So many people are confused about how to treat a babysitter/nanny when they are in their home. And let me tell you, I completely understand. It can get incredibly awkward if the baby or kids are asleep, and you want to go out for a date night, or whatever, but you're not quite ready yet, and the babysitter/nanny is just sitting there not knowing what to do because its not their house, and its just plain AWKWARD.
Well there is no easy way to get around this except time. Once you get to know your babysitter/nanny you will no longer have to talk about mundane topics like the weather, or popular movies at the theater. This to shall pass. But there are a few things you should know during this process.
The first thing I would like to tell you is to please have food in the refrigerator or freezer for the sitter. If not leave money so they can order in, or order something for them before you leave. Also, if you want to be an awesome family, ask them about a few of their favorite foods beforehand, and have it stocked when the sitter arrives. I have honestly come into a home at 5pm and I'm expected to stay until all hours, and there is literally no food, except maybe boxes of takeout from restaurants (and I'm not going to eat your leftovers!). This sucks for me because I'm starving, I cant leave the house, and food can be really expensive to order in. So stocking up is a VERY nice thing to do for your sitter.
Another wonderful thing to put you above other families would be offering to call a cab, and paying for it, if you live in the city, and the sitters opportunity to drive in not possible due to parking regulations. I have also dealt with this issue while living in the city, and I can honestly say walking a few blocks in the rain or dark, and waiting in the rain or dark for public transportation is miserable. I have had multiple families offer to have a cap pick me up, on their dime, and I was incredibly appreciative. Now I understand that your night just got $20 more expensive, but its worth it to have your sitter want to come back again.
Your home devices are not the same as everyone else. There are so many cable providers out there today, and each one needs an undergraduate degree to work, especially if you have the really pretty control that can make the dog bark, the garage open, and all that :) So the simplest route would be to write down how the remote works for the sitter, with step by step directions if necessary. Because it can get really frustrating reading old magazines because you cant figure out how to work the Cable. Also, if you have WiFi leave your password for the sitter, because undoubtedly if the sitter is there late, they will more than likely bring their computer to cruise the net, catch up on social networking, you know the stuff you pay big bucks for! But honestly, I always forget to ask what the password is, then text them as they are walking out the door. This step just simplifies life a little.
A lot of this stuff pertains more towards the regular babysitter who is older, responsible, and not the 14 year old you hired last minute. I understand that paying babysitters/nannies is expensive, but so are children, and this is just another cost of having them.
Hope the insight helps!
~Kate
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