It’s no secret that raising children is far from cheap. Between diapers, clothes, food, childcare and everything else that comes with keeping a little human happy and healthy, the costs can quickly pile up. Some parents, however, seem determined to save money wherever they can, even when it comes at someone else’s expense.
We’ve gathered some absolutely ridiculous babysitting requests and expectations from entitled parents who had no shame about asking for far too much. Scroll down to see them for yourself, and upvote the ones you found the most outrageous.
#1 This Is Not A Babysitting Job
#2 I Want A Free Nanny. But She Has To Pay Me For The Honour Of Babysitting My Children
#3 75 Cents An Hour For Babysitting
Even the most devoted parents sometimes need someone else to take over for a few hours. They may be heading to an event or simply hoping to enjoy a rare evening out. Babysitters make that possible, yet their work is not always treated with the respect it deserves.
A 2019 survey sponsored by the US Nanny Institute found that some childcare providers felt disrespected by their employers and stuck in poorly paid positions. The requests in this list show how easily some parents can forget how much responsibility the job involves.
#4 The Second I Saw “Someone Who Is Looking Into Babysitting” I Knew She Was Looking For Free Childcare
#5 AIO For Demanding To Be Paid After Wearing Something Inappropriate To Babysit
hi! i am 15 and have been babysitting this family for over a year. they are more on the conservative side, and a lot more religious than my family, but they are generally nice and i love their kids. i did not receive payment from them the last time i babysat, and so i reached out and they are now saying they will not pay me the full price because i was wearing something inappropriate. just wondering if i am overreactingreacting for context, i was wearing a sweatshirt over my tanktop (3rd pic) and only took it off after the kids asked me to run around with them. i babysat from 4 to 10:30, and normally charge 15 dollars w a 5 dollar increase per kid, so 20 dollars for 2 kids.
#6 Absolute Human Vermin
At the end of the day, babysitting is work, not a hobby. That is why many sitters have plenty they wish parents understood before leaving their children with them.
When childcare providers spoke to SheKnows, one of the biggest points they raised was the need for clear and realistic expectations. Parents should explain the household rules in advance, rather than expecting a sitter to enforce rules the children rarely follow when they are home.
#7 Babysit My 3 Month Old For 12 Hours A Day For $10
#8 Apply Your Expensive Master’s Degree To Babysitting Four Children For $6.67 An Hour
#9 Pay My Rent And Babysit For Me Too
The same clarity should apply to the actual duties involved. Some parents expect babysitters to clean the house while also watching the children, even though those are two separate jobs.
As one caregiver told SheKnows, families often try to combine caregiving and housekeeping while paying for only one. Any extra tasks should be discussed beforehand and reflected in the rate.
#10 Anyone Who Will Voluntarily Babysit For 65 Cents An Hour Does Not Have Your Child’s Best Interest At Heart
#11 Free Live In Nanny? (They Came For Her In The Comments)
#12 Pay You $450 For The Fantastic Opportunity To Babysit Your Kid?!
Parents should also expect their children to act a little differently once they leave. One nanny told SheKnows that children often behave better for her because she sets firm boundaries and follows through with them kindly.
A sitter may use a different approach, and that can be perfectly fine as long as everyone agrees on the important rules. Sharing useful details about bedtime or difficult behavior can make the evening much easier.
#13 $10 A Day To Babysit?? How Is This The Normal Rate???
#14 Babysitting A 2 Month Old For $2.78 An Hour
#15 Pay Us Rent To Babysit Our Kids! Room Available Monday To Friday Only
Respecting a babysitter’s time matters just as much. Several childcare providers told SheKnows that parents sometimes return much later than promised or ask them to stay longer at the last minute.
Occasional delays are understandable, although they should not become a habit. Parents who plan to return very late should also think about how the sitter will get home safely.
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#16 Looking For A Babysitter Who Will Be Payed With Music Production From A Culty Church
#17 Craigslist Beggar Wanting Free Babysitting And A Job
#18 Aio? Parents Want Me To Babysit My 18 Year Old Sister When I Don’t Have Much Spare Time
My (32F) parents and grandmothers are going on a week long cruise starting on 8/31. They haven’t mentioned anything about keeping tabs on my younger sister. Tonight, my mum texted me this. Maybe I was a bit blunt, but I honestly don’t understand what she wants me to do. My sister is 18 and I physically can’t be home until 5 pm. My parents called me (they’re prone to getting loud and intense) and I said she can stay with me so I can see her in the evenings and she won’t have to sleep alone. My mum said “so she’s just going to be alone m?” And I said “for most of the day, yes”. And she said “wow, ok”. My dad was in the background yelling at me. I am a people pleaser and my parents put a lot of their responsibilities on me as a child. They are used to me bending over backwards for them and putting their/my sisters’ needs before mine. This is probably the first boundary I’ve set. Anyway, this whole situation pissed me off and I said “This is wild. Make it make sense” which made them more mad. I got off the phone and blocked them for the night because what I’m not going to do is let them stress me out. I came a long way with my mental health for this. Am I overreacting? Is there something more I can do?
Payment is another subject that should never be left until the end of the night. Babysitters who spoke to Mamamia said they were often asked if they were available without being told how much they would earn.
Some felt uncomfortable having to name their own price once the parents returned. Agreeing on the rate and hours in advance prevents confusion and helps everyone know exactly what they are accepting.
#19 “I Need Someone To Constantly Watch My Three Children, Not Babysit Anyone Else, All For The Great Price Of $70/Week. Thanks!”
#20 Less Than $2 Per Hour Babysitting, From The Same Woman Who Bragged She Just Bought A Lexus
#21 Cb Will Pay $100 For 57 Hours Of Babysitting, For Two Kids Under 4. Oh And They Stay With You
Trust ties all of these points together. Babysitters told SheKnows that repeated check-in calls can make it harder to concentrate and may leave them feeling watched. Most caregivers want children to feel comfortable and safe, and they appreciate helpful feedback from parents.
Clear communication and fair treatment can turn babysitting into a much better experience. It also makes it easier for parents to leave knowing their children are in capable hands.
#22 $3/Hr To Babysit Your 5 Year Old? Yeah No Thanks…
#23 Local Babysitting Group, ~$2/Hour Opportunity!!
#24 Choosy Mom Offers $2 An Hour To Babysit 3 Kids!!!
#25 Pay 900 A Month To Be A Live In Nanny For 3 Kids Under 11
#26 Babysit 4 Kids 30+hrs A Week For $375
#27 Babysitting Petsitting Bundle, All For The Glorious Price Of $5 Per Hour
#28 Woman Wants Infant Care For $3/Hour Because She’s A Single Mom That Iives With Her Father And He Won’t Watch The Kid. Also Justifies The Payrate Because She Only Made $100 A Week Back 15 Years Ago When She Babysat For Someone. Late Shift, Expects Babysitter To Also Drop Off And Pickup Said Child
She had originally posted this last week and edited it when people told her that $130 was far too little to pay to watch an infant. Especially wanting you to drop that kid off after midnight. States her dad will be home to take the kid even if she stays out later and that he just doesn’t want to babysit for her. Someone did offer to babysit for $200 a week but she pretty much ignored the woman’s offer since it’s out of her budget….
#29 I’m Going To Spend Thousands On A Family Cruise But Expect You To Watch My Kids For Free Because “My Children Are Not A Job”
#30 Neighbor Generously Offers Free, Faster WI-Fi For Kids To Do Schoolwork. Choosing Beggar Wants To Parlay That Into Free Babysitting, Gets Rude When Told No
#31 $2.50 An Hour To Babysit Their Child!
#32 Overnight Babysitting For Free!
#33 They Want 7+ Hours Of Babysitting For $20 A Day
#34 Willing To Pay “A Couple Bucks” Per “Hang Out Session” With My Fabulous Child!
#35 Watch My Kid For 50+hrs A Week For $100 Each Week…also, Have 3 Years Babysitting Experience And Preferably A Cpr Certificate
#36 Paying You To Babysit Is “A Deal Breaker Sorry No”
#37 My Neighbour. Oh And By “Sit In Her House” She Means Babysit Her Two Very High Needs Children
#38 Babysitter Choosing Beggars; People Should Just Babysit For Free!!
#39 Come Babysit My 4 Kids 5 Days A Week For The Competitive Rate Of $5/Hr
#40 Another One “Cheap Board In Exchange For Babysitting”
#41 Must Be Certified To Babysit For Less Than Minimum Wage
#42 $30 A Day For 8 Hours And 2 Kids, Am I Crazy Or Is This Ridiculous?
#43 Babysit And Be A Speech Therapist For $5/Hour Plz
#44 $3.41 An Hour To Babysit Three Kids
#45 Come Babysit My Kids And Help Make Me Famous!
#46 I Would Love To Spend My Friday Nights Babysitting A 2-Year-Old For Next To Nothing
#47 Insane Person On Facebook And Choosing Beggar And Name Tragedeigh— All In One!
#48 CB Wants Somebody To Watch Their Toddler For $3.33 An Hour
#49 Must Have A Bachelors Degree To Babysit My House
#50 Iso Cheap Babysitter
#51 $2.47 An Hour To Babysit My 9 Month Old Baby. Gets Upset When People Tell Her That’s Way Too Little For Such A Young Baby. Of Course She’s A Single Mom And Can’t Afford More Yet Her Profile Shows Weekly Trips To The Bar With Drinks In Hand
#52 Babysitting At 4am For $2/Hr
#53 You Can Babysit My Child For $5/Hr, Maximum $7/Hr
#54 Rules Provided For Free Babysitting
#55 You = Reliable Car + Drivers License + Babysitting Experience. Us = We Pay $4.54/Hour
#56 Watch My Son For $5 An Hour
#57 Exploiting Teens
#58 CB Wants To Pay $3.70/Hr For Babysitting Her 2 Kids
#59 Lady Wants To Pay $4 An Hour For Babysitting
#60 Didn’t Remove The Group Name, So Here’s Try Number 2. 3 Dollars And Hour To Babysit
#61 Babysit My Kid Full Time And I’ll Pay You $30 A Day! $3 An Hour, Such A Steal!
#62 Babysit My Son For Less Than $2 An Hour!
#63 $250 A Week For 69 Hours Babysitting, And She Is Playing The Single Mom Sympathy Card
#64 I Am Absolutely Flabbergasted That This Person Would Ask Ppl To Watch Her 2 Kids For 10 Hours A Day At 2 Dollars An Hour. Be Fr
#65 Work 40 Hrs A Week Babysitting A 10 Mo Old And Cleaning, Make $200 A Week
#66 Babysit My Kid For 20$/Day
#67 Babysit 3 Kids For Under Minimum Wage! But You Must Have Experience And Be Alcohol Free
#68 Woman Wants To Pay Up To $45 Dollars For 8 Hours Of Babysitting In An Area Where Minimum Wage Is $14.25
#69 $3 An Hour To Babysit 4 Kids??
#70 Mom In My Hometown Wants Someone To Babysit Her Kid For $30/Day, But Must Be Available 14 Hours A Day
#71 Crazy Lady Wants To Pay Less Than $2 An Hour For Babysitting
#72 Lady Wants To Pay Peanuts For Someone To Babysit 2 Kids For 10 Hours A Day
#73 I Pay $2.75 An Hour For A 9 Hour Babysitting Shift. Who’s Interested?!? Smh
#74 My Cousin Says “Nobody Wants To Work Anymore” After Getting No Hits On Her Help Wanted Posts. It’s Taking All My Self Control To Tell Her It’s An Insane Request
#75 She Has A Two Month Old, But Yes It’ll Be The Easiest Job Ever
#76 Passive Aggressive Post After No One Would Babysit Free Of Charge
#77 No Personal Phone Use And $15 Per Hour For 2 Kids
#78 Woman Offering To Babysit For $6.25 An Hour Is Apparently Too Expensive
#79 Just Another Beggar Looking For Cheap Babysitting
#80 Be ‘On Call’ To Babysit Two Toddlers For $2.50/Hr? Yikes
