In room babysitting (this may get ugly!)

[madalynns mom]

okay, I know this thread may get ugly but anyways here it goes:

I'm debating whether or not to have in room babysitting for our dd ( 3 and 1/2 at trip time ). My husband and I rarely go out so this would be a real treat for us. We spent our honeymoon in Disney and we absolutely loved the Adventurer's Club. Now obviously we can't go there with our dd. We also would like to make a quick trip over to the parks to go on any thrill rides we may have missed during the day with our daughter.
So, I'm curious, what are the pros and cons of getting an in room babysitter.
I know there may be strong feelings for and against getting a babysitter while on a Family Disney vacation but I would apprciate hearing both sides!

Thank you and please be respectful of others opinions!!!

 

[Honeibee]

I don't know why this has to get ugly. They are your kids, and it's your vacation. It's nobody's business but yours. If that's what you want to do, I seriously doubt they will suffer any long-term psycological damage from spending a couple of hours in a hotel room with a Disney-approved babysitter.

 

[justhat]

I have nothing against anyone using babysitters on vacation so you won't get any flames from me! Having said that, I have never gotten a babysitter for my daughter on vacation (outside of family) for the 1 reason that I really wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my daughter with a person I have never met before. I know that those services check the people out and all, but I would still really need to know others who have used the sitter before (like friends and family in my neighborhood and things like that) and with an out of town sitter I couldn't do that. Even if they gave me references, how do I know that the references aren't their family members or friends and not just regular clients? I know I'd be in too much fear to enjoy myself so it wouldn't be worth it. BUT, my daughter is only 22 months old, so when she's 3.5yo I might be more comfortable, but who knows. I have left her with family before though to enjoy some time alone since we very, very rarely do that at home too. But we're not always lucky enough to travel with family so that doesn't always work out. Good luck with getting decent posts! I can never figure out why it bothers people so much when it has nothing to do with them.

 

[wilma-bride]

Personally, I wouldn't do it because I know my DS would not be comfortable being with a stranger (nor would I feel comfortable leaving him with one).

However, you know your child better than anyone and if you feel she would be OK with it then go ahead. As long as you are able to give the sitter a contact number, I don't see why it should be a problem.

I totally understand that you want some quality time with your DH - that is exactly the reason why DH and I normally vacation alone (so we don't have that problem).

If you and your family are comfortable with it, don't let anyone else put you off the idea

 

[madalynns mom]

to be honest I've seen some people write things on how it's a "FAMILY VACATION" and why leave the kids behind. It wasn't appropriately placed in the particular thread but it made curious why they thought this way. I know my daughter won't be "damaged" by any means. I know people have strong feeling ( that's why I thought it may get a little ugly)over this issue and I would like to know both sides of it.

 

[lookingforward]

I wrote this long response and it "disappeared" from my computer. Bottom line, we did it and our kids are fine. We used Fairy Godmothers, the women was older , background checked, sober and fairly easygoing. She took my three children 11, 8, 3 to the snack bar, they watched the electrical parade and they played on the playground. We sat with her for about 30 mintues before we left to get a feel for her personality. Then we had a drink in the hotel and "forgot" something in the room and had to go back to get it. It cost us an extra hour but it put my mind at ease. I work for a police dept. and am paranoid but my kids were verbal and watched out for each other.

The only concern I would have for your situation is that your daughter does not have an older sibling and there is safety in numbers. I hope this thread remains friendly too. Since your dd is 3 1/2 I think she would be fine and she is old enough to talk to you. When I meet new caregivers I always mention where I work...

 

[thelionqueen]

I think you should do it. I've used Neverland club and in room sitters and have never had anything but wonderful experiences! It is so worth it to have one night with just you and your spouse. It's your vacation too. I personally did not like the sitter to take my kids out of the room for any reason, so they watched TV, played games and stuff like that.
I say go for it, get a feel for your sitter, call a lot if necessary, but enjoy!

 

[DVCLiz]

We never used an in-room babysitter, but did use the Neverland Club when our daughter was about 2 or 3. She loved it - it was her very favorite thing and she asked if she could go back there after we got home!!! I think the Fairy Godmother sitters are so well trained, and the business so respectable, that I wouldn't have any qualms at all about using it, as long as my children were happy with the idea.

 

[madalynns mom]

The only concern I would have for your situation is that your daughter does not have an older sibling and there is safety in numbers. I think she would be fine and she is old enough to talk to you. When I meet new caregivers I always mention where I work...

Oh my daughter can definitely communicate She talks from the moment she gets up till she goes to bed at night!! Maybe I'll just say I work with you
I think I may be nervous if the leave the room. She has a tendancy of "disappearing"

 

[madalynns mom]

another quick question, how long did you go out for? Is it okay to go out for a few hours??

 

[lookingforward]

I think there is a four hour minimum (including one hour of travel time), and I think we were gone for about five hours total. I forgot to mention that they bring a big bag of toys and art projects too, so it is exciting for the little ones. When you meet her tell her you are a Lt. If she asks what branch of service you are in tell her that you are a police detective! Or better yet...with the FBI. HA!

 

[madalynns mom]

yeah, I could be a criminal profiler or something!! I should start watching more Law and Order

 

[mask_w03]

We are looking at doing this too when we go if no family can come with us. We have never let anyone but Dh's mom watch DD and my dad so I'm nervous about it all!! I have read so many good things though about the kids night out (who are trained in child care and cpr/basic first aid) and the fairy godmothers. I think we might go with the kids night out since I feel safer with someone who is trained in cpr and first aid and will ask her to keep DD in the room while we are gone. Plus it will be night so DD will want to go to bed (hopefully). We are thinking about 5-6hrs since we want to do rides that we couldn't do in the park with her and have a decent meal together. We also went there for our honeymoon so would love to spend our first time back as a family just a little while as us. I saw in another post said.. it's a family vacation but your kids depend on you both and need your marriage to be solid (something like that).
Go have fun and enjoy some alone time having fun!!

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I wouldn't do it because I don't like having strangers watch my children. This is just my comfort level and I don't judge others who do use babysitters.I would probably feel more comfortable with a group setting, like the Neverland Club.

 

[NotUrsula]

but did use the Neverland Club when our daughter was about 2 or 3.

The kid's clubs don't take children younger than age 4; you must be mis-remembering how old she was.

We've never used in-room sitters, b/c it wouldn't have been cost-effective with only one child.

 

[madalynns mom]

I wish we could use the Neverland Club but she'll be 6 months shy of 4. It stinks because she's totally potty trained and talks very well. I'm not quite sure why it's 4 and up. I think it has something to do with insurance or something.

 

[DVCLiz]

Oh, we did take a trip when she was two and another when she was four, so I guess it was the second one!!!!! Anyway, it was great (and she still remembers it from 13 years ago!)

 

[jodifla]

I have used Fairy Godmothers about a half-dozen times for DS who is now 4 and been quite pleased with them. We've had two sitters, one once and another the other five times, so she and my son have a nice little relationship going. It's not inexpensive, but what is at Disney?

THe first time he was only about one year old, and we just had dinner and drinks in the hotel. But since then, we've gone wherever....I totally trust the FG sitters. Our first sitter had been in the armed services; she was so interesting to talk to, we almost didn't leave.

If you have specific questions, fire away. They bring toys for the kids, which totally won my son over.

And that reminds me, I need to call and book a sitter for our next trip.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

As parents I think it's totally normal to feel nervous about leaving your child with strangers, I know I do. That being said, whenever you leave your children in the care of anyone like, family, friends, school, daycare, or a complete stranger,(in my case even my DH can be questionable, lol), you are taking a risk. I feel like no one can or will watch my kids like I do, I'm very protective and therefore, sadly have'nt been on a date alone with my DH in 5 years. Anyways, I will be using Kids Nite Out on our upcoming vacation. My kids will be 3, 5, 7, 12. I plan to leave a cell phone with my older DD, I will call or text message every 30mins or 1 hour, and I will also give her and my 7yr old a code to say just in case something is not going right, they tell me the code, and we're on our way back. Although I'm nervous about leaving them, I feel they will be ok and I can't wait to have my DH alone at Disney My only concern is using the childcare service may become addictive and we will use it at least once or twice every trip, lol! Go out and have a Blast!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

There is no need for a thread to get ugly. I am glad that you asked for BOTH views. I almost always avoid this topic because most time people just want conformation that using a in room sitter is a good idea. I disagree and this is why. It the past twenty- some years, I have worked in every area of child care from teen-age sitter to nanny to teacher to administration. What I have learned that despite a wonderful reference, a background check or what have you, some people just are not always nice to the children they care for. I have just seen too many times where someone that was suppose to be the "best" just do not use the kindness and patience that I would want to have used with my child. I really have no real fear of kidnappers or true abuse though the misunderstandings of shaken- baby syndrom does scare me with infants involved. One concern is that both of the most popular sitting services seem to use WDW employees. My concern here is the level of tolerence these people have moonlighing after working 40 hours at another job.
I also do not understand when people "feel better" leaving a infant when they have an older child that can tell then if any thing happens. If an infant is left to cry, or handled roughly, how is knowing about it the next day going to prevent the damage already done?
I am sure that the sitting service is a option for many parents but since you asked for both sides I wanted to give you mine.

I have no problem with the onsite resort centers as no adult is ever left alone with one child.

Follow your heart as to what is right for your family.

Jordan's mom