to ask DD's keyworker if she'll babysit overnight?

[JammyGem]

DD (20 months) has been at nursery for nearly a year, and is incredibly close to her keyworker - they've been called 'best friends' and the 'terrible twosome' etc. by other staff DD was over the moon to see her again when the nursery reopened last month.

DH and I have won an overnight stay in a few months' time (covid-depending of course) for the two of us but we don't really know anyone in our city who could look after DD overnight. Would it be weird to ask DD's keyworker if she'd be able to babysit for us? We'd obviously pay her and sort out everything, but I didn't know if it went against nursery etiquette? She's so lovely and really good with DD so I don't want to make her uncomfortable at all. It's just that the only other people who could look after DD are my parents on the other side of the country, and I'd feel much more comfortable having someone she (and we) know looking after her.

I've checked the nursery policy and it just says that any arrangements are personal and they aren't liable.

I'm probably massively overthinking this. Are you even allowed to have someone babysit overnight? It would be a much-needed break for me and DH, but DD obviously has to come first so I want to do right by her.

Oh god no. No, I couldn't do this. She's at work, OP. She is very professional with your child and it's great that your child gels with her, in shows she's great at her career. But she isn't a babysitter!

I can't imagine why not. Your DD loves her. Completely natural to ask her would she be free. She's under zero pressure to say yes. She might point you in the direction of an alternative person too, if she wasn't available.

I approached the nursery manager, who put a note on the wall in office. All of the staff wanted to babysit for us, there was almost a disagreement over who was first. We have used a few of them now, but not overnight as needed not been there. Would be nice though.

OMG what is with people being offended at being politely asked if they offer a service related to what they do for a living?

If you don't want to.. decline, it is that simple.

Jeez if everyone thought that way I wouldn't have been offered two jobs this week alone (not childcare, but similarly, not my actual job but closely related to).

So much pearl clutching and what iffing and offence being taken where none at all is intended!

I used to babysit for nursery families a lot as a nursery nurse, most of us did. The families liked the fact we knew the children, were first aiders and CRB checked. They'd always pay well too! I would have happily had a child overnight too

My daughter in law works in a nursery and she regularly babysits for the children. The parents are grateful to have someone they know and trust and she is grateful for the extra money. Ask away the worst that can happen is she says no.

Ow god. It's her job to be lovely to your child. She is not going to want to babysit!! My sister does that job and would be mortified to be asked.

@ToBBQorNotToBBQ

Ow god. It's her job to be lovely to your child. She is not going to want to babysit!! My sister does that job and would be mortified to be asked.

How very weird.

Just ask her if she does any private childcare outside of her.job and take it from there

This is quite common. Lots of nursery staff make their extras through private sitting work. Nursery work isn't well paid!