What do you expect from your babysitters?

[AnnieSaxophone]

Our 15 year old has just started babysitting for families and I've realised that I'm very out of date!

Do you expect them to do any of the following:

1. Tidy up toys from the day
2. Washing up
3. Stay on if later than the agreed time (obviously they stay until the parents are home but if for eg if they say sitting until midnight but then text at midnight to say can they stay on until 1 etc?

When I was that age, I'd always tidy etc but I'm not sure what's expected from sitters as a basic requirement!

All thoughts welcome!

None of those things.

Really depends when they are sitting. If they’ve had a load of toys out with the kids I would appreciate them tidying them away if possible - but I wouldn’t expect them to tidy away stuff they hadn’t got out.

Wouldn’t expect them to wash up but would expect any plates/cups from snacks either in the sink or dishwasher not lying around.

In terms of staying later - I think it’s ok to ask as long as the ask comes early enough that if the sitter says no you can make it home for the original time.

Absolutely none of those and it is very bad form for the parents to text a 15 year old and ask her to stay later than agreed.

I used to do a lot of babysitting (50 years ago ) and some of the families became friends so I often used to tidy up or do a little washing up .... I also helped myself to sherry and sniggered at their 'Joy of Sex' book on the bookshelf .

I expected our babysitters to sit on the couch, watch TV and get the kids out the house if it caught fire. That's about it.

Nothing like that!
But then I don't even expect the babysitter to put anyone to bed either.
Sounds like they want a freebie house maid service as well as a babysitter.
If the time extension thing was frequent or late back I wouldn't be happy but the odd occasion with plenty of notice in the evening then maybe.

@Neolara

I expected our babysitters to sit on the couch, watch TV and get the kids out the house if it caught fire. That's about it.

What @Neolara said. They should be on time, back when they say they will be. I have a late teen DS who babysits often.

@Neolara

I expected our babysitters to sit on the couch, watch TV and get the kids out the house if it caught fire. That's about it.

This. They're a baby sitter not a maid.

I expect ours to deal with any wake ups and upsets but generally the children are asleep when they arrive and remain so.

None of these and your DD needs to turn down sitting for any CFs like this again

Thank you all. This is very helpful!

I agree with Glitterbaby17
I wouldn't expect a sitter to be tidying up for the day, but, if they were sitting when the dc were awake, then I wouldn't expect the house to be in a worse state when I came home, from what it was like when I went out. However, I would expect them to encourage the dc to do the tidying (as I would have done when I used to sit many years ago).

Not to washing up.

Staying later - it depends.
If it is a genuine "How do you feel about us staying later?" and they will come home if sitter isn't happy, then fine. My teens have sat for people when they had own cars, so they would be fine with it. If it made it difficult re getting home, or if they phoned 5 mins before they were due home and it clearly wasn't a choice, then no, that's wrong.

I would say that the toys would need to be tidied up. My kids at 2 yo would help tidy up and if I was babysitting I would make the kids help tidy up as well.

Everything else no!

Nothing. I generally put the children to bed first, then expect them to sit in the house until I’m home.

If I hired a 15 year old babysitter I'd literally expect them to sit on the couch, eat snacks, watch tv, be friendly to ds and be there in case of problems.
I wouldn't come back later than 11pm and even that would be pushing it.
15 is very young to babysit so I'd have minimal expectations.

Yes to tidying toys that the babysitter had got out while they were there, but not necessarily to tidying toys got out before they arrived.

Definitely no to washing up

Personally I would avoid being out later than I’d said, unless there was an unavoidable reason (train cancelled, terrible traffic), in which case I’d text to apologise and give an ETA. Of significantly later, I’d then pay more.

We have a 16 year old babysitter for our (primary age) kids - she might read the youngest a story and tuck them in, and tell the others to go to bed, but other than that she sits on the sofa on her phone eating snacks.

And we always get home on time and before 11.

Nothing more than sorting out the kids if they wake up.

No to being home later on school nights & ask early enough to get home on time Fri/Sat if they don't want to stay later. I'd always take them home or put them in a (known well) taxi too.

I used to babysit for a family friend at 15. I made his tea, entertained him, got him to bed and tidied up after him. Then I'd relax and watch TV until the early hours (1/2 am)
Couldn't complain as I was getting a tenner an hour so was quite happy with the arrangements

Did you mean to post this in the coronavirus topic?