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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that dozing off on the sofa is OK for a babysitter?

62 replies

BitOfFun · 18/05/2009 16:46

To my mind it is - if the kids wailed it would probably wake her up, we have smoke alarms etc, and I often have a snooze myself after I've put the kids to bed...

Another poster was annoyed to come in at 11pm though and find this to be the case, and I just wondered if anyone else would have a problem with it?

One thing I did have a problem with was finding what looked suspiciously like a small open cellophane bag with some white powder in on the floor under MY BED...so I have never used that babysitter again - but as we'd had a few house guests (who seemed straight as a die though)that month I didn't throw any accusations around...Oh, how I wish I'd discovered mumsnet then

I digress: sleeping on the job - I say OK, so AIBU?

OP posts:
Picante · 18/05/2009 16:47

Absolutely fine esp if it's late.

fucksticks · 18/05/2009 16:48

Of course its fine for babysitter to doze off at 11pm.
If I were home at 11pm I'd be in bed fast asleep myself!!

GypsyMoth · 18/05/2009 16:48

yanbu.....think its ok. i was a nanny before i had my own dc,living in....and would go off to bed before the parents returned. so can't see much difference

RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 18/05/2009 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cornsilk · 18/05/2009 16:48

Fine unless they've been at the 20/20.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 18/05/2009 16:49

I say fine, as you say what parent doesn't doze on the sofa in an evening.

White powder eh?

potplant · 18/05/2009 16:49

Not read the thread you refer to but on the face of it I can't see a problem.

As long as the kids are asleep in bed then I wouldn't be bothered. I often fall asleep on the couch watching the telly after they've gone to bed. Its no different.

Mumup · 18/05/2009 16:49

I'm always horrified to come home at 2pm and find the babysitter STILL AWAKE. I hate to think she's waiting up for me. Yes, of course it's fine to sleep once the kids are asleep, as long your sitter's not coming down hard off the white powder... Wow, that's such a better story!

Itsjustafleshwound · 18/05/2009 16:50

I would be a bit pee'd off - as any employer would be to find any employee asleep on the job ...

Original poster
BitOfFun · 18/05/2009 16:50

Yes, white powder! Of course I confiscated it...

OP posts:
ClaireDeLoon · 18/05/2009 16:50

I used to babysit for a relatives dd when I was a teenager and I'd stay over to save worrying about lifts home so I was often tucked up in bed when they got back that's not a bad thing is it?

MaryBS · 18/05/2009 16:51

I think there is a difference between dozing and soundly sleeping. We used the younger brother of a regular babysitter and struggled to rouse him when we came in at 10pm. So we didn't use him again.

He was 14, we knew him, and his mother, our childminder assured he was capable and anyway she was at the end of the phone. But I worried that he was so soundly asleep.

MrsMattie · 18/05/2009 16:51

Hmmm. Dunno. I'd probably expect a babysitter to stay awake if I was coming home before midnight. It's not that late and she/he is being paid. If it was a very late one and it had been agreed, then fine.

MmeLindt · 18/05/2009 16:53

Does that mean that there are people who do not go to sleep when their children are in bed in case the house catches fire?

I go to sleep when I am looking after my DC, why should a babysitter not?

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 18/05/2009 16:56

YANBU. I'd expect them to have a little snooze to be honest....

Original poster
BitOfFun · 18/05/2009 16:56

I think it's the paying issue, MmeLindt, but I just don't think it's a biggie really. I can see MrsMattie's point though...teenage boys are notorious for needing a rocket up their arse to move

OP posts:
Itsjustafleshwound · 18/05/2009 16:57

I would at least expect the babysitter to be awake for the 4/5 hours they are employed - I don't think it is a big ask...

Also, my kids don't mind waking me or my DH up or coming up to our bedroom if there is a problem, maybe they aren't so keen when the babysitter isn't that well known by them ...

TrillianAstra · 18/05/2009 16:59

I used to sleep over when looking after younger cousins so I didn't have to be driven home.

And I think it's fine to doze on the sofa. But not to be comatose (like MaryBS's one-time babysitter) unless sleeping has been pre-arranged. Times that I had drifeted off on the sofa I was always sat up (if a bit bleary-eyed) by the time the parents had actually got to the living room.

hf128219 · 18/05/2009 16:59

YANBU.

MmeLindt · 18/05/2009 17:02

I am paying for the babysitter to be here for the DC if they wake up or if there is a problem. Not stand like a sentry outside their bedroom doors.

As an aside, the kindergarten that DD was in had a girl on work experience and she used to fall asleep during circle time . I did have a word with DD's teacher, she told me it was not the first time.

mayorquimby · 18/05/2009 17:02

yabu- firing a babysitter just for having a few lines of coke.should be ashamed of yourself. she probably only did it so she'd be more awake,focused and concentrating on being a more pro-active and ultimately better baby sitter.

scaredoflove · 18/05/2009 17:04

I always slept on the job. One of my familys, used to regularly get in after 3am. I either went to bed and stayed all night or slept on the sofa and went home when they came home, depending on how I felt on the night

I also used to have a glass or two of wine with boyfriend (left by the family/agreed by the family - all above board)

I liked babysitting

wolfnipplechips · 18/05/2009 17:08

yanbu i'm in a babysitting circle with some friends and am always sometimes asleep on their sofa when they come home.

It doesn't really matter does it, if we were home we'd be in bed. I rather they were snoozing than bored.

Original poster
BitOfFun · 18/05/2009 17:12

Mayorquimby - she must have been bloody alert then: there was hardly any left? And she might have needed a snooze, what with it being by the bed an' all.

You're quite right, it was most unfair of me

OP posts:
hifi · 18/05/2009 17:14

how sure are you it was the babysitters coke?

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