Can you rest while supervising a 5-year-old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a 5-year-old, do you ever sleep while watching them, or at this age is that considered unacceptable?

I’m a high school student who watches a 5 year old girl twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) for three hours. I get 5–6 hours of sleep most nights, and feel really tired, and think 20–30 minute nap would really help me, get through the rest of the day, but I’m not sure if that’s okay while with a 5 year old.

Would it be acceptable at this age if the child is in the same room, watching a show or playing with toys, or is that generally considered unsafe or inappropriate?

What a parent does is different than a babysitter. It’s completely not ok to sleep while the child is awake when you are paid and this is a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

Quit then, you are being paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% NO you are being paid to watch a child. What if the child left the house or lit a piece of paper on fire.

I’m not getting paid—she’s my niece, which I should’ve mentioned. I asked other parents what they do with their 5-year-olds and was wondering if she’s old enough.

If you're not getting enough sleep you really shouldn't be adding this on. The kid's parents shouldn't be relying on a teenage niece for free childcare.

+100

[Anonymous]

Just fyi I know if a case where child carer fell asleep and 5 yo burned themselves, badly. It happened fast. The child carer faced serious consequences.

[Anonymous]

As a parent I nap with my 6 year old around. But she's not into things and I'm a light sleeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

What grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% NO you are being paid to watch a child. What if the child left the house or lit a piece of paper on fire.

I’m not getting paid—she’s my niece, which I should’ve mentioned. I asked other parents what they do with their 5-year-olds and was wondering if she’s old enough.

Even if it's free - you are NOT a parent. Parents have way, way more information about the temperament of the child, the risks in the household, are way more attuned to the child, and in general have way more information and essentially resources that might make napping while their kid is playing a safe choice.

You are NOT a parent. What parents do is NOT relevant. A babysitter (paid or unpaid) does not nap on the job. Period.

I think what parents do matters here—I'm her aunt, so I’m close enough to have some insight into her situation.

I’m the PP. No. It truly does not. You are NOT close enough to be able to take the same liberties a parent does. You are a high school kid who think she’s invincible.

The difference between how I, a parent, react from hearing my child cry while I’m asleep, or even make any sound while I’m asleep, vs. how it is for any other non child sound is impossible to express to someone who is not a parent. You have absolutely no idea.

Age five is borderline for a parent to nap and absolutely unacceptable for anyone else in charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

School and practices aren’t until 12 or 1. Turn off all the screens by 9pm and watch yourself magically be able to get your butt to sleep by 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

9th grade.
What grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

School and practices aren’t until 12 or 1. Turn off all the screens by 9pm and watch yourself magically be able to get your butt to sleep by 11.

11 still feels too late. Some nights, practices run until 9, and then I still have 2–3 hours of homework to do. I do usually take a nap after school on the other weekdays—about an hour or two—which helps a bit, when I don’t I have body aches, headaches, and chest pain.

[Anonymous]

I would think you could use your time babysitting to do your homework. Your neice could draw or do stickers. Win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think you could use your time babysitting to do your homework. Your neice could draw or do stickers. Win-win.

+1 or quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think you could use your time babysitting to do your homework. Your neice could draw or do stickers. Win-win.

+1 or quit.

I’m not able to do homework between 3–6 pm because I struggle to stay awake, have very low energy, and often get bad headaches, so I can’t concentrate well. I’m required to babysit during that time—my sister expects me to watch her—so it’s not something I can’t quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think you could use your time babysitting to do your homework. Your neice could draw or do stickers. Win-win.

+1 or quit.

I’m not able to do homework between 3–6 pm because I struggle to stay awake, have very low energy, and often get bad headaches, so I can’t concentrate well. I’m required to babysit during that time—my sister expects me to watch her—so it’s not something I can’t quit.

What do you owe your sister? Do you live with her?