Babysitter and dinner dishes

[Anonymous]

Not all babysitting jobs are created equal. My kids are elementary school age and it's a fairly easy gig so yes, I expect my house returned to the same way I left it. It's not unreasonable to expect the table to be wiped off, dishes loaded in the dishwasher, leftover food put away and toys picked up.

If the babysitter is watching multiple kids under 5, then I'd consider all of those things a bonus, but I wouldn't expect it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“You working all day is not relevant as you are being paid to do a job and sound really lazy.”

+1
And same as most moms above - I am only expecting what I used to do as a sitter which was to pitch in until the work seemed done then watch TV. I often would pick up toys that were still out when I showed up and clean up the kitchen. I did not “clean the house” as that would be nuts but I viewed it as my job to restore order to anything kid-related and in the living room/kitchen.

I always did this as a babysitter and I always got back and referred to other families. It took a few extra minutes when the kids were in bed. Or, with older kids, they can help. No one is saying clean the kitchen but if its a few plates and the pots that were cooked in, why wouldn't you just clean them up and pick up a little. No one is saying run a vacuum and dust, but if the kids ate it, just help out a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s weird you leave a meal out that then needs to be cleaned up after, leftover stored, etc. most people leave money for pizza.

Even pizza has to be cleaned up. If you eat on plates at the table - which most people with young kids are going to to do - you need to clear the plates off the table when you’re done and put them in the dishwasher. Same with toddler dishes. Generally pizza will lead to crumbs, so you need to wipe down the table and throw away the paper napkins.

Again, this is not a big deal but it’s not something I would want to do after getting home late from a date night. Especially if the babysitter had several hours after the kids fell asleep to clean up after herself.

[Anonymous]

Why are so many parents creating lazy children?
— who one day may be lazy babysitters.

Oh wait, your lazy kids won’t be babysitting.

Just to state the obvious:
Not all parents are creating lazy children.

[Anonymous]

Can babysitter is there to take care of children not to wash dishes. Pay extra for maid service

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s weird you leave a meal out that then needs to be cleaned up after, leftover stored, etc. most people leave money for pizza.

Even pizza has to be cleaned up. If you eat on plates at the table - which most people with young kids are going to to do - you need to clear the plates off the table when you’re done and put them in the dishwasher. Same with toddler dishes. Generally pizza will lead to crumbs, so you need to wipe down the table and throw away the paper napkins.

Again, this is not a big deal but it’s not something I would want to do after getting home late from a date night. Especially if the babysitter had several hours after the kids fell asleep to clean up after herself.

As a teenage sitter, I would move dirty dishes to the kitchen sink at a minimum, and wash them if I had time to do so after kid(s) were in bed. Seems like common courtesy. That said, packing up leftover "real food" (as in, not just wrapping a few pizza slices in foil) is something for which OP should provide clear direction: "Here's some Pyrex, could you please stash the leftover goulash and quinoa when you and Larlo are done?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s weird you leave a meal out that then needs to be cleaned up after, leftover stored, etc. most people leave money for pizza.

Even pizza has to be cleaned up. If you eat on plates at the table - which most people with young kids are going to to do - you need to clear the plates off the table when you’re done and put them in the dishwasher. Same with toddler dishes. Generally pizza will lead to crumbs, so you need to wipe down the table and throw away the paper napkins.

Again, this is not a big deal but it’s not something I would want to do after getting home late from a date night. Especially if the babysitter had several hours after the kids fell asleep to clean up after herself.

As a teenage sitter, I would move dirty dishes to the kitchen sink at a minimum, and wash them if I had time to do so after kid(s) were in bed. Seems like common courtesy. That said, packing up leftover "real food" (as in, not just wrapping a few pizza slices in foil) is something for which OP should provide clear direction: "Here's some Pyrex, could you please stash the leftover goulash and quinoa when you and Larlo are done?"

When I was babysitting, you would pay extra for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you expect your babysitter to do the dishes? What about tidy up?

We make dinner and leave it on the table for the kids and babysitter. We have one babysitter who always does the dishes (loafs the dishwasher, puts leftovers in rubber ware in the fridge, wipes down table) and tidies up and another who doesn’t do either. We get to come home from date night and do a half hour of cleaning up. We pay really well. Feels ridiculous that she puts the kids to bed and then sits in a messy room watching tv for hours. And it’s so annoying to come home to. Both babysitters are adults. Are my expectations out of whack?

No way a babysitter should wash your dishes or clean your kit gef. Feed your children and clean up before baby sitter arrives! Babysitter means to take care if kids while you are out. They are not maids or housekeepers! You are a lazy POS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you expect your babysitter to do the dishes? What about tidy up?

We make dinner and leave it on the table for the kids and babysitter. We have one babysitter who always does the dishes (loafs the dishwasher, puts leftovers in rubber ware in the fridge, wipes down table) and tidies up and another who doesn’t do either. We get to come home from date night and do a half hour of cleaning up. We pay really well. Feels ridiculous that she puts the kids to bed and then sits in a messy room watching tv for hours. And it’s so annoying to come home to. Both babysitters are adults. Are my expectations out of whack?

Half an hour for you both to clean up? I doubt it. I also doubt you pay “really well”.

Half hour for both of you to clean up equates an hour of her time since she is alone. The babysitter is not your maid. She is there to make sure that an adult is in your house so that your children are not alone at home. It is a legal requirement. That is her primary purpose. Otherwise, she has no reason to be in your house, once the kids are sleeping and she has cleaned your kitchen.

You sound cheap, entitled and clueless. She is not your nanny. She does not even have to clean the kids dishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“You working all day is not relevant as you are being paid to do a job and sound really lazy.”

+1
And same as most moms above - I am only expecting what I used to do as a sitter which was to pitch in until the work seemed done then watch TV. I often would pick up toys that were still out when I showed up and clean up the kitchen. I did not “clean the house” as that would be nuts but I viewed it as my job to restore order to anything kid-related and in the living room/kitchen.

I always did this as a babysitter and I always got back and referred to other families. It took a few extra minutes when the kids were in bed. Or, with older kids, they can help. No one is saying clean the kitchen but if its a few plates and the pots that were cooked in, why wouldn't you just clean them up and pick up a little. No one is saying run a vacuum and dust, but if the kids ate it, just help out a little.

Good for you. That is not the job of a baby sitter.