Quick Question - first time with Babysitter do you tell then or not?

[tinateaspoon]

My eldest is 4.5 and youngest 3 and tonight is their first night with a babysitter (sad I know). So do I tell them in case they wake up and wonder who the hell is in the house (they do know her) and risk they won't go to sleep or do I not tell them and hope they don't wake up.

How rubbish a parent am I! I think I should tell them as they should be old enough to understand but my youngest is a worrier and may not go to sleep. But then if I don't tell her and she wonders where we are she may never go to sleep again! But I have to be out of the door by 7.30 - oh help!

Any advice will be most gratefully received!

Yes, I would always tell them.

Thanks, yes I know you are right, and well if they kick off and I am late its not the end of the world is it and at least they'll still trust me .

Yes, tell them. don;t leave babysitter with distraught kids on his/her hands if they wake and don;t get the expected adult.

Yes you have to tell them but there is a risk that they will be more troublesome to get to sleep. Most babysitters are used to this though, it will be better than you think!

I recently left my two with a babysitter to put them to bed (we have had family and one friend do it before, but never a paid babysitter they didn't know well). I was very worried about it but it couldn't have gone better.

If there is time to arrange it, I would ask your babysitter to come an hour earlier so that the children can have some interaction with her before they go to bed. I think that tends to make them less nervous.

Yes, tell them.

It is a pain if they kick off when you leave, especially when you've been looking forward to this for SOOOOOOO long , but IMO of baby sitting my friends children (we do swaps), it's not a big deal to settle them

Thanks all - I did tell them and my youngest surprised me by not being at all bothered and my eldest sulked a bit. But they both went to bed and she didnt hear a peep from them . They never fail to surprise me . Had a great evening too and now I am wondering why I have never gone to the effort to get a babysitter before . Whatever am I like!!

Good.