Like the title says...
We have friends coming into town last minute and were trying to join them for dinner. Our friends that live here have a babysitter. She will be watching their 2 and our other friends 1. The 2 older kids are 6 and the younger is 2. Our little is 5 months and would hopefully sleep the whole time. I'm a bit leary of leaving her with 4 kids to watch.
The restaurant is only 5 min away and we'll take our own car so we could go get lo if necessary
29 votes
grapefruit / 4584 posts
In the house at night as you describe I'd be fine with the 4 to 1 ratio, especially if one (or all) are likely to go to bed at some point. Outside, I'd want a max of 2-3 kids to a sitter, and they'd need to be around the same age so they can do the same things - for example, even my 2 and 4 year old can be a little bit difficult for someone who isn't very experienced to watch at a park, since they often want to do different things.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
I think it depends on the babysitter... but I voted 4:1. We had a babysitter when I was younger and she would keep me and my cousins and there were 6 of us. I also think it depends on the ages too.
In the situation you described I think I'd be ok with it.
nectarine / 2288 posts
Thanks for the imput ladies. I guess I'll have to try and shove my ftm worries in the closet....
nectarine / 2180 posts
@MamaBear87: As a teen I often babysat for 4 kids. I would think that she would be fine with what you described especially because your LO will probably be sleeping and 2 6-year olds can be pretty self-sufficient and may just play together or watch a movie. It's hard not to worry as a FTM!
pear / 1593 posts
Assuming she's a seasoned babysitter, I'd be fine with that! The 2 older kids should be pretty self-sufficient playing together.
honeydew / 7463 posts
I'd be fine with that ratio of the kids if my LO were older. Like 2?. But I think it would be hard to keep track of 6 and 2 year olds while worrying about a 5 month old waking, needing to be fed, etc. Hopefully your LO sleeps but that may not be the case. Esp with some rambunctious older kids. But I was full of anxiety in the newborn stage. Especially about sleep. So I may not be the best judge.
pomelo / 5220 posts
I would be okay with the sitter watching all 4 kids. The 6 year olds just need a movie turned on or an activity set up so its really just a 2 year old and your LO, which I think would be fine!
pomegranate / 3658 posts
It's 4 kids to one adult at daycare, so I'd be fine with that ratio if she's a seasoned babysitter who really knows her stuff and she's comfortable with it. The fact that the baby would be sleeping the whole time helps a lot, as does the fact that you'll be so close.
squash / 13199 posts
yeah 1 adult to 4 kids is the acceptable ratio at our daycare. However thats usually with all kids of certain ages grouped together. I guess it all comes down to how experienced the babysitter is and how they will keep the 6 year olds occupied as well as the 2 year old and still keep an ear and eye out for the baby
coconut / 8430 posts
I would be ok with that scenario at a house where everyone is contained. I wouldn't be ok with so many kids at a park or somewhere the kids could wander off.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
Sounds fine to me personally but you need to do what you're comfortable with.
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