Is it fair on the babysitter to leave her with the kids like this

12 replies

Dontgetasecond · 15/07/2024 21:10

Been babysitting this week (live abroad-very good pay where I am, I’m a teacher by profession)
Toddler and baby both full of colds and v dodgy stomachs. Baby took three hours to get to sleep, toddler asleep by around 10 as crying and ill.
Is the fair on the babysitter to knowingly leave them with sick and crying kids?
Is it fair on the kids too?

OP posts:

Hairspray123 · 15/07/2024 21:23

What were the circumstances that they left them when they were ill? Was it something very important? If it just a pub visit, it wouldnt be unreasonable to cancel.

FuzzyStripes · 15/07/2024 21:25

If you are in lieu of a nanny, then it’s quite normal for poorly children to be looked after and that’s one of the advantages of having one over regular nursery.

Londonrach1 · 15/07/2024 21:25

Why were the kids left with you. Was it an sos trip to see a ill family member or a social trip. Did you know before hand. Have you meet the kids before

CobaltQueen · 15/07/2024 21:25

No it's not OK.
My cousin babysits and is immune suppressed. She turned up one day to a family where they were all hugely unwell with streaming colds and sore throats. She said she couldn't sit for them and walked back home.
It's very selfish of the family in my opinion.

SunQueen24 · 15/07/2024 21:30

No - they need their parents when they’re that poorly.

Pliocene · 15/07/2024 21:32

They should have given you a heads up

TargetPractice11 · 15/07/2024 21:33

This drove me mad when I used to babysit.

Very selfish.

Not fair to the children who want their parents when they are sick, and not fair to the babysitter who has a life of their own.

TheOccupier · 15/07/2024 21:55

I wouldn't have an issue with this. Could you not tell that the children were ill before the parents left?

Original poster

Dontgetasecond · 15/07/2024 22:42

I couldn’t tell initially but could when the baby was handed over to me to give milk and put to bed and the toddler later on when mum had gone

OP posts:

TargetPractice11 · 15/07/2024 23:09

FuzzyStripes · 15/07/2024 21:25

If you are in lieu of a nanny, then it’s quite normal for poorly children to be looked after and that’s one of the advantages of having one over regular nursery.

A nanny would receive sick pay when she inevitably caught the virus herself. Her missed work would be the problem of the family who got her sick.

A babysitter will have to cancel other work if she is ill and go without pay.

stichguru · 18/10/2024 07:58

No. Bit sniffly is fair enough, but full on colds no, and dodgy stomachs, absolutely not unless it was something the parents really couldn't get out of, AND they had pre-agreed that you would have the kids in the case of mild illness.

coffeesaveslives · 18/10/2024 08:01

No, that's massively selfish, especially as you weren't warned in advance.

Flip