Sitter vs Nanny

[Anonymous]

Our great sitter from care.com has sat for us 3 times since she's been hired. We attended a function in the early afternoon last weekend, so we prepped lunch and dinner for the kids. Is this something we need to do every time she sits for us? Or can we suggest she prepare a meal or two for the kids who are 2 and 4. What are some of the meals your sitter puts together for the kids?

[Anonymous]

You all are most welcome to ask anything. But you need to ask her. How is her English?

[Anonymous]

I worked as a sitter in college, and I think it's totally reasonable to say "Please fix . . . . for dinner" as long as it's relatively straight forward, and simple.

I might expect a nanny to be able to look in the fridge and figure out what to cook, but I'd expect a sitter (i.e. someone occasional, who doesn't have a lot of experience with your kitchen or with what your kids will eat) to need more direction.

As far as what to cook, I think my kid would enjoy making his own pizza with a sitter, or breakfast for dinner with pancakes and scrambled eggs.

[Anonymous]

It's troll OP again.

[Anonymous]

Leave her some straightforward and limited options for dinner. For instance. Have macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza, leftover lasagna, etc. on hand and let her know she can prepare one of those for dinner.

[Anonymous]

Has she ever used a microwave before?

[Anonymous]

Anything that's simple is fine for a babysitter. A box of mac & cheese, frozen ravioli, tossing a frozen pizza in the oven, reheating leftovers, etc.