Do you have a regular babysitter?

[FourAngelKisses]

I am just wondering if you all have regular babysitters in case you and your SO want a night out or if you want to do some shopping without the kids etc. We haven't had a night out together in.........5yrs I think????

We don't have anyone which can be rather annoying, especially on our wedding anniversary. My inlaws live 1km down the road, but their daughter has Down Syndrome and is autistic, she would most likely throw my kids against the wall if they cried/laughed/got too noisy so we don't ask them. They have their hands full as is anyway. My parents live an hour away and both work (my mum works nights) so they aren't an option either.

I have thought of asking a teenager who has an add up down the street to babysit, but I honestly don't feel comfortable with the idea of someone else looking after my kids or being in my house. I'd worry that they would go through all our cupboards and drawers. Plus I'd worry that my kids weren't being cared for appropriately.


How does everyone else do it?

[Tam-I-Am]

I might have a whinge about my MIL every now and then, but she truely is a god-send in this respect.

She lives next door to us, and DH works full-time, I work 2.5 days a weeks, and MIL comes to our house to look after DD when I'm at work. If we want a night out, she's there in a flash. If I need to go to the doctor, she's there. If I wanted to go shopping on my own, she would look after DD if I asked. (I don't ask, BTW - I don't want to take advantage, but I know she would if I asked!)

It is so nice knowing that if we had an emergency, she would be there - in fact, when DD was about 4 months old, I got gastro so bad, DH had to take me to hospy in the middle of the night. We didn't want to wake DD, so MIL came and babysat.

She's a God-send!

[drewid]

My parents, and parents-in-law are all great for looking after Andrew. My in-laws just live up the road, so my MIL is more than happy to sit with Andrew at night time (although he is usually asleep) if we want to go out. Luckily for us, Andrew is so easy going, that even if he wakes up and Nanna is here, he isn't thrown by the fact that Mum isn't.

Not that we go out much anyway!

[bronny-jane]

i use my mum and my sisters...i do pay them though:D

[MumsieMel]

My Mum is nearly always avalible to baby sit!! :D

Bless her! :hugs:

[bronny-jane]

My Mum is nearly always avalible to baby sit!! :D

Bless her! :hugs:

i have to beg:D

[FourAngelKisses]

:( I feel bad now that I'm the only one without a mum or MIL who can babysit. :( I wanted to be able to go out to dinner for my 10th wedding anniversary last year but couldn't, we spent it with 3 fighting kids instead. Tons of fun that was, lol.

[~Mands~]

:( I feel bad now that I'm the only one without a mum or MIL who can babysit. :( I wanted to be able to go out to dinner for my 10th wedding anniversary last year but couldn't, we spent it with 3 fighting kids instead. Tons of fun that was, lol.

It sounds like you really deserve a night out with your dh!:yes:
If I was in the same state i would definately offer to care for your children for the night:D I worked as a nanny for about 2 years (now taking a break with bubs on the way), have you thought about going through an agency? I understand your concerns with having an irresponsible teenager, snooping around your house etc.... the agency I worked for offered parents to meet the nanny first even for once off jobs, perhaps there is an agency near you that offers this??

[FourAngelKisses]

Last time I checked there was no agencies out this way, but I'll just have a quick look in the phone book again when I get a chance.

[Vespera]

Maybe try www.findababysitter.com.au (http://www.findababysitter.com.au) not sure if there are any people out your way but I'm pretty sure it is free and most of the people have experience and or qualifications :)

[Jem]

I wish!!!....

My parents Live a 45 minute drive away... And i dont know anyone around this town. :o

The first day i had totally childless was yesterday.... both boys were at daycare (ds2s first day) And DD was at school!!

I didnt know myself :smiliedance: :D

[poshBecks]

The Grands are always great for that!'

Eveyone one wins.. the grands love it, The kids love it & we love it!

We dont ask them to do it ALL the time though coz we dont want to ware out our welcome iykwim. & we try to take it turns between my folks & Dan's.

[misskittyfantastico]

My MIL lives in the same town as us. Unfortunately she doesn't have a lot of respect for me as a mum so I don't feel comfortable leaving DD with her. DH and I take bubs with us everywhere (not many places to go around here!). Mum and
Dad came to visit (they live 7 hrs away) recently and DH and I went the pub....by - our - selves !!!!!!!

[3boyzmum]

I don't ask that often but my SIL (brothers almost wife) or sometimes my MIL will help me out.
Don't let this colour your judgement but when jayjay was almost a year old I hired a baby sitter and she hit him. She tried to deny it but it's hard to deny a huge red handprint on the side of your crying sons face:mad: . Mind you alot of the mums at the school and kinder use agency babysitters and don't have a problem so I think I just got a bad one:no:

[MonkeyMum05]

Nope, unfortunately, we don't have anyone to babysit for us.

My Hubby gave me a voucher to have a massgae at a local day spa for Christmas, (which expires at the end of June!), which I still have not had a chance to use, as I don't have anyone to babysit :crying: :banghead:
I was so excited... I have never been to a day spa!! Now I am worried that I won't even get to use it... 100 bucks down the drain!
I'm hoping they will accept my sad story and give me an extension!

Where's a babysitter when I need one!!?

[SassyMummy]

I just get my mother to do it - so sorry, I've never had a babysitter.

Could you perhaps try one of your friends? Surely one of them knows the kids fairly well and is willing to sacrifice a bit of time so you guys can go out to dinner!

[Tam-I-Am]

Don't let this colour your judgement but when jayjay was almost a year old I hired a baby sitter and she hit him. She tried to deny it but it's hard to deny a huge red handprint on the side of your crying sons face:mad: .


OMG :eek: What did you do? I hope you reported her, not only to her agency, but to the police!

[rynosmum]

My MIL looks after our DS two days per week whilst I'm at work but for any special occassion if we want to go out, we use one of two of the girls at the local daycare centre. They are great with kids, have first aid certificates and plenty of experience plus they are always keen for after hours work.

We generally only go places at night when DS can come with us but as he gets older, sometimes it's better to settle him at home before we leave.

Try your local childcare centre !:D

[EskimoMumma]

If there is ever something i need to do, like drive and then pick up DP from the airport, i know i can count on my brother :D

[iluvmeboyz]

nope i dont have a regular babysitter cause dp looks after my two cause thats the way we prefer it

[FourAngelKisses]

But who has the kids if you and DP want to go out to dinner or something?

[natasha]

I dont have a babysitter either. Never have. We have to fly my MIL over from NZ if we want a night out! SOOO expensive so we just don't bother.
All my familly are in the UK. I'd love to have someone i could trust to leave DD with. Just so i could pop down the road to get some shopping in or something.

[yummymummy]

DD and I live with grandma and grandpa so we have built in babysitters !!!

[mumoftwoboys2005]

I don't have anyone to babysit either. My Mum and Dad keep saying that they will take DS#1 for a night but this never happens. Ever tried explaining to an aspergers child why he can't go with Nanny for the night when she visits? Every time I bring this up, she changes the subject! or says "It's not convenient because Grandad is not home" It's not like she has to do a night feed or anything. He's nearly 8 and sleeps in his own bed (Finally!) I don't ask for her to babysit because she says "It's too far to drive" 60km and I don't care if I pay for the petrol. DH and I have not been out on our own in 3 years! My FIL came to stay for a week because our car blew the engine (we got swept away down the street in a flash flood - thank god for Fairlanes) When I mentioned in conversation that we had not been out on our own, he sent us to the movies that night and kept Josh with him. At the time we only had Josh so it was ok. Unfortunately, he works 6 nights a week so that doesn't make him the ideal candidate and unfortunately my MIL passed away some years ago. FIL does have a GF but I am not that desperate to have a night out. Hmmm, maybe I am. I have looked on findababysitter and have found someone who I think may fit the bill. :fingerscrossed: :smiliedance:

[sharvs]

I have never left DS with anyone (not by choice though). We moved to QLD when he was 3 weeks old. My family is in SA & my in-laws are in NSW. I would love to have a night out, actually even 5 minutes out would be nice but I have no options. My DF has been away most of the year & will be away until March next year. Its really hard not having anyone to depend on.

[arthursmum]

As we live overseas, we don't have any family to look after ds at a moment's (for that matter, planned in advance) notice.
We have single/ttc friends who offer to look after him all the time. Our friends who are ttc are really into child-minding..

Baby-sitters are expensive here (or so other mums tell me), starts at $20/hr, so it makes for a super expensive night if we were to go somewhere and really let loose.There's a girl who loves next door (about 19 or so) who has also offered to mind him. Her family seems really nice, so i think that i'd be happy to ask her if our friends weren't available.

Could you meet the teenager down the road from you and decide whether you think she's trustworthy? She may have references, too.

BTW, what's the going rate for say 4 hours of baby-sitting where you are?

I really hope you get a well deserved night out:D

[kymmy]

i have the most wonderful mil
always willing and waiting

[OceBel]

no, we dont have a regular babysitter, but i wish we did, dh and i havent had a night out since our dd was born. :o