Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter

Hellobee Boards Topic: How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 03:32:45 +0000 bushelandapeck on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2221325 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 08:00:30 +0000 bushelandapeck 2221325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't have family nearby but we do have a nanny and try to use her about once a month, when it's convenient for her. We've been going out once a month or so since our oldest (almost 3) was 8-ish weeks. It makes a huge difference for our marriage and is totally worth it for us. Greentea on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2221285 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 06:47:31 +0000 Greentea 2221285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We haven't! lamariniere on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2221242 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 02:41:52 +0000 lamariniere 2221242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't have family nearby so we always have to pay a sitter. We go out maybe once a month right now, but I wish it were more like twice a month. It's really a question of getting organized and planning things and lining up the babysitter in time. travellingbee on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2221107 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 21:04:01 +0000 travellingbee 2221107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Every few months I guess. But my parents take him overnight here and there too. BKCaribBaby on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2221103 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 20:58:56 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2221103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 1-2 times per month on a Saturday night mostly. woodentulip on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2221018 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 18:52:41 +0000 woodentulip 2221018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We probably use a sitter about once a month. Sometimes it is for boring stuff, like I have an event to go to but my husband is still working, but sometimes it is for dates. I don't find it super relaxing, but we have had one sitter for a while who I really really like. We also had one sitter who had her boyfriend over without asking and I was never supposed to know. That was terrible. Mamasig on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220968 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 17:07:58 +0000 Mamasig 2220968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We've never used a paid sitter. Only my mom, sister, and MIL have watched the boys. We don't do date nights often - maybe 2-3 times a year. My husband works a shift schedule so when he's off, we spend it all together as a family. Zbug on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220911 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 15:28:17 +0000 Zbug 2220911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Ummmm never, unfortunately. Tidybee on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220880 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 14:00:08 +0000 Tidybee 2220880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We probably pay for a sitter every other month. We also see our families about once a month and try to use them as babysitters when we are in town visiting. lemondrop on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220874 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 13:46:01 +0000 lemondrop 2220874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We haven't so far, but the boys are starting to get to ages where I'll be more comfortable about it. So far we just use family a few times a year, but we're going to figure out a sitter eventually. Maybe one of my former students? Figuring out who is just another added issue since I'm not really comfortable with something like care.com. 2littlepumpkins on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220863 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 13:19:48 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2220863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @regberadaisy: yeah for us, MIL has helped a lot but she doesn't follow our rules for LO, she can be somewhat unreliable (comes early when she feels like it...ie when I don't really want anyone over...and has bailed on days we were really looking forward to) and she tends to be a little controlling or at least gives way too many opinions. I just think we need to do it on our own. None of our other family nearby would really know what to do with a toddler and soon to be newborn. @Cherrybee: I get it, I was in that mindset for awhile, but I think sometimes you just have to go for it. You don't have to stay out all night but maybe just plan to give each other breaks the next day, or do a daytime thing (which is what we've usually done.) Corduroy on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220829 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 11:56:47 +0000 Corduroy 2220829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We've only paid for a sitter once and LO is almost 2.5. It was for a family wedding and we used our DCP. I would have been open to hiring some of the neighborhood teenagers for her, especially after bedtime, but DH doesn't trust them with his electronics (mixed up priorities?). Now that we have a newborn again I don't think we're going anywhere for a long time. Mrs. Lion on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220823 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 11:47:17 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2220823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't have family close by so we have several teenage babysitters we trust. we have a sitter so that we can go to our church small group every other week and then we try to do 2 date nights per month either alone or out with friends. Its important to me that we have time as a couple and it makes me feel more at ease that there are other people that can put my kids to bed. gingerbebe on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220811 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 11:00:47 +0000 gingerbebe 2220811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We go on a weekly date. My mother is our nanny 3 days a week and we pay her a wage. Anything after an 8 hour day is overtime so we pay her $15 an hour. DS is sleeptrained and she knows his sleep routine so we leave around 6 or 630pm, DS goes down at 730pm, and we are usually home at 830 or 9pm. This started around when DS was a little over 4 months and he's just shy of 10 months now. We usually go to dinner, chat, and then maybe stroll around somewhere and get ice cream or do some shopping. It's nice and relaxing when we get home because after DS is asleep my mother does the bottle wash and dishes and we can just come home and putter until bedtime. DH feels strongly about date night - as a kid his parents always went out to eat on Friday nights and if they couldn't find or afford a sitter they took all the kids with them but it was always a weekly thing. So the $30-45 is worth it to us. We don't have cable TV and we don't have hobbies that take us outside the home during the week and we feel it's important to our marriage so we eat at inexpensive places and stick to it. Rockies11 on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220778 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 08:55:45 +0000 Rockies11 2220778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We usually don't use a sitter unless we have an event, which happens maybe twice a year? We go on dates usually when we have family visiting, so that happens every couple of months. Although since we had LO#2, we have had 3 date nights with family watching them, and we have ended up bringing her along with us for one reason or another all 3 times! Which is totally fine because she's still pretty newborn so she sleeps the whole time. But I feel a lot less sexy with a baby strapped to me on date night, lol. Anagram on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220694 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 06:41:04 +0000 Anagram 2220694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Cherrybee: That's the problem with babysitters for me, too! We always have early-nights when we have a babysitter, and even so, when I get home I have to drive the babysitter home. UGH. It's not far--maybe a mile or less. But it's about 13 stop signs/lights so it takes longer than it should! looch on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220676 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 05:29:01 +0000 looch 2220676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I refuse to pay for a sitter, we have family but I don't like to abuse the privilege so we rarely go out at night. Instead, we do daytime dates, during the workweek. Cherrybee on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220664 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 02:40:56 +0000 Cherrybee 2220664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We finally found a babysitter last November and have used her twice so far - neither time for date nights! One was my choir's Christmas concert (I wanted DH to come and watch for a change) and one was a friend's birthday party. The thing with a paid babysitter is that they go away when you get home! So you've still got to get up with your LO in the morning. If you're had a late night or a few drinks, you feel dreadful the next day. Date nights are a thing of the past, I think. Bubbles on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220663 Sun, 28 Jun 2015 02:30:29 +0000 Bubbles 2220663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We haven't been on even one date night in 18 months! Although we did go to a wedding where we put DS down in the hotel room and paid a sitter to sit just outside the door with the baby monitor. I am just such a wuss about leaving DS with someone else to put him to bed, even though he's very good about bedtime. Need to work on this! matador84 on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220587 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 21:46:57 +0000 matador84 2220587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We've been trying to go more since the kids are older now...almost 3 and 1.5 years. I'd say about every other month or so. Well worth it! Andrea on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220586 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 21:45:15 +0000 Andrea 2220586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Maybe 2x a year or so? I don't like paying for a sitter. We don't need to get out that badly so we usually only do it when we get free tickets to something through DH's work. Those are hard to pass up since it's always great box seats! T-Mom on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220585 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 21:44:23 +0000 T-Mom 2220585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We go monthly and utilize the parents night out at my DS's gymnastics place. Only downside is that it ends at 9:30 and the kids are wired since it's way past bed time. lady grey on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220576 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 21:15:31 +0000 lady grey 2220576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MrsF: yes, you should totally ask your friend about it. Its awesome! I always have my friend come over right after my LO goes to sleep, so she doesn't have to do anything, just relax. Same when I go to her house. We started this when LO was about 6 months and was more reliably sleeping a long stretch or sttn. regberadaisy on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220572 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 21:03:28 +0000 regberadaisy 2220572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @sunny: can you try a sitter? regberadaisy on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220568 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:58:43 +0000 regberadaisy 2220568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MrsF: a mom friend and I have talked about it. Once DD2 starts going to bed by herself I can see it working! :) And I agree, alone couple time is so important! Especially when your toddler is in the terrible threenager threes. LOL sunny on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220567 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:56:47 +0000 sunny 2220567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO is nearly 3 and we have done 1 :-( We dropped her off at a play center and she had a terrible time so I don't think we'll try it again for awhile. MrsF on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220564 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:54:34 +0000 MrsF 2220564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @lady grey: I'm hoping to trade date nights with a mom friend once both of our babies are a little older. I feel a little weird bringing it up but I can totally see it working! MrsF on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220563 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:53:00 +0000 MrsF 2220563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH and I were just talking about this today. We're going through a minor rough patch and we're going to try to do a date night twice a month just to have some time to focus on us. My parents went out by themselves every Thursday night my entire childhood. As a kid I thought it was a little crazy (although I don't ever remember minding having a sitter) but now I totally get it. They still have an amazing marriage. lady grey on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220561 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:48:28 +0000 lady grey 2220561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We didn't live near any family from the time LO was 0-18mo so we paid for a babysitter about one night per month. I also would trade babysitting for date nights with one of my mom friends. Now we're in a new town and live about 1.5 hrs from family. So we're still able to do a date night with family babysitting about once a month, or a little less. And I have a new mommy friend to trade babysitting with...in fact thats what I am doing right now! regberadaisy on "How often do you go on date nights if you pay for a sitter" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-often-do-you-go-on-date-nights-of-you-pay-for-a-sitter#post-2220558 Sat, 27 Jun 2015 20:41:40 +0000 regberadaisy 2220558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @2littlepumpkins: yeah....we have family nearby too. Isn't it sad we have to pay for a sitter?! But my ILs just can't ..... And BIL is too busy lately so it's hard to coordinate. @Foodnerd81: haha going on over 3 years and we've gone on maybe 3? And that's a non relaxing rush home to put baby down for bed kind of date night. I've gotten to the point where I'm saying f it. It's worth the alone time especially when my toddler isn't asleep till 930 and baby still wakes up at night.