babysitter and food question

[ZachnElli]

We usually ordered pizza and I would order one specifically for the babysitter that she didn't have to share with my kids. I'd also try to have snacks on hand. My oldest is 14, so he's the babysitter now (I pay him). My 2 neices also babysit alot and for one family they cook or make sandwiches for the kids and they eat it too.

 

[bumbershoot]

When I babysat, it was always an ope-fridge policy as far as I can remember.

I was always told to help myself. They also always had a huge bag of snack foods for me to bring back to my dorm to share with all my friends. In addition they encouraged me to bring laundry to their house so I could do it for free. I was also free to eat any real food I wanted to and depending on what they had often insisted that I bring a bit back to share with my friends. I really think they felt we were all starving college students who needed non cafeteria food to survive. I graduated in 1992 so way before my cell phone/unlimited long distance days. They also used to tell me to make sure I called my parents so I wouldn't have to pay for the phone bill.

I *love* that. All of that. And you've given me the idea that should we need a sitter (we've mainly avoided it so far) to look to the university in our town. And given me ideas of how to keep a college-attending sitter happy! Thank you!

 

[TiggerStac]

We'll either have a made pizza or ordered a pizza for when the sitter comes. They all know they can have whatever they want and I always point out the birthday cakes and let them know feel free to have some. They know where everything else is.

It was the same way when i sat or was nannying. There would be pizza ordered or something simple for me to make for the kids. I was free to have whatever I wanted. I did feel awkward some of the time and I usually had my coffee w/me going in. I didn't snack on anything, but if it was dinner time and I wasn't able to eat before leaving the dorm, I would have what the kids were having.

 

[Va-bear]

Not only did we have an open fridge policy, I would go shopping so I made sure we had good snacks on hand for the babysitter. We generally ordered a pizza for everyone to eat too.

We do the same and usually get some soda and 'special' snacks we dont normally get.

I cant imagine not doing that and also cant imagine not getting that when I was a sitter. Gosh, when I was a teenager the food was half the reason I took the jobs I took! I was a VERY in demand sitter - I had no life and enjoyed kids. SO, I could be selective if I wanted....uptight (ie, restricting the sitters food...) or creepy parents went off the list pretty quickly.

 

[clovergirl5]

When I was a teenager babysitting, everyone I sat for, always told me to help myself to whatever I wanted.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

I was born and raised in Colorado and I have never heard of NOT having an open fridge policy. Not as a teen-aged babysitter or as a mom needing a babysitter.

How would you even go about telling someone they could not eat or drink anything in your home while they were there?

 

[Disneyland Princess]

I've always been told to help myself when I babysit. I've never been told not to eat anything but I feel its common courtesy not to eat anything that looks like its going to be tomorrows dinner.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Anyone I've ever sat for has always told me to help myself to whatever.

 

[lila]

When I was a babysitter, I was welcome to eat anything. I can't remember ever eating or drinking anything though!

 

[dislaney]

One of the best parts of babysitting was the unlimited snacks esp the ones that we never had at our house. I make sure babysitters know they are welcome to any food in my house and make sure I stock up before they come to sit.

 

[mefordis]

We have always hooked the babysitter up with some good junk food! Or anything else they wanted in the fridge.

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

When I sat it was open fridge.

Though it was for my cousins - haha.

I didn't eat that much, mostly because it still felt weird to go through my cousin's cabinets. I cooked for the boys (basically whatever they wanted, which was usually simple things like pancakes, eggs, corn on the cob, pb&j, cereal, spaghetti) and I would cook for myself the same or similar things. If we went out, I would buy my own (though they always gave money for the boys and myself). My cousin did bring home food a few times and always brought for me, too. If there was something they were planning on using for dinner, a special item, etc, they'd tell me just to make sure I didn't let the boys have it!

When I was night sitting and they boys were in bed, I'd usually have some fruit snacks or popcorn, sometimes ice cream or pretzels. Whatever they had copious amounts of, pretty much.

Since it was family I felt a little more comfortable eating their food, but it was still awkward!

 

[OK!]

I don't think I ever sat at a house that didn't have an open-fridge policy.

 

[pyrxtc]

Most anywhere I babysat when growing up always told me to help myself to anything I wanted.

me too. When I actually have a babysitter, haven't yet, I will have an open door food policy as well.

 

[dollydell]

I sit regularly for a family and they go as far as to ask what kind of soft drinks I like to make sure they have things I like on hand.

 

[stashbin]

Open fridge for sure.

 

[PatsMom]

Back when I was babysitting, I think everyone told me to help myself to whatever I wanted. One family I can recall used to go out of their way to make sure they had the kind of soda I liked.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Open fridge at our house and we always order/pick up pizza for DD and the babysitter before we leave. If DSD is babysitting, we usually just ask her to make something. Again, open fridge for whatever she wants to make. We came home to find the steaks all cooked up and eaten one time.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Well fed help is happy help. Always open fridge, and extras purchased for their visit.

 

[DebD4T]

We usually ordered pizza and I would order one specifically for the babysitter that she didn't have to share with my kids. I'd also try to have snacks on hand. My oldest is 14, so he's the babysitter now (I pay him). My 2 neices also babysit alot and for one family they cook or make sandwiches for the kids and they eat it too.

Shhh...don't let my DS and DD#1 hear that!!! I make them babysit for free!!!