OT: What do you FEED your babysitter?

[powellrj]

For those of you that don't provide dinner, do you tell them in advance that you won't be? If I was babysitting at 5PM, for example, I guess I would assume that I would be feeding the kids and that I would be able to eat what they were eating. I think the way I got into this "mess" of providing dinner for 6PM sitting is I didn't know how to politely tell her to eat before she came. Can you tell I'm a wimp!?

Thank you for all the ideas! Tonight we're going with a casserole that DH and DS will also eat as leftovers Tuesday when I'm not going to be home for dinner.

I wondered the samething. I always feed sitters and would have assumed everyone fed them. I am really surprised at the posters who don't, even when they are feeding their kids. Back when I worked in preschools, I never worked at one that didn't include lunch as part of the deal. How do you politely tell someone you are feeding my kids,but you need to bring your own lunch?

 

[belle09]

When I used to babysit in high school, families always provided meals for me. Granted, I only charged $5-7 an hour, which was probably lower than the going rate for the area, and the families I babysat for were family, close friends, or neighbors I'd known for most of my life.

I guess I don't understand not feeding the sitter if your kids are older and they're eating too. If it's a baby who has special food, that makes a bit more sense, but I'd be sure she knows in advance that she should bring her own food. You could phrase it as part of the job description -- just let her know that she won't have to worry about feeding the child because you'll do it before you leave.

As far as what to feed them, my mom would often do a soup or stew. Other families I worked for had pasta and tomato sauce, or something else simple on the stove when I arrived and told me to help myself when I fed the kids. One family told me I was welcome to anything in the house, which was always appreciated, although I can understand why you might be reluctant to do that. For what it's worth, I never "abused" this offer -- I'd have a few crackers or cookies after the kids were asleep, but that's it. When I babysat during the afternoon, most families had some snack food and maybe fruit cut up in the fridge for the kids and me. It doesn't have to be anything super complicated -- just make an extra portion of whatever the kids are going to eat. If she's a picky eater, then it's her responsibility to bring her own food, but if she's willing to eat whatever you provide, then I think including her in dinner is a great way to make her inclined to work for you on a regular basis.

 

[jakoky]

hi there, i am a day care provider(who provides all food) BUT i also have 3 children who do a LOT of babysitting (last night they all were at different jobs)...My kids do a lot of full days, and some early evenings...they always have access to food, and are told to have whatever they want, they are almost expected to eat...i have people call to ask what they can pick my kids up for snacks or what they like for dinner...my opinion, if you are happy with your sitter,keep them happy, they are looking after your most precious gifts in the world...i have just never thought of brown bagging their dinner for them while they put in the nice lasagna that was left out...
sharon

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

the families i sat for in high school always provided food for me. lunch, or dinner, etc. i wouldn't say they went out of their way, but invited me to eat whatever the kids were eating..mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. i thought that was very nice of them. i babysat for their kids a lot, and i think it would have been a bit uncomfortable if they did not offer food, so i was worried about whether or not i could have a drink from the fridge other than water (when the kids were). i don't know, i just thought it made the situation friendly and i felt like part of the family...and i think since they treated me that way, it helped be to feel closer to the kids. LOL not saying that giving your babysitters food will make them amazing babysitters...

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

When my mom sits for us at our house, I usually have her order pizza, or I leave a Costco rotisserie chicken & sides, or Stouffers lasagna & salad.

 

[disney[xo]sweetie]

the family that i babysat for would always just tell me to help myself to the fridge, and i do the same for my sitters, it is right over dinner hour, but we usually have a lot of food in our house, and theyve never complained.

 

[AC & Savy's Mom]

I think that if I were to have an occasional babysitter feed my kids I would make sure I had enough for him/her also. Whether it be ordering pizza or making something, I would get enough for all of them.

That being said, I used to babysit for a family 4 days a week (in my early 20s), and I ALWAYS brought my own food. Usually it was lunch, but on the rare occasion that I watched them in the evening, I still brought my own food. I think the difference with that was that I was there so often, it would have cost them an arm and leg to feed another adult plus pay me $15/hr. But if it was something that was more sporatic, I would have something for them to eat.

~Tami

 

[Beehn]

DD loves to pick out a frozen dinner at the grocery store...it usually takes us about 15 min. to pick which one . I usually buy a couple of extras and let the babysitter chose which one she wants.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

If I was a babysitter, I probably wouldn't want to eat leftovers. Can't really put my finger on why, exactly, but it seems kind of gross to eat other people's leftovers.

I agree. It's kind of strange.

I do not cook anything- Im trying to get out to help me feel less overwhelmed, not add to it.
I let them know there are drinks, snacks, etc and to help themselves to whatever they like. Both girls I use always come with their own food. Heck Im paying them $7.50-$8.00 an hr- if they had a retail job their employer would not be providing food for them.
I DO make sure my kitchen and table are 100% clean for them to use if they wish.

Wow!! I wish we could pay $8 an hour!! It runs upwards of $10+ here.

On another note, I think the main difference, like the person below mentioned, is that your sitter is responsible for your child/ren's life while you're gone. A salesgirl isn't. (Side note: I worked retail for a little bit, and they did provide us with meals (Subs, pizza, etc.) if we stayed on site to eat.)

hi there, i am a day care provider(who provides all food) BUT i also have 3 children who do a LOT of babysitting (last night they all were at different jobs)...My kids do a lot of full days, and some early evenings...they always have access to food, and are told to have whatever they want, they are almost expected to eat...i have people call to ask what they can pick my kids up for snacks or what they like for dinner...my opinion, if you are happy with your sitter,keep them happy, they are looking after your most precious gifts in the world...i have just never thought of brown bagging their dinner for them while they put in the nice lasagna that was left out...
sharon

Agreed!! My thoughts, as well.



When I used to babysit more often, parents often did the pizza thing or left a frozen lasagna I could pop in the oven while we were playing or watching a movie. I also had parents tell me they would have already fed their kids, but I was welcome to order a pizza and they would leave a check. Some parents mentioned they had "boring" food, and I could bring my own or was welcome to theirs. Most of the time, parents were more than willing to provide any food I wanted/needed whether the kids had eaten or not.

Now when I babysit, I usually do so at my place since I now have a houseful of toys and backyard-o-fun (and a built-in playmate ). I have one parent who brings Happy Meals for her little boy, but she always calls me to see if DS and I want anything.

When we left DS with a sitter (his former teacher who is in her 50s) for an evening memorial service, we had a roast slow cooking with veggies for those two. Of course, this served double duty because we had the leftovers the next day. Other than that, he's usually not with a sitter during meal times. That said, if/when we do, we always provide a meal. Other times, we let them know they are more than welcome to anything in the kitchen.

Popcorn actually sounds good right now...

 

[Think_Tink_Think]

I have been babysitting for the same family for two years and from day one they have told me to help myself to whatever food they have in the house. There has only been a few times that I didn't bring something with me to eat for dinner, but even if I do bring something with me the mom will tell me to help me self to whatever the kids are eating for dinner or whatever snacks and drinks I what during the day/night that I'm there. So what happens most of the time is me and the 2 year old will share what I made him for dinner and what I brought for me to eat (which is usually Subway).

 

[bookgirl]

I don't get the attitude of I"m paying them so I don't have to feed them, other jobs don't supply food..

Well if they were at any other job they would get at least 30 minutes to go eat, or if not a full meal time than a 15 minute break. So unless you plan for them to leave your child so that they can have a break to eat, I think supplying them with a sandwich is the least you can do. Other wise it' just seems to be cheap, or at the very least rude.

I babysat a lot as a kid and I still do watch a few handicapped ex students for some of the parents I liked. If I'm there over a meal, I sometimes bring my own and sometimes I just fix a sandwich there, sometimes I don't bother with either. I've never had anyone not offer me dinner or an invitation to fix me something.

If I went to a house to babysit and I was expected to serve dinner, and I was not offered something, even if I wasn't hungry it would be the last time I babysat. People who are that cheap or rude are not people I want to waste my time on. There are lots of people out there who are a joy to work for, and even if I never took any "perks", I appreciate the fact that they offered, and made sure I was appreciated as a sitter.

Okay I"m editing in because I realize this sounds mean, but I remember jobs where parents expected me to be "ON" while I was with thier kids. They couldn't be bothered to play candy land with thier own kid but they were paying me to keep there child entertained and do whatever the kid wanted. 2 hour jobs that stretched into 4. Arbitrary rules that I knew THEY never followed. And as a kid they were getting cheap labor, I mean really a babysitter gets a few bucks if they're in high school but a professional would get 3 times as much. I feel for the sitters and I think they deserve a few perks. Lord knows when we have someone watch the twins(nephews) who's not family I figure they deserve anything extra I can give them. As long as they keep coming back and they don't feel taken advantage of.

 

[ntink]

I have 2 babysitters and although I always offer dinner, they never took me up on my offer. The one would help herself to a soda (I always say help your self to soda/snacks) and she lived next door so her Mom would bring her over whatever dinner they were having. My other sitter always brings her own dinner but loves broccoli and will eat some of that when I make it.

I have always felt that I should offer dinner (if they were sitting during that time) and snacks/drinks.

 

[TXTurtles]

When I was babysitting (back in my HS days - it's been a while!) my regular families always fed me. Had they made me feel like a minimum wage cashier then, well, I'd have been tempted to pass on that attitude towards how I sat the kids (which you DON'T want!) or (more likely) just turn them down the next time. Babysitting is SKILLED labor and the more you treat it like that, the more skill you'll see. If the babysitter does, in fact, take overmuch advantage of you ... well, it was an easy way to weed out a bad babysitter without any physical harm.

Right now I'm in charge of hiring the nursery workers for the organization I'm with and we provide them with free breakfast (from our cafeteria - we pay the cafe each month a blanket amount for the sitters) as well as extra portions for any special meetings we cover. It doesn't take much to make up two extra portions (and it's usually pizza) and it tells them they're valued. And it keeps them coming back!

As for WHAT to feed - I never had complaints about pizza but then I was a HS student. I'm picky about leftovers (I'm trying to get better about that) so would quietly go hungry rather than eat stuff from someone else's fridge - but others have no problem with it. An extra microwave dinner, canned soup, or anything like that would also be appreciated. Just putting all the "offered" stuff on one freezer shelf and stickynoting it should both give the sitter the feeling of being welcomed and valued while also keeping them out of anything special you have saved.

 

[Mocharilla]

I would get leftovers for dinner when I babysat for my aunt. Other than that, usually it'd be money for a pizza or something simple they left for me to cook (pizza, something in the microwave, etc).

Also, there was usually a rule of either "Help yourself to anything you want" or "Please don't eat other food", depending on the situation.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Please feed your babysitters. I used to babysit so much when I was younger ( a million years ago!). If I was there during mealtime I would eat what the kids were eating. Think about it- if your kids are having dinner and you don't want to feed me and I figure, well I'll stop and get some McDonalds and I eat that at dinnertime you can only imagine just how happy the kids would be. If I was there to babysit from say 7-1am then please have some snacks for me! I cannot go to bed like I would at home and might like a snack once the kids are sleeping. This one house never had anything to eat and drink. Well- they had water and she would buy one bag of chips that her pre-teen dd would eat before she fell asleep. I was always starving there. Eventually I just didn't sit for them anymore. Babysitters are not just servants. They are people who are taking care of the most important people in your life! Treat them well! FTR- I got paid very good money for sitting and everyone had some snacks except for that one house. I was not going to eat like it was the last supper, but a little something would have been nice. The only person who watches our kids is family and I always have a nice meal for them either take out or cooked and plenty of snacks.

 

[Aliceacc]

If I was there to babysit from say 7-1am then please have some snacks for me! I cannot go to bed like I would at home and might like a snack once the kids are sleeping.

That's another thing: there is one night a year when we go into NYC and are out late (for us anyway-- midnight or 1 am. It's the Milrose Games, a HUGE track meet at Madison Square Garden. My husband photographs his school's race and then we get treated to a really nice dinner )

Anyway, on those rare occasions when we know we'll be late, I bring out a pillow and blanket and tell the sitter to feel free to sleep on the couch. (I know I would be asleep if I were home.) Of course, the dog still barks when we pull up to the house and wakes the sitter before we walk in, but I know the sitters have appreciated that small courtesy.