I usually have an easy to heat meal. Just boil pasta. Or I have a meal she needs to reheat in microwave.

I once had a summer sitter (30yo teacher) who couldn’t make Mac and cheese or boil pasta. Had to teach her.

I babysat for many, many years and never once brought my own dinner. Most of the time, I ate what I made for the kids, ate the pizza their parents left money for or every once in a while I ordered my own food if the parents left me cash.

Maybe she will bring her own dinner?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, people are generous. I’d leave a frozen pizza or some home food for her.

+1

I don't pay $10/hr for sitting and $80 for dinner, AND $25 for the kids and babysitters dinner. Nope.

Lol this is the OP. Do you live in DC? We will pay the sitter $20 an hour tomorrow, several of those hours will be spent on the couch watching TV while DS sleeps upstairs. And our plans are different tomorrow but I wish dinners cost $80! Anytime we get a sitter for a night out the total cost is like $300 plus blah.Jealous of the cost of living in your area!

Thanks everyone for the ideas and input! My son is 2 so won’t be eating pizza or takeout food. I’ll have his meal prepped and leave cash and a few fridge options for the sitter. Happy weekend, everyone!

Anonymous wrote:I’d have some frozen meals on hand, stuff to make a sandwich, leftovers, and snacks and tell her to help herself. It’s insane to increase the cost of the night by $25 so she can eat 2 pieces of takeout pizza!

My thought too. I usually have a few easy options available, including a frozen pizza, maybe a pot pie, or other frozen dinner. Also some fruit, cheese, and such.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d have some frozen meals on hand, stuff to make a sandwich, leftovers, and snacks and tell her to help herself. It’s insane to increase the cost of the night by $25 so she can eat 2 pieces of takeout pizza!

This is of insane if you respect the person who is watching your kid for 6 long hrs and if you want them to attend to your child.

PS. My sitter is an adult and it laid !15 an hr. Son loves her.

Anonymous wrote:I’d have some frozen meals on hand, stuff to make a sandwich, leftovers, and snacks and tell her to help herself. It’s insane to increase the cost of the night by $25 so she can eat 2 pieces of takeout pizza!

This is of insane if you respect the person who is watching your kid for 6 long hrs and if you want them to attend to your child.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, people are generous. I’d leave a frozen pizza or some home food for her.

+1

I don't pay $10/hr for sitting and $80 for dinner, AND $25 for the kids and babysitters dinner. Nope.

I would leave a lasagna or pasta dish for DC and the sitter to warm up.

I would always get left cash for pizza or Chinese food.

Anonymous wrote:Our sitter brings her own food and I have child’s meal prepped.

+1

I tell my sitters they are welcome to any food or they can eat whatever I’ve prepped kids but they always bring their own.

I always ask if I can pick them up a salad or pizza or something of their choosing. You can order pizza in advance to be delivered at a certain time fully paid for so she doesn't have to worry about it.

I ask her what she likes from x place, order online, pay & tip, and request delivery for x p.m. Always works for us. I don't want her having to cook or worry about food. I'm paying her to play with my kid and keep him safe.

Anonymous wrote:I would just have food, including easy frozen meals, and invite her to have any of it. She will probably bring her own meal. For a teenage sitter, a pizza is a treat. But an adult woman might not want pizza, and if your kids aren't going to eat it, it might be a waste.

Also, I have noticed my best sitters almost always pack their own food. It's a job for them, and they are adults who eat what they want. If I went to work and my boss said, here's your pepperoni pizza or your chicken cutlet I wouldn't necessarily find that thrilling, it's a little condescending or intrusive.

I make clear they are welcome to anything, and I have extra of whatever the kids are having for dinner.