Do you provide dinner for a hired babysitter?

[Anonymous]

I usually leave a frozen pizza (something decent), some hummus and chips or a pasta salad. We never have much on hand in our fridge for her to "help herself to" so I like to get her somethng.

[Anonymous]

I always make something for the kids that I think the babysitter would like and make a lot extra (like lasagna or pizza or chicken parm or something). Then I tell the babysitter to help herself. I couldn't imagine not feeding the babysitter, since it's dinnertime and she is usually there for a while.

[Anonymous]

When she's getting there around dinner time, I just make sure there is plenty of whatever the kids are eating (pizza, pasta and meatballs, etc). If it's later, I just make sure the fridge is stocked with a few different things.

My sister and I were frequent babysitters as teens, and we always talked about which families had the best food for us! One mom who was a family friend always had freshly baked these amazing chocolate chip cookies she knew we loved. I don't go that far, but try to have something on hand to make her feel welcome!

[Anonymous]

If the babysitter will be there when DC is eating, I make sure there is plenty for her. Otherwise, I tell her to help herself to whatever she can find. We always have snacks foods. I also inform her before she comes that DC will have eaten before or while she's there so she can plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

A frozen pizza, and easy snacks in an accessible spot so she doesn't have to rummage through the messy pantry.

[Anonymous]

If I am hiring a sitter to watch my kids during their dinner time, then I always make sure there is enough that she can eat something too. I think it's very rude to have them there on duty watching the kids eat and not providing for them as well.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely, I always make sure there is a meal available - even if it is only a casserole.

[Anonymous]

It is customary to provide a meal or money to order some delivered. I pay $20 an hour, too.

[Anonymous]

My sitter comes directly from work. She gets here at 6:30.
I know she gets off work at 6pm and doesn't go home in between. She gets whatever the family is having for dinner that night. Tonight is meatloaf, veggies, and potatoes.

[Anonymous]

I don't consider a hired babysitter to be a "guest" in our home. They should eat beforehand and not freeload.

JUST KIDDING! Points if you know which thread THAT drama is from!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't consider a hired babysitter to be a "guest" in our home. They should eat beforehand and not freeload.

JUST KIDDING! Points if you know which thread THAT drama is from!

[Anonymous]

OP, do you really have to ask?

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I leave 20 bucks on the table and various menus from take out places in the neighborhood.

Same here. Just leave cash and let her order delivery.

[Anonymous]

I invite the sitter to eat some of what we have on hand. and I make sure we have some generically agreeable food, easy to reheat: pasta, pizza, salad, etc.

I remember as a teen being a sitter for a family that had NOTHING to snack on at their house. They just had jars of dried food (flour, beans, etc). That was an extreme case!