Would You Do This with Your Own Child/ren?

[daycarediva]

I have dcp's who are going on vacation with their kids for the long weekend coming up. They have advertised on care.com and craigslist and are meeting two people on Friday afternoon, to babysit their two children (2 & 5m) in their hotel room while they go out Friday evening and Saturday evening.

I would NEVER even consider that, the possibilities of it going wrong are endless, but the dcm says 'oh they'll be fine, it's only for a few hours each evening.'

with a perfect stranger, in a hotel room. Am I paranoid?

[NeedaVaca]

I wouldn't do it but I am guessing many people do this kind of thing. For me, when we go on a family vacation that's exactly what it is...family That being said, I have never hired a babysitter where I live either. Grandparents are the only ones that have watched my kids.

[crunchymama]

I would not do this. Maybe I've watched too many news stories or lifetime movies, but this situation just feels off to me. To each his own I suppose.

[jenn]

I wouldn't, but I hardly ever leave my daughter. If we go somewhere, we want her there with us. In emergency, she has stayed with my mom and dad.
However, some of the families that send their kids to me for daycare really know nothing about me. They have talked to me briefly on the phone after getting my number off craigslist, have met me during a 30 minute or less interview, and leave their kid for 10 hours a day in my home. So, I would imagine leaving them for a few hours while on vacation wouldn't seem like a big deal to them either.

[butterfly]

I've never hired a babysitter period. We've been fortunate to have family to use on occasion. However, I don't see it much different than hiring one of us providers to watch their kids. You never really know who/what your going to get or how your kids will be treated even with licensed providers...

[Willow]

Never.

[kathiemarie]

I would.

[Blackcat31]

Like many parents, they are probably banking on the fact that care.com would ONLY send them a reputable sitter.

No different than parents who want to enroll their child in daycare without an interview....most assume being licensed means you are "safe"...kwim?

[Play Care]

Not something I would do. But like another poster said, our family vacations are to spend time as a family. We have had the grandparents keep the kids for a long weekend when we want to get away.

[Willow]

Like many parents, they are probably banking on the fact that care.com would ONLY send them a reputable sitter.

No different than parents who want to enroll their child in daycare without an interview....most assume being licensed means you are "safe"...kwim?

Terrifying reality.

Because predators and the mentally ill NEVER use the internet to prey on children and find families dumb enough to give them complete access without a second thought......

So scary and so sad.


OP, if you care about those kids please express your major concerns with the parents. If after explaining the dangers a family of mine still went on to leave the children I love with strangers they just met I'd term effective immediately. I will not work with families who readily endanger their children's lives. If they did I wouldn't hesitate to express to them what I thought about it.

[Scout]

I recently saw something like this on care.com as well...I thought who the heck does this? Only these parents wanted someone to come to their home while they went on vacation! Worse yet!!

[Brooksie]

Oh my god that is so scary!! It takes a lot less than a few hours to abduct or abuse a child. I would never consider that and am terrified for these children. I can't believe a parent can be so negligent and irresponsible that a few hours away from the kids (ON A FAMILY VACATION) is more important then their safety.

[Maria2013]

I would not do this. Maybe I've watched too many news stories or lifetime movies, but this situation just feels off to me. To each his own I suppose.

that's how I feel

[MsLaura529]

This would terrify me ... I would be too worried about my kids the entire time and not be able to enjoy it. I think Disney World has a baby-sitter program like that, where if you are staying in their resorts, you can hire one of their baby-sitters to come watch your kids while you enjoy a night out or something. Even something like that I couldn't do.

Like the others have said, too many creepers and scary stories out there these days.

[KBCsMommy]

Never......a million times over.....Never