does that mean it was £60 for a full night?

That's very good and I wouldn't expect tidying up as well.

BakerStreetSaxRift · 16/02/2014 10:05

Hmmm, I'd expect her to tidy away her own rubbish, the popcorn etc, but maybe not the toys.

YABABU

ZacharyQuack · 16/02/2014 10:06

Was the mess made while the babysitter was in charge of the children, or was it messy when she arrived at your house?

MrsDonnaLyman · 16/02/2014 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mia4 · 16/02/2014 10:06

Agreeing with jennifleurs, she made the mess with the kids she should have tidied it with them.

Cabrinha · 16/02/2014 10:07

Definitely should clear away any toys /food that were part of her time with them. But no more.
Grey area maybe if you have a playroom where kids can leave their own stuff out.

YellowBellow · 16/02/2014 10:07

Anyone who thinks it's unreasonable to expect a babysitter shouldn't be expected to put rubbish in the bin, at the very least...is unreasonable.

StrawberryTartYum · 16/02/2014 10:08

YANBU I always tidied up when I was a babysitter (mainly because I was bored when the kids went to bed and I wanted to make sure I'd get asked again!). If its a mess that the children made while they were under her care then she definitely should have tidied up, especially empty food wrappers!

MrsBungle · 16/02/2014 10:08

I'd expect the babysitter to tidy any mess made whilst he/she was on duty.

MrsBungle · 16/02/2014 10:08

Well-I'd expect the kids to tidy their mess and the babysitter to supervise and tidy their own mess.

Original poster
ahcomeon · 16/02/2014 10:13

Mess was mostly made while she was babysitting so yes I would have expected a quick tidy up before she sat down for the evening. I mean I would always have done that back when I babysat, it's just decency in my book. And also I just could not relax sitting in a mess!
I would have said something but I'd a few glasses of wine on me and did not really want to engage with her more than I had to iykwim!
It bothered me having to tidy up all the crap this morning though!

OP posts:
ButICantaloupe · 16/02/2014 10:14

I think more context is needed.

  1. Was the mess created by the children when you were in charge, or when the babysitter was in charge?
  2. When did you leave and what time did you arrive back?
ButICantaloupe · 16/02/2014 10:16

x-posted.

In that case YANBU, she hours have tidied up the mess that was created whilst she was looking after the children. She should have asked the children to help, assuming they are able to.

AngryGnome · 16/02/2014 10:17

I wouldn't expect a baby sitter to clean my house, but picking up a few toys and tidying away the snacks she has eaten is entirely reasonable, regardless of whether you paid her £60 or £10

Supercosy · 16/02/2014 10:19

Sorry but I think £60 is incredibly excessive and of course you should do a small amount of tidying especially your popcorn packets etc. We used to have young friends babysit when Dd was younger, we paid £20 and provide d drinks and nibbles. Dd was very easy, in bed by 8.30 and they often brought a friend along (that we'd met). We never came back after 11 and then droppes them home.

Supercosy · 16/02/2014 10:20

That wasn't really your question, sorry! Yanbu especially at that price!

candycoatedwaterdrops · 16/02/2014 10:23

YABU, babysitters do not tidy. How old are your kids btw? Can they not tidy?