please help with babysitter ettiquette

[neonalee]

When you have a babysitter for your toddler, what is normal? Do they eat your food? Are you expected to provide a meal? She will be there from 7pm - probably around midnight or so. Any tips on this subject in general? We rarely go out so this isn't something we are famililar with.

[Youngfrankenstein]

I would consider 7pm after dinner and not provide food.  It's nice to have a few things you can point to for the sitter if he/she wants a snack.  Our sitter has come weekly for about 5+ years so she will share a snack that I've left for the kids.  

[Altair]

I don't think you need to provide dinner, but I'd let her know what snacks/drinks you have and make sure you have some! Snacking after the kids are in bed is a time honored tradition in teen babysitting. :-)

[Super~Single~Mama]

I'm with Altair. Some ice cream, chips and dip, cookies should do it.

[Peony]

I agree with everyone else, no meal, just snacks. 

[P.J.]

I always struggle with this one. I often cook a nice meal for us and am sure to let the babysitter know where it is and that she can help herself. Our babysitter used to be vegan so it made it hard ~ we are vegetarian but I often use cheese or milk products and I didn't feel I should go out of my way to cook vegan when she was coming. She does eat some dairy now though so that's over...but anyway there are those days I just don't have time to cook a proper meal and I just warm up some veggies for us. In this case I will offer her whatever we have but I often wonder if it's rude that we don't have a real meal for her, and sometimes we have nothing. She usually comes from 5:30-8:30 or 9pm, so theoretically she could go eat after.

But yeah, I remember babysitting as a teenager and as soon as the kids went to bed I started munching!!

[Justmee]

I agree unless it goes right over the dinner hour (or lunch hour) just provide snacks.

[neonalee]

Thanks mamas! We don't actually keep that stuff in our house so I'll ask her for preferences I think. Then she can take home what I buy.

[Justmee]

I don't think you have to buy her junk food, I think any snack will do. Crackers, cheese, ricecakes, fruit, a yogurt, etc. None of my families ever bought me special food, but there was always something snacky in the house (even if it was yogurt) that I knew I could help myself to.

[katt]

Naw, i wouldn't buy her anything special, or if you do, don't ask her.  She's there to do a job, IF you decide to provide her with extras and YOU pay for it, they are yours.

I'd stick with stuff you guys would eat anyway... Fruit, veggies, maybe cereal, popcorn

Let her know if she wants more junk food style food she'll need to bring it herself, cause you guys don't even buy it.

[mumkimum]

Ditto the above advice.  Just do make the time to point out what you have that you don't mind your sitter helping themselves to.  No need to buy anything different, I always kinda enjoyed trying different foods the families I sat for would have, when I was a teen sitter myself.  

[peaceful_mama]

When I babysat, usually at that time dinner was over.  Usually when I'd go at say 5 or 6 for my one regular family, they'd leave a check for pizza.  MOST of my people did not buy me special snacks, but it was understood I could snack within reason on anything there.

[gitanamama]

We haven't actually hired a babysitter yet, but I worked as a nanny/babysitter for many years before my DS was born. I always thought it was very nice and welcoming when parents would say, "help yourself to anything in the fridge." It made me feel more comfortable, and as sitter, you definitely want to feel comfortable spending time in someone's home. That being said, I never really took advantage of the offer--occasionally I would eat some fruit or cereal, but it's not like I ransacked anyone's pantry. I often brought my own snacks when I knew I'd be there for a long time or during a meal. I don't think it's necessary to provide snacks or meals you don't usually keep in the house, but it is nice to offer what food you do have to your caregiver---even if it's mac 'n cheese or other kiddie food. 

[neonalee]

Thanks again. I should mention we don't really have snacks or convenience food in our house, or anything to drink other than water. Hence the need to pick up something:)

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