https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:28:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1280183 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:19:49 +0000 mediagirl 1280183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great responses, thank you! I like the idea of saying, "there are chips and pretzels in the pantry and some ice cream in the freezer if you get the munchies..." We also have drinks I'll show her. I'm leaving cookies out on the counter. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1280160 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 14:12:54 +0000 regberadaisy 1280160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: have SO much fun tonight you party animal! ;) You guys deserve it!!!!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1280066 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:38:50 +0000 Corduroy 1280066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I babysat I usually brought my own snack but if they left me food I preferred if they pointed out "there are granola bars in the cupboard" or "candy in the drawer." I would never feel comfortable just helping myself to "something" in the pantry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1280039 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 13:26:37 +0000 littlecasita1122 1280039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always feel bad because we have no snacks in our house and I forget to stock up before she comes over! She doesn't seem to mind, though, we usually don't have her come over until 7:30pm anyways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279694 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:52:47 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1279694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where I babysat, I was always told to help myself!</p> <p>I told our babysitter that, too, but she's gluten free. Now I pick up pre-approved snacks for her!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279684 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:50:21 +0000 MapleMoose 1279684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I used to babysit it was always nice when the parents told me to help myself. I usually didn't and maybe had a small snack or a soda or something, but it was nice when they offered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279608 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:32:13 +0000 Modern Daisy 1279608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always felt weird when I was told "just help yourself". It was much better when the parents would say "This specific food item is yours". </p> <p>We never actually specified to our Nanny what is and is not okay for her to eat, but we give her $ to buy her own lunch and told her it's fine to keep her food in our fridge. I think she eats a canned soup here or there but for the most part she'll go out for lunch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279591 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:28:46 +0000 LalaYes 1279591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That depends on if you have food that you don't want her to eat. One of my friends keeps a special stash of mommy candy in her freezer and her baby sitter keeps eating it. </p> <p>I've never thought of setting out snacks before, that's nice idea, or maybe just naming things that you are OK with her eating. Or, if everything is game, a good ol' "help yourself" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279587 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:27:55 +0000 sorrycharlie 1279587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was always told to help myself but still felt weird doing so. </p> <p>I felt a lot more comfortable with wording such as, "I bought you a frozen pizza - I also picked up some chips (or whatever) for you if you would like them!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279574 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:25:31 +0000 LuLu Mom 1279574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually buy snacks and have pop on hand, and just tell them to help themselves to anything! I usually order pizza too if it's over dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279560 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:23:40 +0000 blackbird 1279560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never left food out specifically for our sitter (she usually brings fast food over) but I've told her to help herself. She never has. I would never just help myself to a client's pantry </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279538 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:19:52 +0000 Andrea 1279538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: does she leave crumbs? I don't mind her eating whatever, but all the crumbs...argh!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279522 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:16:44 +0000 Smurfette 1279522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a babysitter for most of the afternoon and evening once. She is one of her teachers (sssh, don't tell we aren't supposed to do that) and I asked her what she wanted for dinner. So I had that, then told her to help herself to anything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279506 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:12:52 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1279506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just check your pantry and make sure there is nothing there that you wouldn't mind her opening. I remember once when we were kids my mom got upset because a babysitter opened a package of chocolates that my mom was saving as a gift for someone. My mom couldn't be mad because she said "help yourself" but just remember that someone else may take that literally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279499 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:11:36 +0000 autumnlove 1279499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: same! My MIL doesn't hold back when she watches the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279468 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 11:04:00 +0000 psw27 1279468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Whenever I babysat they told me I could eat anything I wanted but I never did unless they provided me dinner that I ate with the child when I came from work. I felt weird going through their pantry for some reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279426 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:54:35 +0000 buffalove 1279426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had this first "milestone" a month ago! I told her to help herself to any snacks, ice cream, etc. Earlier this week I knew she came directly from work, so I also told her to help herself to some dinner leftovers we had, and I was very happy when she did.</p> <p>As a former babysitter, good snack houses were my fave! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279415 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:52:24 +0000 MamaMoose 1279415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep the house decently stocked (frozen pizza in the freezer, snacks in the cupboard, soda in the fridge) and tell her to help herself to anything she'd like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279412 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:51:55 +0000 Andrea 1279412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say help yourself. Our babysitter usually raids the pantry while my kids are sleeping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babysitter-newbie-question#post-1279409 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 10:50:26 +0000 mediagirl 1279409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have our very first non-family baby sitter coming over tonight! Obviously we will pay her when we get home. My question is...do we leave her snacks? Tell her to help herself to whatever she would like in our fridge? </p> <p>She's babysitting a sleeping child. :) </p>