Parents Please!?

Question

The 2 boys i babysat just tonight are 6 and 4. This is the 2nd time I have babysat for their family. The 1st time I had no problem putting them to bed at 8:00 like their mom said. Then tonight their bedtime was 9:00 and when I tucked them in they kept on coming back out and playing. When i finally got through to them that they didn't need to be playing they calmed dowm and laid queitly in their beds, but they still wouldn't fall asleep. At 10:30 their parents came home and they still were awake. Parents would ou be mad if your kids werent asleep, they didn't seem nmad but I just want to hear other opinions.

Answer 1

you did quite well to get them into bed!

they're obviously getting used to you and are testing you out a bit. the thing is, childcare is a battle of wills. they will push you as far as you let them. i have a lovely little 6 year old who would rule the roost if we let her.

do they share a room? tricky if they do. the thing to do is to put them to bed and sit outside the room. if they try and come out pu them back into bed without talking to them and without looking them in the eye. this is, don't give them any rewards at all (even in terms of attention) from their bad behaviour. they need to learn who's boss - and it has to be you.

if you want to babysit again, it might be an idea to ask the parents for their own strategy, to ask what their bedtime routine is. we have a strict order. teatime meal - then straight up for wash/bath - then into pyjamas - then going to kiss mum goodnight - then story in our bedroom - then into her room and into bed - then prayers - then kiss - then light out. that's it, period. then if she comes out there's hell to pay!

the routine helps the kids to know what's what, so sticking to their normal routine will tell the children that you know what the rules are.

i don't think the parents are likely to be mad at you. they might wonder whether you have enough experience to keep them in order, so if you want to babysit again, it might be appropriate to tell them that you were'nt happy with how things went and reflect with them on how to make it better next time.

Answer 2

No parent should be mad. Parents (and sitters) can enforce bedtimes but nobody can make the kids go to sleep.

Most parents learn this after children move out of cribs into a "real bed." Little monkeys everywhere except in that bed! So, you let them know that although they don't have to sleep, they do have to remain in bed. If exhaustion doesn't cause them to fall asleep in a few minutes, boredom does the job.

Answer 3

The boys are testing you!! You're going to have to be a broken record the next time you babysit. Each time they come out lead them right back into the room and let them know ITS BEDTIME!! Keep on doing it until they get the picture or for that matter wear out! Don't worry about the parents being upset. I think all parents know how there kids can be sometimes. Just remember be consistent!!

Answer 4

i have 3 sons 5y 4y and 3y.
And that would depend on what my kids and you were doing. If you were siting on the couch looking like you could pull your hair out i would say "OK which one wont sleep" (because they do it to me every night a different one (or two) stays up well past bedtime and i get frustrated cause i would like to go to bed too.
BUT if the kids were up running around and you were sitting on the couch laughing at the TV oblivious to the fact that its almost 11 pm and the kids are still awake. (my mom does this to me as payback for staying out too long when my hubby and i go for our date night every six months!) (or if we came in from work at 10:30 pm and you were passed out on the couch and the kids were out side playing and when we went in we found the whole house in disarray, My hubby's sister did this one to us and the kids were 3y 2y &1y at the time!! and we live on a heavy traffic road!) I would be very very P******ed of!!!
If you did all you could do to get the kids to sleep and they were in bed when the parents got home your fine. Parents of small kids know that babies are not a exact science! you cant just turn them off like pull string dolls. But neglagence is another story.

Answer 5

Don't sweat it. It sounds like you are doing everything you are supposed to do. (A great job!) I am a mother of 5. My kids are 10,8 6,5 and 5 months. Heck, I'm their mom and they do it to me. Tell them if they are not tired, they can play quietly in their beds or read a book, well, look at the pictures anyway.
Make sure you go through a good before bed routine. Bathroom, drink of water, bedtime story, that sort of thing.
Keep up the good work, you are doing just fine sweetie.

Answer 6

Although you are baby sitting for these children. you cannot control them nor can you always get them to do what you would like. I know that my kids will test our sitter and see how far and what they can get away with. I have came home on a few occasions where my girls would not settle down and get to sleep. I knew that my sitter tried and I cannot blame her or be upset at her for the kids actions. So no, I would not be mad because like I said, the kids will more then likely push the sitter and see what they can get away with.

Answer 7

Either the kids took their siestas late in the afternoon or had too much candy for the day, but as long as the parents came home and find their kids contended even if not yet sleeping is still ok. Don't worry about it you did what you have to do and that's that.

Answer 8

No, because you did what you could to try to get them to go to sleep. Ask the parents what they do when they will not go to bed. Consequences need to be consistant, so whatever the parents do when the children won't go to bed should be done by any caregivers also. If they think they can get away with things with you, they will figure it our real fast...kids are smart.

Answer 9

Nah. I had the same problem when I babysat too (like, years and years ago), and I know that sometimes kids are just difficult. You tried, and at least they were in bed.

Answer 10

Not your fault.Those Parents know their kids way better than you.So don't worry. The next time you watch them be a little more strict, when you say bed time,..mean it.That means lights out,NO talking, no whispering,no more bathroom breaks...go before you go to bed.No snacks an hr before bed.Good luck.