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Stranger Babysitter

Tanya - posted on 09/17/2010 ( 22 moms have responded )

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So I live in a tourist town. I have seen a lot of families ask their waitress if they can baby sit. I have even seen adds on job sites for people to baby sit over night while the vacationing parents go out. Some of the kids are too young to even tell the parents if something were to happen.

Would you ever put an online ad for a baby sitter knowing that you probably won't have time to call references or do a back ground check?

Would you ask a friendly waitress to watch your children over night in your hotel room?

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22 Comments

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Kimberly - posted on 09/19/2010

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I answered a Craig's List ad one time a few years ago where a young mother was looking for a baby sitter for her two daughters. I thought to myself I'd better do this or this could really invite danger to that home. I couldn't believe she left me alone in her home with her two little girls.

Gabrielle - posted on 09/19/2010

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i would never allow a stranger to look after my daughter EVER! I read real life magazines and i have heard some shocking stories about people that have let strangers babysit their kids, even family and friends. Makes you wonder can you really 100% trust people in this world? x

Tracie - posted on 09/19/2010

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Wow Tanya! you could make a fortune and their kids would all be safe from harm, have you thought of advertising? the pay would be great! :-)

Nikki - posted on 09/18/2010

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No way! never!

Lyndsay - posted on 09/18/2010

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NO. I don't know what the hell is wrong with people. When I was younger, we went to a 5-star resort in Florida that had their own babysitting service. Something like that I might be okay with, since the people who are hired are required to get police checks and references before being hired, but I certainly would not ask some random waitress in an unknown town to watch my child.

Ashley=) - posted on 09/18/2010

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God no..i dont trust anyone with my children, only family.I have to say i dont leave my kids a lot.If i go out with the girls my partner is at home to mind our two girls..six yrs and 20mth old.I wouldnt be comfortable at all with strangers, i feel panicky thinking about it.

Cathy - posted on 09/18/2010

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I guess it's more responsible than just leaving your kids alone in the hotel room while you go out drinking.

No I wouldn't ask random strangers to look after my kids. If a hotel offered an in house babysitting service then I might consider it. But only if the staff are required to have background checks as a condition of employment in that role.

Jessica - posted on 09/18/2010

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HELL NO! If I take my son on holiday then I will look after him. If I wanted to go boozing it up for the weekend, Joshes dad or grandparents or a trusted friend/sitter would have him. Not a stranger.

C. - posted on 09/17/2010

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Oh heck no!!! Do people not watch the news??? So many crazies out there.. No, no, no.. I would never ask a stranger to babysit my kid(s). Heck, family members can turn out to be secretly crazy, too! Why would you risk something so precious just to get a night to yourselves??

Joann - posted on 09/17/2010

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personally no i wouldnt my child is mine i dont ask actual family to watch him so asking a stranger to do it would be just wrong in my eyes.

Good Day! - posted on 09/17/2010

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NO WAY!

Although today in a restaraunt, I saw a mom of four ask the waitress to watch three of her kids so she could take one to the bathroom. I thought about that. Of the three she left, 2 were old enough to scream and yell for help. Also the restaurant was crowded, so surely someone would step up to help the children if something were to happen (not necessarily the waitress doing something, but some sicko that may happen to be there). Also, I'd rather leave the three for strength in numbers than to send a toddler to the bathroom with a stranger. THAT would have been questionable. Yes, all this went through my mind when I saw the situation.

Charlie - posted on 09/17/2010

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My friend worked for a business that hires out babysitters she was always booked for strangers and they run a thriving business but they are all police checked ECT.

Would i ask online or a random person i meet , no way !

JuLeah - posted on 09/17/2010

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Never. In an emergency, one might have to trust a stranger and odds are, it would be fine. But, Nah .... stupid as a practice

Jessica - posted on 09/17/2010

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HELL no! I'm not even comfortable with the idea of anyone other than my mom, MIL or sister watching my son, let alone a TOTAL stranger! I'm really surprised people even do that.. well not *really*, considering how many stupid people are out there, but sheesh..

Sharon - posted on 09/17/2010

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Hell no.

I MIGHT ask the hotel if they have a list of trustworthy & reliable babysitters. So hubby & I could have a nice quiet dinner, but we wouldn't party (drink heavily), go far or take the hotel at its word. We tend to plan in advance so chances are we would have called the hotel, gotten some names or name of the service then called the local PD to see if they knew of any difficulties. We'd also look for online information.

Dana - posted on 09/17/2010

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If it was a respectable hotel with certified babysitters, who were being filmed the whole time...I might do that.

Teresa - posted on 09/17/2010

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There are certified sitters that work through many hotels... a job I've thought about doing at one time or another.

As for myself GETTING a sitter in that manner? Not a chance.

Kate CP - posted on 09/17/2010

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Yea, I'd put this in the "stupid idea" pile.

Tanya - posted on 09/17/2010

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Yeah I honestly wish that I could call CPS on these people. Not that I think they should have the kids taken away for this, but they should be able to send out a video about how stupid this is or something.

I can't believe how many times I have had/seen people say oh you seem nice and our kids like you wanna make 60 dollars.

One couple were swinger and wanted to go to a party. I wanted to slap them. I don't care what you do with your sex life but why not go on vacation alone.

Morgan - posted on 09/17/2010

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I am with Dana, NO WAY!!!
The only people I trust alone with my daughter are my Hubby and my own Mother....thats it!

Tah - posted on 09/17/2010

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WHAT?????...okay how about instead of asking your waitress that you just met who may be nicknamed beat em down betty for her work with the neighbors kids, you A)...leave the kids with family and go on a vacation by yourself......B) take a family friendly vacation...or C)...take a nanny who is familiar with your children and whom you do know with you so that she can watch the children while you have your nights out and when you guys get back she can have some freetime......i would never do that..and i also would not leave my children in the room by themselves..isn't that how that family said their child went missing...they left their toddlers up in the room by themselves while they went out and came home and the little girl was missing.....common sense people...

Dana - posted on 09/17/2010

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No, I don't trust most family to watch my child let alone a stranger.

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