Anonymous wrote:We have a toddler and we are fortunate to family that are able to watch him for us most times, but we are having to get a babysitter for the first time soon and I am pretty clueless what to expect and what the babysitters expectations are. Should we try to feed dinner before we leave, make something that is easily heated in the microwave and should we get food for the babysitter?

Of course you feed her and you give her something other than popcorn and chips. If she is there at dinnertime you give her dinner and you do not charge her for it! You also too her.

Most people I sit for tell me to help myself to anything in the kitchen. If pizza is ordered I just eat with the kids. I most often bring my own snacks because I like what I like. Sometimes parents leave money for me to order, sometimes they bring hot dinner home before they leave.

For my own kids I try to drop my kids with the sitter because it makes it easier for them. If they come to my house it depends if I have enough groceries in the house for them to help themselves - or I'd just leave cash/pizza. It's important to take care or the people taking care of YOUR people. It makes them feel safe and like you value them.

Just do whats comfortable for you and fair.

Anonymous wrote:We lost a great sitter because we made dinner plates for the kids but not her. She declined all other requests for babysitting and my kids loved her.

It just never occurred to me. Totally my bad.

Did she flat out tell you that was the reason? I sat for many families in my nanny days and having food set out for me wasn't a priority in deciding if I was going to continue sitting for them.

We lost a great sitter because we made dinner plates for the kids but not her. She declined all other requests for babysitting and my kids loved her.

It just never occurred to me. Totally my bad.