Thoughts on in-room babysitting?

[Angeliki19]

DS really wants us to go out for a nice dinner just the two of us for our anniversary, which will be during our WDW trip. We have a 20 month old son who goes to bed early and easily and does not wake up so really we just need someone to sit in the villa and watch the baby monitor. But I am really hesitant about having a complete stranger watch my son. It just doesn't seem worth the risk. I don't know... has anyone done this? Did you feel that it was totally safe?

 

[Lees3rwe]

I have never done it and never would do it....
I would plan an anniversary dinner another time, but that is just me.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I'm probably talking about of my hindquarters here, but I'd feel comfortable doing it with kids who are verbal, but not with kids who couldn't relay events to me.

Has there ever, ever been a case of a child being injured/damaged by a rent-a-sitter in Orlando?

 

[deuceswild10]

I would do it, in fact, might plan it for our trip. I've done some searching and read some great things about Kids Night Out. If I were you I would do some reading on their website, and also, keep reading these boards. There are some great reviews for the service. If your DC is just sleeping, I honestly wouldn't see the problem.

 

[2qtkids]

We used KNO when we stayed at the Floridian. DD was 20 months old at the time and we were very pleased with the service. They are bonded and background checked, and endorsed by Disney.

 

[Sugar Jones]

Personally I would never be comfortable leaving my kids alone with a stranger in a hotel room.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Not worth it. When you have kids you give up certain luxuries. IMO, going out to eat when on vacation without your child is a luxury. When you made the decision to have kids you made the decision to put their needs first. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened knowing that it was not a necessity but rather just somthing I wanted.

 

[Wadecool]

Even though these rent-a-sitters are supposedly licensed and bonded, it only takes one to slip through the cracks and get put into a bad situation. DW and I usually make a big deal on our anniversary, but INMO I'm not willing to put my child at risk to do it. I'd rather wait until more secure arrangements can be made back home. Instead, maybe pick up a bottle of wine or champagne and get some take out from a nice restaurant and just have a little celebration there in your room after the little one goes to bed.

 

[2qtkids]

Not worth it. When you have kids you give up certain luxuries. IMO, going out to eat when on vacation without your child is a luxury. When you made the decision to have kids you made the decision to put their needs first. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened knowing that it was not a necessity but rather just somthing I wanted.

Oh geez, really?

OP, we'll be booking through KNO again for our upcoming trip. We're celebrating our anniversary as well Enjoy your trip!

 

[snow88]

I've used Kids Night Out twice with my son. The first time he was 7 months and the 2nd time he was 1 yr 10 mths. Everything went well both times.

I have never heard of any problems with any of them.

 

[ThreeBeans]

People do not give up their right to eat dinner alone because they have children. That is patently ridiculous.

Whether or not one wants to hire a service (and remember, your child is far more at risk from assault by Uncle Bob, Father Michael or Coach Jack than by a background checked care one time care provider) is a calculated risk that one can choose whether or not to take, but a person who takes it is by no means a bad parent.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

People do not give up their right to eat dinner alone because they have children. That is patently ridiculous.

Whether or not one wants to hire a service (and remember, your child is far more at risk from assault by Uncle Bob, Father Michael or Coach Jack than by a background checked care one time care provider) is a calculated risk that one can choose whether or not to take, but a person who takes it is by no means a bad parent.

I never said that people give up their right to eat dinner alone.... however when you are miles from home, without family, when you don't know the lay of the land, and neither does your child. Then I think it is an unnecessary risk. You have to put your childrens' safety ahead of your desires. If you feel that it is safe than go for it.... however I don't feel that it is safe. I would not leave my child with someone I don't know... plain and simple. If you are not fully aware of who these people are then why should you trust them. I would never leave my children with someone just because I assume that someone else did their job and checked it out for me. There are too many people out there who don't do their job and too many assumptions made. They could have tons of satisfied customers and that is great.... but it only takes one time. It might be a slim chance of something happening but then again is it worth it? I guess that part is a matter of opinion.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I think that some of this stuff lies in the calculated perception of risk. "Our" generation was raised with "Stranger Danger!" (actually I think I had a board game by that name, nice friendly concept, right? )

When the reality is that your child is so very unlikely to be hurt in any way by a stranger that he's actually MORE likely to be struck by lightening. Meanwhile, the very REAL risk factors people tend to ignore.

For example, I've noticed that people are using Florida's horrible car seat laws to take the opportunity not to bother with car seats or boosters while on their vacation...and yet...the number one accidental killer of kids in the US? Car accidents, almost always due to improper or lack of restraint.

So....statistically speaking, a 22 month old child who rides in an FAA approved child restraint on the plane, and then rides rear facing that same restraint in the rental car, and spends an evening with a background cleared trained care provider is statistically less at risk of ANYTHING happening to him on vacation, then, say, a 22 month old who rides as a lap child, doesn't have a car seat, or uses something suboptimal (forward facing car seat, booster seat) in a car, and stays with mommy the whole trip.


It's all about perception of risk. The actual REALITY of risk does not bear out the common perception

Like I said, I would probably not leave a non-verbal child alone with a single care provider, but people do it every day (home day care for example?) and the children are incredibly safe.

 

[Zeebs]

I never said that people give up their right to eat dinner alone.... however when you are miles from home, without family, when you don't know the lay of the land, and neither does your child. Then I think it is an unnecessary risk. You have to put your childrens' safety ahead of your desires. If you feel that it is safe than go for it.... however I don't feel that it is safe. I would not leave my child with someone I don't know... plain and simple. If you are not fully aware of who these people are then why should you trust them. I would never leave my children with someone just because I assume that someone else did their job and checked it out for me. There are too many people out there who don't do their job and too many assumptions made. They could have tons of satisfied customers and that is great.... but it only takes one time. It might be a slim chance of something happening but then again is it worth it? I guess that part is a matter of opinion.

You are very lucky that you have people you know who can look after your children, we have no family around us and until recently no body I knew well enough to ask to watch the kids, so we used a service, I weighed up the risks did my research and was happy with my decision. If you are not comfortable with it that is totally your call, but I don't feel I am putting my children at risk by hiring a sitter from an agencies such as KNO and Fairy Godmothers or similar in my own neighbourhood. And I kind of resent the implication that I am a bad parent for wanting time with my husband.

We haven't used KNO but used Fairy Godmothers - we had a wonderful sitter called Viviene who was a Grandmother, she came armed with toys and books and really seemed disappointed when the boys were going to be in bed. My kids were rubbish sleepers so we arrived home from a fabulous meal out at California Grill (that wasn't sped through at lightening speed LOL) to her singing my eldest a song (he has just woken up) It was our first night out together in over 2 years and well worth it in my opinion.

If you want a night out and you feel comfortable in leaving your child then go ahead, if you don't and will spend the whole night worrying then save your money.

Kirsten

 

[hannahdrewmom]

And I kind of resent the implication that I am a bad parent for wanting time with my husband.
Kirsten

I apologize for making you feel that way. That was most definitely not what I was trying to say. I believe as parents we need to have time to our self.... in fact I believe it is essential to a happy marriage. I think that time together is what fosters a happy home for our kids. What I was saying was that I don't like the idea on vacation. If you need to use a service at home that is fine. You know your area. You know other people who use it. (not just online people who say "yeah its fine") You know the hospitals. You know how to get to and from places quickly. You have neighbors around you that while you may not know can be called on. You in general know where you live. I worry on vacation not just about the service but about the ability to get to and from in an emergency in a quick manner. I worry because you might not have doctors there that you are comfortable with. I worry about something happening far from home that I have no control over. I am worrier by nature. The OP asked our opinion on whether we would do it... I said no. I believe it is a luxury to go out. And I do! As a parent when I get time out it's like GOLD! It doesn't happen often and my husband and I cherish that time! But we also plan accordingly and would simply celebrate it in an environment that I feel comfortable in. (An leaving my child in a hotel room with a strange is not something I feel comfortable with... my opinion.)

 

[Lees3rwe]

I will add that I have an only child and he has only been "babysat" by family or a few close friends... He would not have been comfortable at a young age being alone with a stranger in a strange place.

If your child is used to babysitters that he/she doesn't know, then it wouldn't be too different.

I think I like the idea of the babysitting center more than the babysitter coming to your room... but that is just me.

I am sure you will have a magical anniversary either way.

 

[jodifla]

DS really wants us to go out for a nice dinner just the two of us for our anniversary, which will be during our WDW trip. We have a 20 month old son who goes to bed early and easily and does not wake up so really we just need someone to sit in the villa and watch the baby monitor. But I am really hesitant about having a complete stranger watch my son. It just doesn't seem worth the risk. I don't know... has anyone done this? Did you feel that it was totally safe?

We used Fairy Godmothers about a dozen times from the time my son was 1 year old to about 4 years old. I actually have the name of the sitter we used multiple times and will send it to you if you like.

They are GREAT! The only people who tend to have a problem with KNO and FG are people who have NEVER USED THEM. They invent all these scenarios that are going to happen....which don't.

I agree that it's this younger generation of parents who was raised with the whole "stranger danger" phobia who don't realize or that it's the people you DO know who are more likely to abuse a child.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

My girls have only ever been left with family and 1 other person (a licensed in-home care provider). It would be out of our comfort zone to use one of these services.

However, if your DS is used to multiple sitters and not knowing them well, he may be perfectly comfortable. Hope you have a nice anniversary either way!

 

[Goofy_Mom]

I have to give a nod to KNO. They are part of a corpration called Kindercare, a child care facility. When I was working, this is where our kids went. Yeah it cost more than an in home child care person, but what that extra money paid for is totally worth it. About once every other month they would host a Kids Night Out on a Friday night. We have to drag our kids away. I understand there is a difference between a building full of kids and mutliple care providers and one person in confinded space with just your kids, but knowing the level of service they provide, the intense background check they go through, Ild be okay leaving my children with these people. These are not the same people you would find on craigslist at a discount, these are professionals who genuinly care about kids and there well being.

In the end, it's your call. You do what you feel comfortable with and what's good for your family, no one can make the call for you. Good luck and happy anniversary!!

 

[jorose01]

We loved the KNO sitter. I was nervous at first but they are AWESOME! my boys were 14 months & 4 at the time.