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If there was a new reality show, it would surely be about babysitting. The journey starts before it begins: stressed-out parents are looking for a perfect nanny for their kid, not being able to trust anyone and making things even harder than they should be.
After finally finding the right one, things can turn sour every time, proving they didn’t win in the nanny lottery. But the lucky ones who find a good one have it forever. A babysitter becomes part of the family, accompanying them into adulthood when all there remains from childhood is an entangled blob of mostly good memories.
Every parent has a story about their babysitter and every babysitter has at least one in return. Or rather, thousands. Today, we take a look at some of the most entertaining, funny, wholesome, and sometimes sour babysitting experiences people will likely never forget.
Image credits: DaniAndi4
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
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With so many nannies starting to babysit kids as early as high school and university, it’s no wonder that some parents may initially feel reluctant to trust them. And while getting to know your babysitter takes time, if you’re lucky, they will become part of your family you’d never want to part with.
So we reached out to Carly Glendinning, the editor of Absolutely Mama magazine, who shared some useful advice on finding a perfect babysitter/nanny for your child. “Whilst experience and good references are important, finding someone who you and your child get along with is my number one piece of advice,” she said.
#6
Megan Curl 3 years ago
Yup. Same thing happened to me in a creepy little cabin on Cape Cod. My mom was furious. Didn’t get the $50 trouble bonus tho.
According to Carly, it’s important to “make sure you spend time with them before you enter into an agreement, and watch how they interact and play with your little one. You’re likely to know instinctively if they are the right fit for your family.”
When it comes to a perfect babysitter, there are a handful of traits parents may want to be looking for in them. Carly said that someone who is reliable and you can trust is so important. “Energy and enthusiasm are also key. Creativity goes a long way when you are working with little ones, so find out about what kind of activities and play they will organize. A good sitter will be authoritative as well as being attentive and kind.”
“Trust is built up over time,” Carly said and added that “it’s always good to do your research – checking out references and speaking to a babysitter or nanny’s previous employer(s). Using a reputable agency is also important.”
The editor of Absolutely Mama also reminds parents to “make sure you discuss any rules or guidelines fully before you start working together to ensure everyone is on the same page.” She added that finally, parents just have to trust their gut, and if your little ones are old enough, ask them!
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#12
ᴀʟᴇxᴏᴛʟ_ᴛʜᴇɢʀᴇᴀᴛ 3 years ago
I have a sibling, and thankfully if our parents went out we would just watch tv and eat dinner till our parents got home. Only thing is that once my brother made the tv volume at 50, and I have very sensitive hearing, so after I told him he was the biggest a*****e ever and he said to “dEaL wiTh iT” so I told him to deal with this and strangle- punched him. End of story
Emma A 3 years ago (edited)
Wen I was young, my brother 18 months younger than me. I hit my brother often and we'd call each other all sorts of horrible names my mum told me one day he'd be bigger than me and hit back. Well one day we were fighting over the front seat mum heard a thump looked over and I was on the ground. My brother finally hit back and mum said I told you. From then on I stood at a safe distance and threw things at him. Siblings can be so horrible to each other and yet I love my brother and would do anything for him.
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Lyyyy 3 years ago
I also did this, was about 14 years old babysitting siblings aged 13, 10 and 8. Wondered why, but of course I played with them and made sure there were no fights. Had to tell the 13 year old to go to bed at 9:30, and then myself stayed up watching tv and drawing well after midnight when the parents got home and I could go home.
Wondering Alice 3 years ago
I regularly 'baby sat' my nextdoor neighbors kids, even though the oldest was in the year below me at school and the parents didn't start leaving them until the youngest was actually ok to be left. The mum always asked me if I was free to 'judge' rather than babysit - having been babysat by my older sister myself, I agreed.
Hannah Edwards 3 years ago
I never understood it, as a kid, when my friends would physically fight with their siblings. I have two brothers and we never did that.
Trisha Howson 3 years ago
No teenager should not have kids it is hard having kids. I had a kid at 18 barley graduated highschool. But I made it and my kids made it.
#17
"I didn't realize what my sister meant when she warned me that my niece is a "climber." After babysitting her and turning my back for a few minutes, now I know"
WildHoneyPie 3 years ago
Family story has it that my mom couldn't find my older sister when she was about two. She was looking in the kitchen when she heard a giggle and looked up. My sister had climbed to the top of the refrigerator! My mother never did figure out how she managed it.
#22
Lousha 3 years ago
When I was a nanny the 7 year old boy asked me what are those I have there, pointing to my boobs. I told her older girls have those, it's just how we're made. He told me that's not ture, his mom doesn't have them and she's a girl. It was very hard not to laugh. Indeed the women in his family were all slender, on the flat side, and dressed very modestly so with baggy tops a 7 year old didn't notice there was anything going on around their chest.
#23
Crazy Dog Lady 3 years ago
Im a mom of 3-in no way is this acceptable behavior from children. I know you’re joking but if my children did this to anyone there’d be some serious soul searching on all of our parts. Not acceptable my friend.
#26
indiecognition 3 years ago (edited)
Kiddie Slickers. Starring Dr. Heidi Hughes, Billy Crystal, Marv from Home Alone, and 4 little boys.
#28
#31
#34
"My cousin babysits a child who is not very fond of her. She found this letter in his room, he left it on his desk. (Her name is Valerie)"
Isabella 3 years ago
The kids do not have the same perception over these things as the adults, so I think it is too much to call him psychopath. When I am thinking that in so many children tales the "bad" guy was decapitated or killed in other weird manner and the "good" guy lived happy ever after and it looked perfectly normal for me as a kid, but not so normal with my adult mind.
#36
RandomFrog(He/They️️) 3 years ago
50 cents???? Like I enjoy doing dishes so I might do it jsut becuase but I would avoid it out of spite if I was only earning that much!
#37
Nadine Debard 3 years ago
OMG. A 2 yo alone in a bathtub is a MAJOR drowning risk. Never ever let a toddler unattended next to water, and if your teenager doesn't know that, don't ask them to babysit.
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What do you think ?
Miss Kat O 3 years ago
I baby sat a 13 year old and let him watch terminator 2, the thing that horrified him the most in the whole film was the terminator looking through the phone book for sarah connors address... he literally could not believe that we used to have books that contained peoples addresses that were just open to the public
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
I don't know why I love this comment but I do. Aaah prehistoric phone books
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The Starsong Princess 3 years ago
Back in the day, I was babysitting twins. Brandon threw up on Bradley causing Bradley to throw up on Brandon. Then all three of us cried. After that, I got a job at a store.
FlamingoPanda 3 years ago
My first experience babysitting the kid (2 year old boy) managed to fall and nearly land in the pool, the parents definitely should have had the pool covered. That same kid also snuck away from me and I found him trying to flush a bottle down the toilet. He also threw blocks at my head and laughed at me for showing pain. Definitely needed some boundaries set by his parents.
Lee 3 years ago
I was 19 when I was asked to babysit a 9 year old, whose mom was a friend of my aunt's. When I asked the mom about the house rules she said "no Coke after six and make sure her homework is done", then had the audacity to complain at my aunt that I hadn't had the girl do her after school chores, cleaning her room and sweeping the kitchen. My aunt went off on her because the lady said that I should have known the kid would have chores.
SupernaturalPanda 3 years ago
When was I was 13 I babysat for a four year old. The mother was married but he was deployed. She was going to go out with girlfriends. She came home with another man , paid me and I left. Didn’t accept to babysit after that.
KING ILLEGAL FOREST 3 years ago
I was a nanny for these 2 kids for a couple years and one day I taught them how to play pretend. They had never heard of such a thing and were immediately excited. The 10 year old was really into history so he decided "we're playing World War 2, you can be Germany because they lose." So we set up "trenches" in the hallway with couch cushions and used stuffed toys as bombs. Their mother came home in the middle of this and the kid goes "look mom, we're playing World War 2, she's Germany!" They were Jewish.
ChickyChicky 3 years ago
Oh that is cringe. I'm cringing for you. Innocent enough for you, but so cringe.
Load More Replies... The Gingersmurf 3 years ago
My son once babysat his young cousins. He called me in a panic because one of the kids was vomiting. Parents returned home while I was there and I explained the situation. Then my son said, "He never would have thrown up if I had some duct tape." Strangely, they never asked him to babysit again!
That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd 3 years ago
I've babysat for one family quite a bit- three kids (3 56 and 9 i think), and they are angels, i had trouble maybe once, and their parents are amazing. my favorite family to babysit, i would do it anytime, even without pay
Dillon Brown 3 years ago
Such a crazy baby sitting story, but definitely the best of all the ones here! I'm so glad you shared 😂
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Kristal 3 years ago
You're joking, right? You don't babysit your own child, dude.
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Miss Kat O 3 years ago
I baby sat a 13 year old and let him watch terminator 2, the thing that horrified him the most in the whole film was the terminator looking through the phone book for sarah connors address... he literally could not believe that we used to have books that contained peoples addresses that were just open to the public
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
I don't know why I love this comment but I do. Aaah prehistoric phone books
Load More Replies... The Starsong Princess 3 years ago
Back in the day, I was babysitting twins. Brandon threw up on Bradley causing Bradley to throw up on Brandon. Then all three of us cried. After that, I got a job at a store.
FlamingoPanda 3 years ago
My first experience babysitting the kid (2 year old boy) managed to fall and nearly land in the pool, the parents definitely should have had the pool covered. That same kid also snuck away from me and I found him trying to flush a bottle down the toilet. He also threw blocks at my head and laughed at me for showing pain. Definitely needed some boundaries set by his parents.
Lee 3 years ago
I was 19 when I was asked to babysit a 9 year old, whose mom was a friend of my aunt's. When I asked the mom about the house rules she said "no Coke after six and make sure her homework is done", then had the audacity to complain at my aunt that I hadn't had the girl do her after school chores, cleaning her room and sweeping the kitchen. My aunt went off on her because the lady said that I should have known the kid would have chores.
SupernaturalPanda 3 years ago
When was I was 13 I babysat for a four year old. The mother was married but he was deployed. She was going to go out with girlfriends. She came home with another man , paid me and I left. Didn’t accept to babysit after that.
KING ILLEGAL FOREST 3 years ago
I was a nanny for these 2 kids for a couple years and one day I taught them how to play pretend. They had never heard of such a thing and were immediately excited. The 10 year old was really into history so he decided "we're playing World War 2, you can be Germany because they lose." So we set up "trenches" in the hallway with couch cushions and used stuffed toys as bombs. Their mother came home in the middle of this and the kid goes "look mom, we're playing World War 2, she's Germany!" They were Jewish.
ChickyChicky 3 years ago
Oh that is cringe. I'm cringing for you. Innocent enough for you, but so cringe.
Load More Replies... The Gingersmurf 3 years ago
My son once babysat his young cousins. He called me in a panic because one of the kids was vomiting. Parents returned home while I was there and I explained the situation. Then my son said, "He never would have thrown up if I had some duct tape." Strangely, they never asked him to babysit again!
That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd 3 years ago
I've babysat for one family quite a bit- three kids (3 56 and 9 i think), and they are angels, i had trouble maybe once, and their parents are amazing. my favorite family to babysit, i would do it anytime, even without pay
Dillon Brown 3 years ago
Such a crazy baby sitting story, but definitely the best of all the ones here! I'm so glad you shared 😂
Load More Replies... Kristal 3 years ago
You're joking, right? You don't babysit your own child, dude.
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