Parents expectations for babysitters?

Question

I had my girlfriends 14yr old watch my grandson over the weekend. My husband was around however working away from home, her mother was next door as well if she needed anything.

I got home and she had left her dishes in the sink and they really stink. My husband had reminded her to do them, she said she would yet there they are. She did nothing around the house, his room is a mess. She was on the computer when my daughter came over to check and the boy was running around the house and watching toons. It was 80 degrees outside and they should have been outside. The one day they were out playing in the water she let him wear his hiking boots.

When I was her age I babysat. I did the dishes EVEN when they were not mine and I would pick up the house if it need be. I do not think sitting on your butt on the computer wathing TV and the like is enough. I am not sure if I am unreasonable or not and this is what I am asking. If you need more information let me know.

Answer 1

Washing her own dishes is reasonable.
She shouldn't be on the computer at all; make this clear.
She should spend her time playing with the child, and that's all.
She should use common sense about what shoes he wears for which activity.
You should give her some idea of your expectations of what they do and if they should be outside in particular for any period of time, rather than inside.

She should NOT be expected to clean house or "pick up" after you, or wash YOUR dirty dishes.

Answer 2

generally, if i had a kid, i would not trust anyone under age 16 to watch him/her. a babysitter's job is to watch the kid and take care of them, plus anything else they are asked to do by the kid's parents. She doesnt need to be using YOUR computer (without your permission, i presume?) instead of watching the kid. 14 year olds nowadays are much more likely to fool around then they used to be.....you are not being unreasonable at all in thinking that she wasnt doing her job right. I understand her leaving dishes in the sink only if you did not specifically ask her to clean them....but she certainly should have cleaned the ones she used. have a talk with her about what is and is not required of her when babysitting him; she isnt being payed to use the computer anyway, is she? you can also consider hidden cameras in the house as many parents do, so you know what exactly she is allowing your grandson to do while she is online. She honestly doesnt sound responsible enough to babysit a kid! just my opinion though.

Answer 3

I think that babysitters should do the dishes and keep up the house. The parents shouldn't feel overwhelmed when they get home and have to do the dishes and stuff like that. I made the mistake on my first babysitting job to not to the dishes and I was given a second chance, but they sat me down and explained what they wanted. I think what you want is not a lot to ask for, and you should sit her down and tell her that she needs to keep up with the dishes and the child's room. She also needs to be more attentive to the child and not spend a lot of time on the computer. She needs to spend quality time with the child. Make sure you turn the computer off and tell her that the computer is off limits while baby sitting. Things can happen to a toddler or child while she has her back turned to them and she needs to at least spend time with the child. I ALWAYS did things with the kids...read books to them, watched cartoons with them, played in the livingroom with their toys with them, etc. Anyway, that is how I feel.

Answer 4

Well, she is not a nanny, those cost a lot more. Maybe all weekend she was tending to your child, and did not have time to do the dishes, did you ask her why she did not do them? You always have to set ground rules, its never mandatory that your babysitter clean your home, she is at least caring for the child while you are not home, thats something. I think you might be being a little unreasonable, she is 14 not 40, next time make sure you communicate what you would expect her to do.

Answer 5

That is just wrong, I am 16 and I babysit for a bunch of little kids around town. I ALWAYS make sure i tidy up, and keep the kids in order. When it's nice, we play outside. When it's not, we play inside, we may watch a movie, but not for the whole time, i cook them lunch and then we do puzzles and read books. However, all the kids I babysit are 6 and under. A babysitter should always make sure a house looks the way she came into it, if not better. (i always try to make it better) :D my advice would be to not let her babysit again. Good Luck.

Katie

Answer 6

As a champion former babysitter :) i must say, you always leave the house better than you found it. This includes picking up toys and cleaning up what you used in the kitchen.

Make sure she knows it's ok to play with the kids outside. Also be sure to tell her the kids need constant supervision! It's ok to go on the computer when the kids are asleep. You are paying her to watch the kids, not surf the net.

You may want to consider another babysitter.

Answer 7

I'm 32 and have been babysitting since I was 12. I've always been sure to clean up after the children and spend quality time with them doing activities. However, most teenagers are not like that.

If you want a better quality babysitter, you should ask around the neighborhood and interview potentials (get references too) or find an older individual (but be willing to pay a little more).

Good luck!

Answer 8

I'd interview a person before they baby sat. Just a suggestion. In my younger days we watched tv and played with the kids a litte.
they could set out paper plates and napkins instead of your plates if she doesn't wash. I don't know how old your grandson is, but it was expected the kids act in line, and do what the parents would normally expect of them. Not that the babysitter is blamed. I remember one child was not listening but complained to his parents when they got home about not getting his way on something, and the parents put him in his place, not me.
Families today use dishwashers so its not such a requirement to wash the dishes.
usually the parents also said help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you're hungry. so not a big deal, to eat a bunch of food.

Answer 9

It sounds like she is not mature enough to babysit, and if your friend says anything about having her babysit again you need to tell her what happened. A babysitter should never be allowed to touch your computer, especially a teen, because you never know what sites she might be visiting. A child can disappear from a house in seconds and if she is too busy chatting online with her friends it might be too late to do anything when she realizes that the child is gone. I ALWAYS cleaned up the toys when I was playing with the children I babysat, and cleaned up their dinner mess and gave them bathes. I took care of them like they were my own kids.

Answer 10

I don't need any more information to know that you need to find someone else to watch your grandson. I babysat as a teenager and believe in the same expectations you have. Besides, she was told to do the dishes. She should have done them even if your husband had not told her. I completely side with you!