A Hesitant Nanny Debating In-Room Child Care

[MadilynnsMomma]

To start, I have spent the last 8 years working in Early Childhood Education and as a Private Nanny. 2 years ago I was blessed with a bundle of my own!

We've planned a trip to Disney for December and I have been reading around on other websites about Kids Nite Out and Fairy Godmothers and am contemplating utilizing one of them. One side of me screams: "YOU NEGLIGENT PARENT!" - the other says: "Go enjoy a night out with your honey - Madilynn will be fine!"

Has any one used either of these services and would like to share positive or negative comments/experiences? I would greatly appreciate it!

*If you just want to bash me for being a "negligent parent" please keep your comments to yourself - thanks!*

 

[GISELLEROL]

If your child is comfortable with other people than I think its okay..It's not like you will be gone all night...A night out with your husband will be good for you.. I have never used these services before though.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I haven't used either of those services, but I did use one of the Kids' Clubs during my last trip with DD - TWICE no less. I know your DD is too young to go to these clubs, but I just wanted to tell you to please ignore the "YOU NEGLIGENT PARENT!" side and go have some fun with your hubby. My DD really enjoyed her two evenings without me, and I REALLY REALLY enjoyed having some time to explore by myself and being able to ride some of the bigger rides that DD was either too short for or just not adventurous enough for.

 

[ireland_nicole]

We used kids night out twice (gasp) during our 10 day trip a year and a half ago. They were amazing, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. The staff who took my info really spent time figuring out just the right type of person that I needed and who would be best with my kids. They immediatly warmed to her (they were 7 and turning 5 at the time), she was wonderful with them. The second time, she actually arrived a bit early (which was great, because we were running late getting ready for Victoria and Albert's) and she asked if it was ok to take the kids to get something to eat at the foodcourt and play on the beach (um, yeah!) So we actually got to our reservation on time. Just wonderful, the kids still ask about her when we talk about past Disney trips. And fwiw, my kids have been with a sitter a total of maybe 6 times in their lives including those two since my mom lives with us, so my standards are pretty high.

 

[anabelle]

I know I am in the minority, but I wouldn't be comfortable with leaving my two year old in a hotel enviroment with a stranger. I know that the caregivers are screened and surely trustworthy. But I would be more inclined for a Kid's club because it is public.

Edit:
(Sorry, I just realized you can't use a Kid's club because of the age.)

 

[waltskids]

We used Kids Night Out for our son (21 months at the time) last summer. Our sitter arrived a few minutes early, asked all the right questions (bedtime routine, allergies, etc.), and immediately opened up a suitcase filled with toys and DS jumped right in to play with all of them. When we returned home about 4 1/2 hours later (we had dinner at Bluezoo and watched baseball at ESPN and sat at the bar for a while), DS was sound asleep in his pack n play and the lights were dimmed with the TV on a low volume (at our request). She was very professional and I wouldn't hesitate using them again in the future.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Regardless of what anyone thinks or what kind of experiences they may have had only you can decide if you are comfortable leaving your child with someone you don't know. If you are going to spend dinner stressed out then I wouldn't do it because you won't have a good time. If you are fine with it then you won't have a problem.
I have not used their services so I cannot comment on them specifically. I just feel that you ultimately have to be good with it no matter what anyone says.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[natnelliesmom]

Can you imagine the media fuss if something went wrong with a babysitting service within a Disney World resort???

I have never heard a negative thing about either of the major in-room babysitting services that work within WDW resorts. I have only heard positive comments and relief expressed at having had an evening away from the kids.

I know (as a mom) that family vacations tend to focus on the kids. It's just what we do to make our kids lives more fulfilled. But boy, is it nice to have a night off now and then! And if that night off can be in Disney World? Wow.

Don't hesitate! Make sure you have clearly written rules for your expectations, and call that babysitting service!!

Have a good time!
-Sarah

 

[tartemis]

We used Kids Nite Out one night for an adults only dinner back in March of this year and the woman that was sent was fabulous! My 18 month old dd took to her right away. She played with our dd while we got ready and then we put dd down to sleep and the sitter sat in the adjoining room (we had 2 connecting rooms).

She obviously didn't need to do much since our daughter was asleep most of the time, but after meeting her I know that she would have had no trouble putting our daughter down if we had chosen to go that route.

FWIW -- this was the first time we ever have left our daughter with a babysitter (other than grandparents and her nanny). I wouldn't hesitate to use the service again. And I am as neurotic as they come.

 

[Princess-in-Training]

Add us to the list of satisfied KNO customers! Everything was professional, and the sitter was awesome - kids took to her right away! She gave us a written report on the evening, too.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Thank you all for your kind words and recommendations. I was also wonder of those that have used the service did you request the "age" of your sitter? I read somewhere that you could request a "college student" or a "grandmotherly" sitter. Any of you do this?

Thanks again for easing my uncertainty!

 

[waltskids]

Thank you all for your kind words and recommendations. I was also wonder of those that have used the service did you request the "age" of your sitter? I read somewhere that you could request a "college student" or a "grandmotherly" sitter. Any of you do this?

Thanks again for easing my uncertainty!

We actually requested that the person not be a 'grandmotherly type' b/c DS has no living grandparents and he had never been around elderly people before. The sitter we had was in her late 30's or early 40's at the most. We also requested a female sitter.

 

[Princess-in-Training]

We didn't request anyone in particular. We had a "grandmotherly" type, who also happened to be one of the original imagineers for the magic kingdom (retired, of course)!!! We kinda wanted to stay and ask her tons of questions about that!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Thank you all for your great reviews and comments!

I am leaning more toward going through with using this service. To be honest though, I think I will probably be nervous until I meet our sitter. But I guess that's normal for an over-protective momma, right?

Thanks again to ALL!!!

 

[*pixie*dust*]

I wouldn't be able to have a good time knowing that my toddler was left in a hotel room with a stranger-- whether they were a "grandmotherly" type of person or not. I am sure that the staff is well screened, etc. But I still couldn't put my child in that kind of situation. A strange place, with a stranger after overstimulating day at the parks would be too stressful.

 

[livie1205]

I may be the only one but I would NEVER leave my child in a room with a stranger (even at wdw).I am sure they check out these people but they can leave at any point with a child and be long gone before anyone even knew.I love the kids clubs and would use then anytime but I would not have a stranger in another town stay with my kids in a hotel room..I am not saying those who do are bad parents that is just me I wouldnt do it.I see maybe a older child that can say no or run but not a child that can not express what is going on..

 

[mjkacmom]

I wouldn't hesitate to use these services. I've only heard raves, and not one negative story. However, I've also used teen sitters, so the fact that these sitters are adults, and screened, would put me very much at ease.

 

[kevschickee]

I wouldn't be able to have a good time knowing that my toddler was left in a hotel room with a stranger-- whether they were a "grandmotherly" type of person or not. I am sure that the staff is well screened, etc. But I still couldn't put my child in that kind of situation. A strange place, with a stranger after overstimulating day at the parks would be too stressful.

I agree

 

[littlbugmom]

Regardless of what anyone thinks or what kind of experiences they may have had only you can decide if you are comfortable leaving your child with someone you don't know. If you are going to spend dinner stressed out then I wouldn't do it because you won't have a good time. If you are fine with it then you won't have a problem.
I have not used their services so I cannot comment on them specifically. I just feel that you ultimately have to be good with it no matter what anyone says.
Good luck with your decision.

I'm going to agree with this poster. It has to depend what you can feel comfortable with. I could read 200+ posts...all telling me they've used the services and all was fine but I would still never be able to relax. That's me and I know myself well enough to know that it's not something I would even consider doing. If you feel OK with it, do it. I'm sure WDW has an excellent screening/hiring process for it's babysitting employees. Check into it and see how you feel....give it all time to sink in and then reevaluate.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I may be the only one but I would NEVER leave my child in a room with a stranger (even at wdw).I am sure they check out these people but they can leave at any point with a child and be long gone before anyone even knew.I love the kids clubs and would use then anytime but I would not have a stranger in another town stay with my kids in a hotel room..I am not saying those who do are bad parents that is just me I wouldnt do it.I see maybe a older child that can say no or run but not a child that can not express what is going on..

My daughter is not old enough to go to the "Child Care Clubs" on Disney property...