I have a choice between getting a babysitter or having my mom watch my daughter while I return back to work...

Question

The babysitter is a nice lady and she is 10 mins away from my job while my mother is 30 mins from my job I will be paying them the same I just need help choosing because my mom is a heavy smoker i know there is no way for her to not smoke while watching the baby i worry that she might smoke around the baby. Who should I choose?

Answer 1

The sitter. It will hurt your mother's feelings but you can't have the kid in a hotbox all day every day. Maybe it will motivate her to quit - if you're lucky!

Answer 2

I would make a list of the pros and cons. Like you said your mom is a heavy smoker. If your daughter is in day care than she will have other children to play with also I'm sure the baby sitter will not smoke around your child if you ask if anyone in the home smokes. I would just make sure the babysitter is certified in CPR and First Aid and that your daughter gets along with her. Maybe you could use your mom as a back up just in case your baby sitter gets sick or if the baby gets sick. Maybe the baby sitter might have a part time rate so that your mom could watch a couple of days a week and the baby sitter. I'm sure if you explained to your mom what bothers you about leaving your daughter with her I'm sure this is something she will change and not smoke in the house or around the baby. Good Luck!!

Answer 3

You have to way the pros and cons of each one. The babysitter far out ways the mother. It will cut out less time, less cost, and also be more health wise if you go with the babysitter and also it would cut out your worrying about your mom smoking while you are at work. The babysitter stays only 10 mins from you. Gas is extremely expensive and she doesn't smoke. Even if you mom went outside everytime she smoked when your child was present, the baby would still be inhaling smoke. It lingers on materials. The only thing your mother has going for her in this equation is the fact that she is your mother. And in situation that just isn't good enough. And just let your mom know that she is just too far out of the way. With the cost of gas these days, I am pretty sure she will understand.

Answer 4

I know you love your mom, and want your daughter to have a good relationship with her, but I agree with the other answers, saying the smoking is not good for the baby, and if the babysitter doesn't smoke, she's the one to go for. It seems that since you'd be paying them the same, the 10min from work is also a lot easier on you day to day. If you wish for your daughter to see your mom, maybe you could drop her off there once a week, or once every two weeks, for a day, to hang out with grandma. Obviously I wouldn't pay mom for those days, she should be volunteering her service. I'd talk to her and see if she wouldn't mind not smoking around your daughter, maybe she could go outside for the cigarette. Explain to your mom the situation, not only about the smoking, but also about how much farther away she is from your work, and see if she's understanding about it. Good luck.

Answer 5

I would choose the babysitter. You need to look out for the best interest of your child. If you feel bad about not picking your mother then maybe you could set it up where every couple weeks she'll watch your baby for a couple days or so that way she's around her grandmother and can develop a reltaionship but not to around the cigarette smoke all the time.

Answer 6

I would choose the lady that is closer to where you work, especially since you would be paying them the same. She doesn't smoke either, which is a really good thing. If you feel that your mother should see your child go after work one evening or on the weekends. That way you would be there to keep her from smoking while your child is in the house, and she would still get to see the child.

Answer 7

If your mom wasn't a smoker I would say choose her. Since she's a smoker it's common since to choose the babysitter. If your mom is going to get mad for you not choosing her explain to her that you don't want your baby around smoke.

Answer 8

If you are unsure about your mother not smoking around the baby, I would choose the babysitter. Just make sure you check references and do a criminal background check if this is someone you don't really know. You can never be too safe.

Answer 9

I would choose the babysitter. It is good to have someone out of the family. It helps them to trust others. My family lives 45 minutes away. I hired a 14 year old and she has watched my kids since my oldest was 1 and my baby since she was 6 weeks. They love her and she is so good with them she is young and she gets to play with them more and they even call her nanny sara. Just explain to the mom that you really would love her to watch the baby but it is so far out of your way and gas cost way too much. Then if you ever need her just ask her to please not smoke around the baby.

Answer 10

Youre paying for a service. If one of your requirements for caring for your daughter is a non-smoking environment, then your mother should comply. Since it's not like she's doing it for free, you need to get what you pay for, and if she cant go a few hrs without smoking , it would be worth spending the extra time driving if your daughter would be better off in someone ele's care. I made the mistake of letting a relative who smoked take care of my son, and eventually he started sounding funny when he breathed, and he snored. I wouldnt do it again. He was fine before that.

Answer 11

The answer is obvious. I know you would prefer that your daughter is with someone she knows, but if you feel uncomfortable about it because your Mom smokes, you should go with the babysitter, besides, she's closer to your job. Will your Mom be offended?