In Room Sitter Recommendations?

[Mouse House Mama]

Originally posted by jonemick
I don't mean to judge. Maybe I'm way off base on this issue !

It's probably just me, I barley trust the sitters I know very well.

I'm sorry to all that this may offend but I agree with jonemick. I get knots in my stomach just reading about people thinking of leaving their kids with complete strangers. No matter what paperwork they give you I would never trust them. They may be great people but it only takes one time to ruin a life. I know that someone else mentioned that you would hardly know a local babysitter, which is why I don't use local babysitters either. I use my family or we don't go out. I know that isn't an option for alot of people, but maybe you could put the baby to bed and order room service to eat on the balcony or something. I am not saying this to be judgemental so please do not take it that way. I just think the risk outweighs the benefit here.

 

[dirkus]

The majority of child abuse is committed by a family member so that kind of ruins the "leave them only with family" theory...

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Originally posted by dirkus
The majority of child abuse is committed by a family member so that kind of ruins the "leave them only with family" theory...

That may be so but I know the family I am leaving my kids with (grandparents) so I can guarantee they will not be scathed. I speak from experience having grown up in the same house with these people. But enough of that- let me put it another way. Would you let someone who you just met at the gas station or supermarket come to your home and watch your kids? I mean, they may have nice groceries- all healthy and stuff, or they may be putting top quality gas in their car, only the best will do. My point is that you know just as much about those people as you do about these babysitters from the services. I know they come with all sorts of paperwork, but let me assure you that many do slip under the radar. It is not as hard as you think. Again, I am not judging anyone who uses these services, but I have to say that it makes me very uneasy. I just want to present it from all angles. A few hours out is not worth my kids staying with some stranger. JMHO. I'm sure many people have had wonderful experiences, but especially if your kid doesn't talk do you really know if it was so great? Again, no flames please, just trying to show my point of view. Not meant to offend.

 

[DissyLove]

Originally posted by Mouse House Mama
That may be so but I know the family I am leaving my kids with (grandparents) so I can guarantee they will not be scathed. I speak from experience having grown up in the same house with these people. But enough of that- let me put it another way. Would you let someone who you just met at the gas station or supermarket come to your home and watch your kids? I mean, they may have nice groceries- all healthy and stuff, or they may be putting top quality gas in their car, only the best will do. My point is that you know just as much about those people as you do about these babysitters from the services. I know they come with all sorts of paperwork, but let me assure you that many do slip under the radar. It is not as hard as you think. Again, I am not judging anyone who uses these services, but I have to say that it makes me very uneasy. I just want to present it from all angles. A few hours out is not worth my kids staying with some stranger. JMHO. I'm sure many people have had wonderful experiences, but especially if your kid doesn't talk do you really know if it was so great? Again, no flames please, just trying to show my point of view. Not meant to offend.

I do appreciate your opinion-I know you mean well. To be perfectly honest in many cases I would rather pay a "professional" that chooses to make thier living watching children than try to entice some family member who would just be doing a favor for me to watch my kids. If I could get a family member who wanted to do this that I trusted while we were down in Disney, great.

I really do appreciate your opinion, but I will only consider this if I feel comfortable and my children feel comfortable in the situation. That is why I am here taking suggestions and looking at all the possibilities.

 

[SouthFLMommy]

Originally posted by Mouse House Mama
That may be so but I know the family I am leaving my kids with (grandparents) so I can guarantee they will not be scathed. I speak from experience having grown up in the same house with these people.

I'm sure the parents of kids who've been molested by family members didn't know that they were molesters or they wouldn't have left the kids with them in the first place. Don't get me wrongh, I'm glad you've got family to watch your children, but a lot of people don't have that option.

As for the OP, we used Kids Nite Out and it was great. We have 3 kids and one sitter came, just for us to go to dinner. She had tons for them to do, and they had a ball. We didn't stay out 4 hours, but we did have to pay for the full four hours.

Don't feel guilty and enjoy your night out!

 

[DissyLove]

Originally posted by SouthFLMommy
I'm sure the parents of kids who've been molested by family members didn't know that they were molesters or they wouldn't have left the kids with them in the first place. Don't get me wrongh, I'm glad you've got family to watch your children, but a lot of people don't have that option.

As for the OP, we used Kids Nite Out and it was great. We have 3 kids and one sitter came, just for us to go to dinner. She had tons for them to do, and they had a ball. We didn't stay out 4 hours, but we did have to pay for the full four hours.

Don't feel guilty and enjoy your night out!

Thank you everyone is so nice here!

 

[Disney Pal]

OK, now we've gotten all sides here. We've heard everyone out. Now can we forget the unpleasantness? My original question was; Does anyone know the ratio of kids to sitters at any age? Please?

 

[Selket]

Why do the moderators allow this to become a debate when the original question did not ask WHETHER or not the child should be left but WHICH sitting service to leave them with?

I thought this sort of posting behaviour was prohibited - it makes the thread go WAY off-topic, starts a debate and is annoying to boot. We all know there are those here who wouldn't leave their kids with Jesus should he appear on their doorstep offering babysitting services. Very well. For the rest of us I wish the debaters of this topic would not join in unless opinions are asked as to whether one should have non-familial sitters.

 

[SouthFLMommy]

Originally posted by Disney Pal
OK, now we've gotten all sides here. We've heard everyone out. Now can we forget the unpleasantness? My original question was; Does anyone know the ratio of kids to sitters at any age? Please?

With the agency we used, I believe it was 1 sitter to 3 children.

 

[Disney Pal]

I assume that depends on age though, correct? Although believe me I would love not to have to pay more then one sitter to watch my triplets! But three is hard to watch, it's hard enough for me to do it. But I do believe that a good sitter that plays with them would be OK. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Originally posted by Selket
Why do the moderators allow this to become a debate when the original question did not ask WHETHER or not the child should be left but WHICH sitting service to leave them with?

I thought this sort of posting behaviour was prohibited - it makes the thread go WAY off-topic, starts a debate and is annoying to boot. We all know there are those here who wouldn't leave their kids with Jesus should he appear on their doorstep offering babysitting services. Very well. For the rest of us I wish the debaters of this topic would not join in unless opinions are asked as to whether one should have non-familial sitters.

I get your point but no need to be so rude. No debate here just making an alternate suggestion. Obviously they were looking for a babysitter and I just suggested different options. Not exactly off topic if you will. Maybe you were just in a bad mood when you wrote your post but it definetly was not nice and quite snippy. No need for that. Also- I didn't see you answering any question that was asked in your post, you just complained. Making an informed decision is not a debate.

 

[jodifla]

"Just wait till you are back home to have an evening out" is not really an alternative suggestion, it's a judgment.

To the OP, we've used Fairy Godmothers about a half-dozen times now during the past 2 years. They come with a suitcase full of toys, and my son, almost 3, just loves them.

 

[DissyLove]

Thanks for that. It sounds like the kids would have a good time. They actually get pretty excited about sitters, because they always enjoy playing with new people. Guess mom can get pretty boring after a while! Does anyone know how far in advance I need to try to book?

 

[robinb]

I used Fairy Godmothers when my DD was too young for the Kids Clubs. I had a gentle, older woman each time who brought age appropriate toys with her. We felt that our DD was very safe with her and we almost never had sitters at home.

Disney Pal: Why don't you give FG a call? I think there is an additional charge for every extra child.

 

[Disney Pal]

Thank's, I think I might try them.