Like I said, she was good with the kids which is what most people care about when getting a sitter. But she did not like the fact that she didn't do anything else when she had plenty of time and it wouldn't have taken that long to tidy up, especially if she had the child help clean up while they were playing.

It comes down to whether that sitter was worth the money she was paying in the end, when there could be others that do clean up after themselves and pay them the same amount.

She has decided to try other sitters out in the future when needed, instead of someone that does just the bare minimum.

She must have not been too bad if your bosses are asking whether or not to have her come back as a backup sitter.

I tidy up, with the exception of a very dirty or messy house. For example, if I cannot wash dishes from dinner because three days worth of dishes are stacked in the sink, then I do not. It is easiest to keep clean homes clean, because I can see clearly where everything belongs, etc.

I go the extra mile for families when I know they're expecting a new baby, or about to move, or whatever, I will clean after the kids are in bed.

As a young babysitter I was once chastised specifically FOR taking care of our dishes, and was told not to do it again. I stopped doing it with that family, but otherwise have always tidied up.

It makes me crazy to come home to a sink full or dirty dishes when I left it clean. I tell sitters upfront (during the interview) that I expect it, and have only had a problem with one sitter. She said she understood, but never seemed to actually manage to clean up after herself. So I stopped using her.

Anonymous wrote:Babysitters should clean up whatever mess the kids made ON HER CLOCK, and whatever mess she made. Under no circumstances would I ask, or expect, a babysitter to also play "maid".

Exception wben 14 yr old son decides go make chocolate pancakes for himself. He cleaned up his mess.

Babysitters should clean up whatever mess the kids made ON HER CLOCK, and whatever mess she made. Under no circumstances would I ask, or expect, a babysitter to also play "maid".

Anonymous wrote:Years ago, when I was babysitting, I would "straighten" up kitchen but kids had to put toys away. Those were the good old days when parents treated babysitters well and did not expect maid service. I made $7.50/Hr plus a tip and could eat anything I wanted.

We weren't exactly expecting maid service, but it's not that hard to go and rinse off a few dishes and put them into the dishwasher even (I had left enough room in the dishwasher for this earlier in the day), or pick up small pieces of toys that were in plastic ziploc baggies and put them back in there so they don't get lost. The 2 yr old is still learning to clean things up, and can help with her fake kitchen foods etc, putting books back in a stack next to the book bins, etc but you have to tell her to do it with you and she can't normally do the really small stuff well. Also, I went to help out with the dishes today since the mom had a huge migraine, and found the pan that the sitter used to make grilled cheese sandwiches had large black splotches stuck on it. She had burned cheese (I guess) all over the surface and didn't soak it or anything. It took me 20 minutes of gently scrubbing it (so not to scratch it) and I could only get half off and then had to leave it soaking in soapy water. This was a brand new NON-teflon coated, non-cast iron pan that now looks like people had been using it on the stove over and over again repeatedly without cleaning it! If I had done that while cooking the kids dinner, I would have at least tried to clean it soon afterwards.

Anonymous wrote:Why are you taking what ONE person did and assuming all people in her position do the same? That's silly.

I was asking because the family that I live with is the closest I can personally view how another babysitter acts. Since they normally use me or another close family friend or 2 for babysitting needs, I was wondering if this had become the new norm or if it was just this one sitter. She seemed good with the kids in general (the 2 yr old did have some issues but that is the stage she is going through, no matter who is watching her) but the mother asked me what I thought about her and whether she should keep using her in the future if needed. I love my family and would like them to have the best backup sitter as possible, and since they are not paying $10-12/hr for her rate where one might expect the sitter to do absolutely nothing above feeding the kids and watching them, I was concerned that she might not be the best person to use on a regular basis. I do have some other friends that could potentially do some nights that I can't, I am just trying to figure out if I should go ahead and suggest them or just say that she seems fine and leave it at that.

Years ago, when I was babysitting, I would "straighten" up kitchen but kids had to put toys away. Those were the good old days when parents treated babysitters well and did not expect maid service. I made $7.50/Hr plus a tip and could eat anything I wanted.

I don't understand that as well. Very lazy. I always make sure that any dishes used while I am sitting are washed or in dishwasher, any trash thrown away, toys put up, etc. I mean, that is at the very least common decency...to atleast keep the home as clean as when you arrived.

OP deserves more than 15/hr, IMHO.

I am actually having problems with a nanny who doesn't clean up! I have a nanny, and find she leaves dishes out for me to clean and left toys out, until I explained I needed then to be cleaned up. I thought it was standard for nanny to do this? Apparently these days, it seems these are things I have to explain I want done ahead of time. At least your dishes made it to the sink, and weren't left out on the table!

Why are you taking what ONE person did and assuming all people in her position do the same? That's silly.

I am a nanny that lives in with a nice family, and I work with a few other families weekly as well. I have been doing babysitting work since I was 12 yrs old, which was almost 23 years ago. I have ALWAYS helped out when babysitting by picking up toys that they kids played with, washing the dishes that we had used for dinner, and sometimes even help with a bit of tidying up of stuff that was there before I showed up. I was always taught it was proper etiquette to clean up after yourself and anything that happened while you were with the kids.

My family had a babysitter last night because I had previous plans, and I got home before the mom did but stayed downstairs. I came upstairs soon after she got home and saw that there were toys everywhere and dishes on the counters and in the sink. I had just cleaned the whole living room and kitchen earlier that day myself, the kids got home with the mother and then the babysitter showed up 15 minutes later. So I know the house was in good condition and was like that when I left. I just couldn't believe that she didn't do anything to clean up and she had let the 2 yr old go and push boxes out of the way (which got knocked over) and things were all left open and scattered about. The youngest went to bed at least 2 hours before she left, the older one normally doesn't make much of a mess himself and went to sleep at least an hour before she left. She was paid the same babysitting rate that I am, which is $15/hr. Actually, she really wasn't needed last night after all since my original plans fell through, but I know what it is like to have someone cancel on you just 3-4 hours beforehand, so I didn't say anything to my family and decided to go out alone for a little bit.

Maybe babysitters just don't take the initiative to clean up themselves and the kids anymore? I just thought it was rude that she couldn't take a couple of minutes to do this and left it for someone else to deal with late at night (or the next morning). Maybe I am too close to the situation since I live with them and had hoped that my replacement for the evening would be someone they could count on like they do with me?