Babysitter in a U.K. hotel

[bakingmummy21]

10th wedding anniversary this year and we don’t really have anyone to watch our kids so toying with the idea of connecting room a in a nice-ish hotel and possibly getting a babysitter to watch them once we’ve put them to bed so we can have dinner in the hotel restaurant. Is this a done thing?! I’m not comfortable just leaving them in the room, kids are 6, 4 and 2.

It’s not really a family hotel per se, no baby listening or babysitting services (I already asked) but it’s a hotel we like, fancy restaurant and bar etc. We’ve stayed there before but last time just did an early dinner with kids and got room service cocktails. I assume if I got my own babysitter they could just come in to our room for a couple of hours and we’d be on site if needed. Literally never done this before so anything I need to consider?!

I work in a hotel and we often have guests bringing a babysitter in for an evening so the parents can enjoy a child free dinner. The reception team just like to know that there is a babysitter visiting for fire/health and safety reasons. If you contact the hotel they may be able to recommend a babysitter for you.

Thanks I did ask but just told they don’t offer any childcare. Knowing the hotel it’s probably not a common request but I’m confident I could find one. Good to know they’re usually allowed no problem, thanks!

The only time we did this (dinner downstairs in lovely hotel in Liverpool was actually DH’s work Christmas party), we got an extremely experienced sitter (a mother of five who’d been a childminder) via one of the big national sites. Unfortunately, DS (three, adorable, and not given to sleeping) broke her. I ended up paying her off early and taking my dessert upstairs as it was DH’s party. The little monster was asleep within ten minutes of my arrival.

Oh no @AnglepoisePond ! I’d definitely have to try and make sure ours were asleep before we went down for dinner 😬 It sounds simple in theory but could all go wrong. Excitement of staying in a hotel etc. could easily keep them up late.