I have to agree with most - I would NEVER leave my young child alone in a foreign country with a complete stranger (x-pat or not). That is something I am completely uncomfortable with.

OP. - you say you are going for job interviews. I am not sure what the discrimination laws are in Europe, but could your potential employer arrange something for you? In the states, as an admin, I have done this for a recruit - arrange back up care for a single mom who had to travel to the interview.

We used a hotel-recommended babysitting service in Puerto Rico for a wedding. I did a lot of research on the service, which only works through hotels, asked other hotels for references, etc. Sitter came to our hotel room. (It was extraordinarily expensive, FYI.) I was really nervous, but felt very good about the situation once I met the sitter. Trust your gut.

We've done it multiple times - once in Germany, once in Portugal, once in France - all were either recommended by a concierge. Our daughter amazingly survived and is a thriving toddler, if you can believe it! I really don't get this thread - it's Europe, people! Use some common sense - if you would accept the recommendation of a concierge at a nice hotel in the States, there's no reason for you to not do the same in Europe. Can we just not trust Europeans? I'm so confused.

OP where are you going? How old is your child?
I have done it twice in Europe. Once in Germany and once in Spain, but I had friends/family in both countries who gave me recs.
It was absolutely fine. My kid was about 10 months and pretty much slept the whole time and the other time I had two kids 3 and 6. The babysitter spent a couple of hours with us the previous day so the kids would get to know her a bit and then she sat for them the following evening.

I suppose none of these people judging have ever had the occasion to, oh, I don't know, GO TO WORK? Whenever you have to hire childcare, like your first nanny, or a day care, there is going to be a stranger caring for your child. The idea is to be smart about it, go through reputable sources, ask for references, and meet/talk to the person yourself in advance so you can use your judgment.

OK, hold up - I am totally shocked at these responses. Did I miss where the OP said she was going to North Korea? Fancy hotel babysitting isn't going to be any more of a risk at the nicest hotel in Milan than it is in the nicest hotel in LA. Do your due diligence, of course, but please don't let these people convince you you are a bad parent for trying to find very occasional childcare while traveling.

We're also looking for a sitter while out of town this summer and a Facebook post from a friend reminded us that he has nieces and cousins in the area where we're going, so that's our starting point to find someone.

Depending on how much your friends resemble some of these super-judgy posters, you might consider putting the word out on Facebook too, or through another network you might have (e.g. I'm part of a moms group that has an extensive network), and see if anyone has a cousin of a friend, former au pair, etc. I'm always amazed what just a few degrees of separation can turn up with these kinds of requests.

I know of many people who did it in the US at really nice hotels, but I would never do it in another country.

If you can't take the child with you to something, then you and your DH should just split up so one person can stay with your child. Play it safe, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just crazy. I would not leave my child with a stranger in another country. Think about how your 3 year old will feel. You can schedule your meetings for different times.

Tell me how exactly you think a 3 year old would feel being left with, e.g., a nice US expat 22 year old woman doing a graduate school semester abroad, for one evening during an extended trip?

Really? How do you know they are nice? Nice, when they are molesting your kid? Have fun at your event or your "deserved" night out because you trust a website with your kid.
Jeez, some people are not meant for this thing called responsibility that comes along with parenting.

Presumably you never leave the house. Sorry about that.

The ex-pat idea sounds like a good solution for the language barrier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just crazy. I would not leave my child with a stranger in another country. Think about how your 3 year old will feel. You can schedule your meetings for different times.

I agree. Hell I wouldn't even leave my kid with a stranger in our country. What is wrong with you people?

Op- do you have family that you can leave your daughter with here in the states?

This has to be a joke, right?

It's a joke to leave your kids with strangers! Sure look up Craigslist.... You sound classy.

Oh, BURN! That was a good one. The joke's on me now!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just crazy. I would not leave my child with a stranger in another country. Think about how your 3 year old will feel. You can schedule your meetings for different times.

Tell me how exactly you think a 3 year old would feel being left with, e.g., a nice US expat 22 year old woman doing a graduate school semester abroad, for one evening during an extended trip?

Really? How do you know they are nice? Nice, when they are molesting your kid? Have fun at your event or your "deserved" night out because you trust a website with your kid.
Jeez, some people are not meant for this thing called responsibility that comes along with parenting.

Statistically, family members are far more likely to molest your kid than strangers. Guess you should never leave your kid with family then.

Obviously I'm not advocating dropping your kid off with the nearest homeless guy. There are ways to check references, etc. That's in fact what the OP was asking about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just crazy. I would not leave my child with a stranger in another country. Think about how your 3 year old will feel. You can schedule your meetings for different times.

I agree. Hell I wouldn't even leave my kid with a stranger in our country. What is wrong with you people?

Op- do you have family that you can leave your daughter with here in the states?

This has to be a joke, right?

It's a joke to leave your kids with strangers! Sure look up Craigslist.... You sound classy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just crazy. I would not leave my child with a stranger in another country. Think about how your 3 year old will feel. You can schedule your meetings for different times.

Tell me how exactly you think a 3 year old would feel being left with, e.g., a nice US expat 22 year old woman doing a graduate school semester abroad, for one evening during an extended trip?

Really? How do you know they are nice? Nice, when they are molesting your kid? Have fun at your event or your "deserved" night out because you trust a website with your kid.
Jeez, some people are not meant for this thing called responsibility that comes along with parenting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just crazy. I would not leave my child with a stranger in another country. Think about how your 3 year old will feel. You can schedule your meetings for different times.

I agree. Hell I wouldn't even leave my kid with a stranger in our country. What is wrong with you people?

Op- do you have family that you can leave your daughter with here in the states?

This has to be a joke, right?