Would you give a bad review....

8 replies

NurseryNurse10 · 16/08/2023 22:48

If your sitter didnt take the baby out for a walk as suggested (Reason being that baby cried everytime I put him in there or if I wasn't picking him up) and didn't cut up a large mango (also just a suggestion) which he could eat.
First time on a babysitting app and although mum gave me a small tip, I'm worried she thought I was useless. Baby didn't like being on the floor (tummy time etc) which she admitted when she returned and doesn't like being put in the pushchair. She also knows that.
I arrived on time, engaged well with baby, changed his nappy, gave milk etc. Also took the time to contact mum to give updates. Just worrying now that she will leave me a bad rating. I want to keep using this app for future work as appreciate the flexibility. This was my first sit and definitely didn't go as well as I had hoped.

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LovelyBitOfSquirrrel · 16/08/2023 22:52

I wouldn’t mention those points but in the future I’d follow all food advice to a tee as you can’t be too safe

Original poster

NurseryNurse10 · 16/08/2023 22:56

Sorry, I meant she said I could cut up the mango if I wanted to give him a snack but he wasn't letting me put him down to actually cut it so because she said it was optional if I gave or not, I left it. I know I am overthinking as she said herself that he is going through a stage where he doesn't like to be on the floor and that it's hard going picking him up all the time. So it's not like it's a surprise what I said. Just feel a bit down over how it went.

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Monkeymonkeymoo · 16/08/2023 23:11

I personally wouldn’t leave a bad review.

I wouldn’t choose to use someone that I didn’t trust to make the best decisions for my children, so if they thought that the child was happier playing at home rather than going for a walk or if they didn’t want a snack then I’d trust them to make that call. If it was something that I really wanted them to do or that was important then I’d make that clear.
However I think some people struggle to be assertive and so may ‘suggest’ something rather than just outright say what they want.
You didn’t do anything dangerous, inappropriate or wrong so I really wouldn’t worry. You might not be the best fit for that family but once you’ve got a few more reviews then it won’t matter anymore (especially because if you find a few families that you get on with then they’re likely to use you regularly/recommend you to their friends, so the reviews on the app will matter less anyway).
I wouldn’t be put off interviewing you because one review mentioned that you didn’t offer some mango.

monpetitlapin · 16/08/2023 23:12

Oh don't feel bad. It sounds like you did fine. The first time I babysat a baby for someone, the baby was asleep when I arrived and woke up within 20 mins of dad leaving, they screamed nonstop from 9pm to 2am when I finally had to ring the dad and ask him to come home because I'd tried everything and didn't know what else to do to get this baby to calm down and was worried something terrible was wrong.
Basically she calmed down within minutes of him coming home. So I'd take it as a win if this is the first time you met this baby and they didn't scream nonstop while their mum was gone.

Original poster

NurseryNurse10 · 16/08/2023 23:16

The snack was definitely optional and the problems I had were that even if I had decided to give him it, he wouldn't have let me put him down to cut it up. Neither would he let me physically put him in the pushchair or cot. He was smiling when she came back but still worried because it was my first sit and it will put other parents off if she has said I didn't do well.

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jgjgjgjgjg · 16/08/2023 23:27

TBH you don't sound experienced enough to be a babysitter. You are massively overthinking this and I would worry about your ability to cope in the heat of the moment. Particularly your comment that the baby wouldn't 'let you' put him down. You are in charge, not the baby, and you must be able to put him down (or in a sling) for long enough to cut up a mango even if he is not particularly happy about it.
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calmcoco · 16/08/2023 23:32

I wouldn't leave a bad review for these things, they were suggestions not orders.

I'd leave a bad review if you did something actually wrong - were late, forgot to feed when specifically to do so, didn't change nappy, did something dangerous.

Something you could do next time is make a written note of what is 'must do' & 'must not do' and what is just 'could do'.

Original poster

NurseryNurse10 · 16/08/2023 23:35

@jgjgjgjgjg Over 20 years experience, worked in every childcare setting there is and level 6 qualified. Thanks.

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