How many times do you use Babysitting Services?

[JamesMom]

Hi!
In an unrelated thread I mentioned that I planned to use in-room babysitting services for our 5 and 2 yr old for six (6) nights during our 14 night vacation.

People seem to think was too much. They were thinking like 1 night was enough.

Am I living in Fantasyland? I planned to use Kids Nite Out and attempt to get the same sitter for all nights so the kids get used to it. They are left somewhere all the time: drop off hourly day care center usualy 1-2 x a month, preschool 2x a week and the playcenter at the gym 2-3x a week. They rarely stay with a relative - too far away.

The rationale for all these nights is I don't take children to sit down restuarants that young. We cannot enjoy our meal if we have to fuss over kids who would rather be anywhere but there (and really, who can blame them!). We enjoy the food as much as the rides and look forward to 'adult' time.

What are your opinions and experiences? Include kid club stuff as well, though my youngest is too young, right now.

TIA

 

[Bob P]

There is no such thing as other people thinking it's too many nights.

Do you think it's too many nights? If you are fine with it, then don't make yourself crazy with what other people think!

I don't believe you need to justify your actions for the sake of anyone on this board who may disagree with you. If you are both happy with your decision then go for it!

 

[mom2kandj]

FWIW, we will be leaving our two (4 & 6yo) at the Cubs' Den two nights out of our 8 night trip. Those nights, the adults will be enjoying Jiko and Artist Point or Raglan Road.

We have no problem taking our kids to nice restaurants (notice I mentioned nice, not necessarily fine dining) as we believe that the only way they will learn good manners is through practice. Now, mind you I always cut dinner short if behavior is going rapidly downhill. We also eat early (5:30pm ish) to better our chances for an enjoyable dinner for all. I also carry crackers and playdoh in my purse just in case my kids are hungry or restless.

On this trip, we are enjoying restaurants that are child friendly while still yummy. WCC, Ohana, Boma, Biergarten, LTT. For us, the vacation is about being together and enjoying all the World has to offer as a family. Not to mention that babysitting or kids clubs get expensive after too many nights.

I think that for 14 nights, to balance budget and mom/dad time, I'd probably end up with three nights out and maybe a kid cruise/activity.

This is what works best for our family. Do what works best for yours!

HTH!

Rose

 

[Desnik]

I think Bob P said it perfectly!!!
Do what you think is right!

If you are looking for personal opinions, then I would have to say personally we wouldn't do it and we don't do it. But, we don't do it at home either!LOL If we need to go somewhere where we cannot take our kids(8 & 3) then my mom usually takes care of them. Otherwise we take our kids everywhere, including out to restaurants. We did let DD go to the kids clubs twice on previous trips. She really wanted to try them out and loved them so much!! She went to the Neverland club at the POLY and the Mouseketeer club at the GF. She stayed at them for about an hour and a half. Long enough so that DH and I could have dinner. One of the times we had DS with us but he slept the whole time so we were able to have a nice time for ourselves. When DS turns 4 we plan on letting them go to one of the kids clubs, probably the Neverland club, just so DH and I can have a nice dinner alone. They can also get time away from us and play with kids their ages! Personally I just don't like the idea of a stranger in the hotel room alone with my young kids. But that is just me and what works for our family.

 

[Desnik]

mom2kandj
I have playdoh in my purse too!!!

 

[mom2kandj]

We love playdoh as long as it isn't in Mommy's house!


Rose

PS Must also carry two small cans per child as often just changing color can add 15 more minutes to enjoy my entree!

 

[Elmo888]

I think that getting the same sitter would help. Maybe you could call in advance to make sure that a sitter would be available all the nights that you want a sitter. I would worry more about the 2 yo. A five yo can understand the whole sitter/strange environment concept, but a 2 yo is a little more difficult. I would play it by ear. My 1 yo (she'll be 2 next week) takes a while to warm up to a new sitter, but she is much more comfortable if she either knows the sitter or her older sister (6 yo) is there, too.

Just go with what works for you and your kids!

 

[jodifla]

Well, my first thought is it's a lot of $$$$$$$!

But if you can swing it, I don't see why not. If we are there a week, we typically use a sitter a couple of nights. We use FG all the time and have been really pleased. We normally get the same sitter.

I'm not afraid of babysitters like a lot of people seem to be, though. I use them frequently so DS, 4, can be snug in his bed at 8:30 p.m while DH and I go out. He also prefers to go to bed as opposed to hanging out in a kids club late, when he's already beat for the day.

 

[wrldpossibility]

Another mommy with playdoh in her purse here!

You seem to be asking if 6 nights out of 14 is too many, and if so, my personal opinion is yes, it's too many. At least it is for my family. Do you go out a lot at home (in the evenings, not counting gym care, etc)? If so, do you kids enjoy having a sitter? If so, and they're happy to do so at WDW, go for it. You can always try the first few times, and if they're unhappy, cancel the remaining nights out. You know your kids.

For us, Disney with the family is just that, and I would not go out without them so much. You can take kids to nice restaurants at that age (not fine dining, perhaps) responsibly. Of course, DH and I don't eat out at fine dining establishments that often anyway. If that's important to you, and your kids enjoy the sitter, I don't see why not.

 

[mamacatnv]

When DD was 16mo we used Fairy Godmothers daily from 9-5 for 5 days. We arranged ahead of time to have the same nanny and it was great. We would come back to our resort, get DD and then go to dinner and back to a park.

Our DS was 10 at the time and we really felt the trip was more for him than DD as she was too young to remember it.

I say do whatever feels right for you.

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, it's a huge amount of money, but if that's not a problem for you, and the kids are comfortable with a sitter -- why the heck not?

This board tends to attract a large number of VERY child-centered folks. Personally, I think that Mom and Dad's wants are just as important as the kids wants. I think 2 whole weeks of intensive uninterrupted togetherness would be way too much in our case -- DS is always thrilled to get away from us for awhile after a couple of days. (We never go for two weeks; we are lucky to manage 6 days. Work piles up too quickly.)

In our case, we found the cost of private babysitting to be more than we cared to pay. We sucked it up until DS turned 4, and then joyfully started sending him to the Kids' Clubs a couple of times per trip. Letting him go have fun with other kids while we enjoy a meal that wouldn't interest him is a good deal for all of us.

 

[tjmw2727]

Don't worry about what we think There are lots of great folks here who do things I don't do and visa versa - (I just discovered one today as well!). I still get great ideas and advice, just take what you like and skip over the rest.

So while I personally wouldn't leave my kids with a babysitter that many days (and I do leave them) it's your family and your vacation so go for it! My sil loved the Fairy Godmothers babysitters and used them twice one trip. She did get the same sitter who arrived with games, books and a few activities. Her youngest dd was 2 so she couldn't use the kids clubs.

My dd's love the kids clubs but they started going when they were older about 5 and 7. Now we have to use them at least once a trip so the kids get "a night to themselves". Don't worry dh and I don't mind

If you do a bit of reasearch on the 2 or 3 in room babysitting services and find one you are comfortable with I imagine they can arrange to send the same sitter if your nights are flexible. IIRC they can take the kids for a walk or to the playground if you approve as well.

Another .02 from me, while I appreciate your point of view about kids and restaurants......if you do end up taking the kids to a restaurant don't worry as you will be among families! WDW caters to kids and the restaurants are no exception so if on the days you aren't using a sitter don't feel as if you have to suffer through in room sandwiches or the food court. Plan a few early dinners on the nights you are dining with the kids and you may be surprised how well they do. Maybe a character meal or one of the more family themed restaurants to start. Try debs site here http://allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm
for the menus and informaton on all the restaurants. You can find some special places for your adults only evenings as well as restaurants appropriate to take the kids.

Have fun planning.
TJ

 

[kaysmommie]

Do what your comfortable with, but IMO it is too many nights for me at least. We left our kids this trip while we went to CG for dinner 1 night with a family member. I would plan on taking 1 night most trips but that would be the most for us. We like to have lots of family time especailly at Disney.

 

[JamesMom]

Thanks for all the responses. It wasn't so much I was looking for validation or permission, but rather wanted to know what the 'average' (ok., DIS-average) did on their vacation. I wanted to know what was reasonable so I could adjust my plans accordingly. My kids crash at 7:00 at night (they are also up at 6!). Who wants to stop the party then, LOL! Thanks again for the insights.

 

[jenseib]

I would love to be able to go for 14 days. How awesome!! My DH would never let our little one be cared by anyone else, but I wouldn't mind a couple nights away too.
I am going to be lucky to go 3 or 4 nights. And I'm sure no alone time for us, but thats OK too.
Out of curiosity, what does a babysitter cost?
And I heard alot of you talk about kids clubs. do they cost too? I don't know if I have heard of them.

 

[kaysmommie]

most of the parents I know that go to Disney that are brave enough to use a sitter (fairy godmothers) do it once per trip. There trips are only 7 nights though. I don't feel (DH too) comfortable to leave my kids with a stranger. I just couldn't relax, so for me it's not worth it. When DS is old enough to go to kids club with DD then I will probably try that at least so we can have a nice dinner. Your lucky you get to go fro 2 weeks ! Have fun.

 

[Merriwind]

Wow! I've only read the original post and had to respond. Some people on the DIS seem only to be happy when they are commenting negatively on the lives or actions of others. If six nights of child care works for you, your DH and your sons, then it is the right number of nights for you. What anyone else thinks should be of no consequence. Go, and enjoy!

PS - My DD did a night recently at the GF child care. She had the place to herself for most of the night and had a great time--did some crafts, watched a movie, chatted with the CM. She got dinner there too. It was a nice night for her, while DH and I entertained some of his clients at Narcoossee's. Last month, she decided to join us at Blue Zoo. She enjoyed the food, but decided that next time we have to entertain, she'll hit the kids club.

 

[jnordan]

We'll be going for 8 nights in May. My kids go to bed at home at about 6:30pm -- so I imagine that after a day at Disney they'll be beat and surely in bed by about the same time!

We had been planning to get babysitters several nights (from about 6:30-10:30, so the kids would be asleep anyways), too, but the more I think about it, the omre I think maybe we'll just do two nights or so.

First of all, there are so mnay dining things that I want to do with the girls, that I don't think we'll be needing to go out! And besides, we live 15 minutes from Boston -- frankly, I doubt any of the food at Disney is much better than what I can find here!

And secondly, the more I plan our trip, the more I think that I'm going to be exhausted, too, by the end of the day! Maybe I won't mind a 10-hour block of time to be used for sleep!!

I imagine that after the girls are in bed we'll take showers, then sit out on the balcony and have some wine and chat most nights. . . That will be fine, I think. . .

Anyways, that's been my thought process. I certainly don't think there's a right or wrong about it and agree that you should do whatever feels right for your family!

 

[SusanMomOf2]

I haven't used the sitter service yet, but on my next trip, I'm going to go through Kids Nite Out and have myself a Mother's Helper for 2 days. They will go with us into the parks and will watch my younger daughter while my older daughter and I go on Splash and Space Mountain, etc. If I could afford it, and if my husband were with me, I'd get a sitter service for 1 or 2 nights. I don't oppose more nights, but I also want my girls go experience the parks as much as they can (which is why I'm not using a sitter in the room, bringing the sitter with me). I'd stick with what you want. Don't lessen your nights based on the fact that the avgerage is 1-2 nights with the sitter service.

Have fun at DW!!!

 

[Desnik]

Here is a link to Deb's site that has a ton of info about the kids clubs and in room babysitting services. Prices and hours and phone numbers are listed. Hope this helps those who wanted to know more about them!
http://allearsnet.com/pl/childfaq.htm