Usually if we have a sitter it's because we are going out to dinner as part of our night out. So I order pizza for the kids and make sure to order enough that there's plenty for the babysitter, and she's always told she's welcome to whatever drinks and snacks we have.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how old the sitter is too. I have a high school sitter who eats dinner with her family early, around 5:00, so when she gets to me at 6:00 she's already eaten.

For those that leave cash and menus... if the sitter decides not to order food does she get to keep that cash or do you expect change from the delivery?

I think they would leave the cash if they didn't want to order out, don't you think?

I'm one of the posters who leaves $20 and menus. Sitter can use the $20 for whatever she wants. So she can either take the $20 home with her in full, or she can order dinner and take home the change. We pay anywhere from $15-$20 an hour depending on which sitter we use.

Anonymous wrote:My employer doesn't provide me lunch so why do I have to provide dinner to a sitter? She is getting paid to work, not to be fed and should eat beforehand or bring her own food.

Do you go through life keeping score this way? It sounds awful. "I didn't get that, so why should I give you that!" Or "You got that, so should I!" You sound like a child, and a bratty one at that.

Of course

My employer doesn't provide me lunch so why do I have to provide dinner to a sitter? She is getting paid to work, not to be fed and should eat beforehand or bring her own food.

No. I put a couple of snacks on the counter (almonds, pretzels, an orange, fruit) and a glass and say "I left some snacks on the counter and help yourself to drinks in the fridge if you'd like."

When I babysat, I always ate before or after and arrived prepared to work.

It would be a very kind and courteous gesture if you actually provided dinner for your sitter OP, but overall it is not expected.

What is usually done is to tell the sitter to simply "help herself" to anything in the kitchen if she gets hungry and to make herself at home.

Kudos to you for thinking of your sitter in such a manner.

I wish all parents had your train of thought!!

We use a sitter almost every week but they don't arrive until 6:30 or later. I tell them to help themselves to whatever we have but unless they are coming at dinner time or right from work, I don't leave them money to order food.

I feed the sitter. I also let her know we will have dinner for her head of time, so she can plan ahead.

I try to make sure and have ice cream.

When I babysat, my mom brought me a plated hot meal to wherever I was sitting, every single time!

No, not if she's in service to the family. Working people are accustomed to hunger.

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how old the sitter is too. I have a high school sitter who eats dinner with her family early, around 5:00, so when she gets to me at 6:00 she's already eaten.

For those that leave cash and menus... if the sitter decides not to order food does she get to keep that cash or do you expect change from the delivery?

I think they would leave the cash if they didn't want to order out, don't you think?

Depends on how old the sitter is too. I have a high school sitter who eats dinner with her family early, around 5:00, so when she gets to me at 6:00 she's already eaten.

For those that leave cash and menus... if the sitter decides not to order food does she get to keep that cash or do you expect change from the delivery?

Anonymous wrote: 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!

Haha, me too! One house had some amazing ice-cream pops. I wish I could remember what kind they were.

Also, if the kid is sleeping most of the time, it can be boring. Eating can just pass the time.

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

It's not always customary. I sit for several families and all tell me either to help myself, order food for me or give cash to order of which I appreciate. Half the time though I bring my own food.