would you do this?

[nappyaddict]

if you worked nights and your child was always in bed and asleep before you went out and never wakes up, would you give your neighbour who was wellknown to your child the baby monitor to keep an ear out on the offchance that they do wake up and a key to get in on that offchance rather than giving up work? (a babysitter costs more than i earn an hour)

A 14 year old would perhaps be okay for the odd few hours, but never on a regular basis, surely?

Message withdrawn

right, i see.

so nappyaddict has a genuine need for childcare of an evening, the neighbour suggested the leaving the baby in the house and she would have a baby listener... and NA wanted to check why this was a bad idea..

obviously i missed the point somewhere along the line

and agree with DWP , the acquaintance needs to know what a big responsibility it is , and to be trustworthy

i thikn so too motherfunk.... if the neighbour would be in to listen out for the baby, then having the baby there would not be an issue?

look in the paper or NCT sales for a travel cot, i bought one off a mate for £10....

a travel cot would only fit in the living room and i can't see ds staying asleep there. like i said he is a very light sleeper. it would be for 3.5 - 4 hours. i have used her since ds was about 6 months old (she has a younger brother the same age as him so knows what she is doing). she is very responsible and both her mum and my neighbour who she also knows very well would be nearby if she needed help (which she never has before.)

having someone you know and trust sitting in the house with DS would be the best thing then? maybe you can work out a compromise on price if the babysitting costs are going to eat up your wages?

what are you planning on paying?

and what do you do?

Message withdrawn

if a 14 year old is charging more than £5 per hour for babysitting, you are getting a bum deal!

i normally give her £15.

and i dismissed a travel cot cos it won't fit in the bedroom. she has the smallest bedroom cos the kids share the other one and it wouldn't fit in there either - not with 4 beds already! the other room is set up as an office/walk in wardrobe/storage room which you quite frankly cannot even step into it is such a tip

Message withdrawn

You can get a travel cot cheap as chips i brought one for £30 not alot really is it? it's better than risking your son's life is it not?

I have the smallest bedroom in the world but a travel cot will "just" fit in.

So you wanted to go to work for 3.5-4 hrs & leave your son asleep in his cot in the house alone? Are you telling me you can't really afford a travel cot but you would happily leave your son alone in a house? your mad as a box of frogs

so if the 14 year old sits for you in your house, it is not an issue, is it?

no, not if i can get her to do it. she used to do guides, swimming, dancing etc so i didn't think she'd be available but spoke to her mum this morning and she's dropped a few things cos of school work and the hecticness of her house was actually getting her down cos she gets no peace so her mums seems to think she'll be up for it. fingers crossed.

and do you have a Plan B? always good to have a plan B

Message withdrawn

sorry lulumamma, rather strident further down

I know it depends on the maturity of the 14 year old etc etc, but I still think it's irresponsible.
For that money you could find a childminder or a nanny. Our first nanny used to do evening work after she left hours as she was trying to save for a house, and I'm sure many others do the same.

i only hope my boss can sort my hours out. i can't really afford to pay a babysitter £15 a night when sometimes i only earn £20!

i thought evening cms charged at least £6 per hour?

no worries peatbog

have you had a look on gumtree.com?

ad in local paper for a mature lady to sit for you?