Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

Unfortunately I am going back to work this week and my SIL will be coming to our house to watch our DD 5 days a week. We are paying her in the normal range for a sitter and I am interested to see what your arrangements are and what your sitter does for you.

I will be asking her to dress DD in her "day" clothes after I leave for work. Of course she will also need to change her if she has any diaper accidents or bad spit ups. I would like to ask her to do a load of baby laundry once a week (wash and dry only - not folding and putting away). Do you think this is ok?

I want her to put DD on her activity mat a few times a day and do tummy time with her. I also want her to go for walks when it's warm enough. Anything else I should be asking her to do at this stage? DD is almost 12 weeks.

Do you provide food for lunch, etc.? She will be at our home from 7 - 4. I plan on getting k-cups for her coffee but don't really want to have to have to start buying lunch foods (both myself and DH get our lunch at work).

I know it's a family relationship and my SIL is really great with kids so she will probably do everyting without me asking but I would like to see what everyone else asks their sitter to do. Thanks!

Message edited 1/21/2012 10:59:04 PM.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

My mom watches my DD at my house eveyday for 8 hours. We pay her and ask her to do anything that directly related to caring for our DD. I like to get her dreased in the am, but im sure my mom would love to do that too. She feeds her (cooks a hot lunch, gives snacks, finishes breakfast), changes diapers, reads, plays watches tv with her, takes her to the free library programs and to the stores. She will wash any plates, cups or utensils used. I wouldnt ask her to do the baby's laundry. She's just babysitting. If I payed her extra to do household chores that would be a diffierent story. My mom brings her own lunch, but I always tell her to help her self to any food/snacks.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

I don't know. I am of the mindset that I want the sitter to only watch my daughter rather than do chores around the house. But that is just me. I do have a housekeeper twice a week to do those things.

I don't provide food but she is welcome to help herself to anything in my house. In terms of the clothes, I wouldn't dictate anything especially since the baby is just 12 weeks old. I would let her use her judgment.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

We have a nanny Mon-Wed. She's been with DD since she was 6 months old. She dresses DD for the day (I lay out the clothes), takes her to park, classes, library, etc. they are always out and about (weather permitting). She makes her lunch (I tell her what to make daily) they color, read, dance etc. she really keeps her active and engaged.

Additionally we only ask that she changes DD's sheets every week. Without asking she also does light housekeeping which is very much appreciated.

We don't provide lunch for our nanny, but she knows she is welcome to anything in our kitchen. She's a big snacker so I do try to have snacks in the cabinet for her.

Lastly, we keep a notepad where I let her know what's going on that day and she lists everything they did and everything DD ate (and if she pooped as we have had constipation issues). Its been 14 months and things have been running very smoothly!

Message edited 1/22/2012 10:43:38 AM.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

Thank you all for your advice. I really like the idea of being left a note on what baby did that day.

I won't ask my SIL to do the baby's laundry but will wait to see if she offers to do more than we ask. I kind of feel funny having a business-type relationship with her because she's my DH's sister. If it were someone on my side I would have no problem telling them what to do

I would love to get my DD dressed for the day but I leave the house at 7 am and will have to be up at 5 to nurse her and get myself ready, but if it's doable I would prefer it to be part of our morning routine.

I'm going to call SIL to see if there is any particular food she would like me to have in but DH says she just lives on coffee and one meal a day.

I ordered some Baby Einstein DVDs for DD to watch with her too but I would like to keep the mommy and me program at the library for me and DD. I feel like I will be missing out on enough as it is

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

I created a daily sheet that has changed as DD gets older, but in a nutshell it has a chart of her feedings, naps, and lines to put notes about poops, etc. I get really great feedback that way.

I wouldn't ask my Nanny to do laundry but I don't think it's crazy to do it.. though it may be different if it's family. The only housekeeping my Nannies have ever done is put the bottles in the dishwasher, or now that we eat real meals, the little food containers and sippy cups. She'll run the d/w if it gets full.

I provide sodas, tea, and coffee depending on what the nanny requests.

It's the BEST having someone come to your house...

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

My sister has someone come to her house.

I think she brings leftovers or eats what my sister has. Sometimes she eats what she gives my nephew.

I do know she has a sheet that she fills out each day with wet/dirty diapers (times). She also writes what he ate for breakfast/lunch/snacks and when he was younger bottles. And nap times.

She also writes down what they did, tummy time for 20 minutes, ABC flash cards.... not minute by minute but the big things (more learning the busy).

She has a car seat and takes nephew out sometimes and writes that down as well.

I would think anything in the fridge is fair game unless you mention that you were having it for dinner.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

My sitter cleans up after the kids. She does the dishes. She cleans their rooms. The other day I asked her to help Lance with his HW. It depends on the day but she does whatever I ask. In the summer she takes them in our yard.

She eats here. I make her food, or she heats up whatever we have. She likes frozen pizza, so I keep it in the house.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

We have a nanny three days a week for my sons. I get them dressed in the morning and ready to go. She feeds them all their meals during the day, plays with them, takes them out when it's nice out, puts them down for naps.

She doesn't do laundry or anything, she puts their dirty dishes/bottles into the dishwasher though.

She used to be an au pair and a daycare teacher, so I don't have to specify what she does with the kids, she knows.

She brings her own lunch and snacks. She is welcome to anything, as she is a friend, but she never asks.

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

I have been babysitting the same little girl since she was 6 weeks old --- she is now 3.5 years old.

For the first 3 months, I watched her at their house. Then their living situation changed and it made more sense for them to bring her to me.

When I was going to their house, I brought my own food and drinks.

As far as housekeeping, I washed up any dishes that I used (utensils and one glass a day mostly) and did do light cleaning up around their house...making sure the countertops were wiped down, toys were all put away and organized by the time I was leaving, etc.

As far as activities, we played often. She was just a baby back then but I made sure she got lots of tummy and floor time, and honeslty it's so much fun making babies smile and laugh so there was a ton of play time.

It was during the winter also so we'd go to the mall to take walks there --- just to get out of the house.

Now that she is older we go to parks, the library, lots of walks, play in the backyard, playdates and playgroups...we are always busy. I can't just stay in the house all day long and so I am thankful that her mom feels comfortable with me driving with her. It keeps us busy and that keeps both of us happy!

Re: Some questions for those with a sitter minding DC in your own home

I have a babsitter who comes to my house pretty much full-time Monday's-Friday's (except when DH has a weekday off) and I made it clear that I hired her STRICTLY for the caring of my DD. I have had her since DD was 9 months old and I have always felt safeand confident that DD was being watched well since that is all I ask her to do.