Do You Drive Your Babysitters?

Sometimes my babysitter's mom drops her off and I actually feel guilty. Though it is a huge inconvience for us, the mother didn't accept her daughter's job and they should not be inconvience because you or I need a babysitter.

I never expected my sitters to find their own ride - I had hired them, not their parents, so why would I expect the parents to go out of their way to drive them. If my sitters could drive, they did. When my own girls began babysitting, they were always picked up and dropped off, unless there was a prearranged agreement occassionally. I also felt that when my girls drove to someone's house, they were actually paid more as a thank you. Families always treated them well and really appreciated what they did.

When I babysat families who were out of my neighborhood would pick me up and bring me home until I was old enough to drive myself.

I guess I am more with you on this one. When I used to babysit as a teenager my parents would always drive me. I guess I see it a different way. You accept a job (babysitting or otherwise) you need to find a way to get there. You wouldn't accept a job at a business and then expect them to come and pick you up for work then take you back home after your shift??

Yes, we usually have driven sitters when they are underage or don't have a car. That's also one of our first questions when interviewing a new sitter - the convenience factor is huge!

If you aren't using a local next door neighbor kid, then I think it's only responsible to drive them home, especially at nighttime.

Have you considered using 18+/community college students? I have found them to be more reliable, have less school activities (like prom and soccer practice), I trust them more with being responsible/knowing what to do, working the oven and handling more children. It's really been great for us since they are also available later at night and during the daytimes since they don't always have school from 8am-3pm.

BTW - if you DO have to drive a sitter home late at night, do yourself a favor and make sure YOU drive them home, not your husband. I have heard of "issues" with an older male driving an under-aged female home at night.

I always babysat within walking distance :-) a few houses down and my mom or dad would come outside and watch me if it was late at night. When I was about 13 I got an afterschool babysitting job. I walked there (this was a few blocks away) but at night the mom or dad that I was working for would drive me home. Same when they moved a few miles away. I would find transportation there but they would bring me home at night (around 10-11pm)

when I was a babysitter, I was always picked up/dropped off by the parents until I was old enough to drive. I started when I was 12.

I don't think it's a new thing either. I remember my parents driving the babysitter home (guess I was not in bed yet! lol). What about an extra 5 bucks if they get their own ride to & from?

Yes, you're being too picky. You need the sitter, you have to get them. If they are not old enough to drive, how do you expect them to get there? I am the parent of a 15 year old, and I certainly don't need the inconvenience of using my time and my gas to drive her to or from a babysitting job, I'm not the one who needs the sitter. How do you expect them to get to you if you don't pick them up? I would pick up my daughter from a babysitting job if the parents had been drinking when they were out. When my kids were young and we used sitters, we assumed responsibility for picking up the sitter and taking her home. It would never have occurred to me to expect someone else to need to use their time when I am the one who needed the babysitter.
The sitter's mom may be out and about, but if they are at the orthodontist and you are 20 minutes away, that means 40 extra minutes for her in the car and that mom may have just as many things to do as you. Sorry if you feel that sounds harsh, but I can't see why the sitter's parents should be inconvenienced. Maybe you need to find closer sitters or ones who are old enough to drive.

I always had to find my way to the babysitting job, but if it was late night usually the dad drove me home. By finding my way I mean I took the bus or walked. Didn't occur to me or my mom to ask the parents of the kid that I sat for to pick me up. I guess you should be looking for liscensed sitters instead, if it is not possible for you to pick them up.

Yes this is normal. Maybe you would be better suited to find a babysitter for the time being that strictly only drives OR work out something with her parents where they can either drop off or pick up.

When I was a kid, I babysat for lots of people. They always picked me up and brought me home.
Both of my kids babysat.
Same thing.
My son is able to walk to some of the places he babysits, but if it's late, the parents bring him home.
You know when you get a teenager that they can't drive.
My kids are 10 years apart. My daughter was babysitting when my son was a baby. No one ever expected me to provide transportation so she could watch their kids.
Old school?
I don't know how old you are but transportation was always part of it in my experience.
As far as I know, it's standard procedure to provide transportation for teenagers. I do know it can be an inconvenience.
Maybe you can find someone older to watch your kids.

Best wishes.

WOW, Yes you need to pick the sitter up and take her home, That's how it worked back in the day for me (early 80's). And the same went for both my daughters when they were in their teens. If you want a sitter who can Drive or be Driven to your home are you willing to pay for gas. What about your spouse can't he take the sitter home?

I remember my parents picking up and dropping off. The babysitters parents night should not be interrupted at all by your date night. Even though that stinks. It's why we havent used a sitter. And I'd rather drive my daughter when she is old enough, but it is what it is. If I can't get someone who is driving to come to my house, I'd rather not go...it's just too much!

The sitter I sometimes have to pick up/drop off is $7 an hour. My sitter that can drive is $10 an hour. I call the $7 girl first every time and will gladly offer to pick her up or take her home.

I was always picked up and dropped off by the parents I babysat for....until I got my license.
Since you are asking for the service, you automatically are responsible for the "inconvenience" of going to get the sitter. The parents of the sitter should not have to spend the time or money for your convenience.

Picking up a babysitter is NOTHING new... 25 years ago I remember my parents picking up the babysitter and dropping her back off. Must often they did not have a car and their babysitting cost per hour was cheapier since you picked them up and dropped them off. When I started babysiting around 12 I needed to be picked up/dropped off because I did not have a car, most the time my parents would drop me off and then the people I baby sat for would take me home. I got a car around 18, with my babysitting money so I could drive myself.

Honestly if you do not want to do a pick up/drop up higher someone older and you will pay more then. Simple as that ask them if they have a car and drive here and home when babysitting.

I babysat quite a bit when I was 15-19. The family's I babysat for either picked me up both ways or I walked there and they drove me home afterward. As a mother now, I would expect to do the same thing.

when i babysat, only one family ever drove me, and that was because i was 14, and they lived about 10 minutes away. It was my mom's boss, and she went in later than my mom did, so she knew that she had to drive me, and then her husband brought me home when he got hom in the afternoon.

that was the only one. I normally only babysat the people in the neighborhood that i could walk to. The one family would drive me home at night, though it wsa only about 6 houses down, but they felt safer driving me at night than me walking.

I never would ask someone to a ride. i would really try to find some people more college age, that have their own ways of transportation. i have my in laws to babysit the kids, and they even come and pick the kids up for me as well as me taking them there. if i didnt' use them, i would want someone who could drive themself.

It depends. When I was a teenager I did a lot of babysitting. I babysat for the people who lived across the street and around the block. Those people I was able to walk to. Then they gave my name to friends of theirs and those people lived miles away. I was fine with sitting for them. But I did not drive yet. If they needed me they had to come and get me. Usually the dad picked me up and dropped me off so the mom could do whatever needed doing for the kids. I don't think it is at all out of line for a teenager who doesn't drive to say yes I can sit but you have to get me. You might want to look closer in your neighborhood for a sitter if its a hassle to go and get them or drive them home.

Ya find someone else. Its not like they're doing you a favor, they're getting paid! Many parents are not good at teaching their kids to be polite and thoughtful, and what's up with the mom allowing her kid to do that? If you're going to pick her up and drive her home, it would make more sense to drop your kids off there (we've done that with sitters before) and then pick them up when you're done - I assume that you're going out somewhere.

Hope that's helpful. Its tough to find a good sitter for your kids. If its for a routine date night, maybe you can find a family that will trade date nights with you. You watch their kids for them and they for you. My friends do this and its pretty easy. And you don't have to pay them since you're returning the favor. Also more responsible then a teenager.

I have noticed this, too. If fact, it's the reason we haven't had a date night in 6 months. I think the reason is that the kids that DO drive and have a vehicle work at a "job". For the ones who don't drive, the parents don't want to drive them around, but the kids still want to make money.

Added: I agree with your comparison to the mall job. I would never pay gas money to a babysitter. That is something they need to figure out on their own, just like any other job.

I can't imagine hiring someone, then expecting their parents to bring them to my house for me. I'm hiring the kid, not the parent. I have never had a parent drop off their daughter to babysit, nor would I expect that. I also have two daughters, one of whom has babysat, and I never dropped her off or picked her up at one of her babysitting jobs. When I babysat back in the 70s/80s I was always picked up and dropped off so I don't think you're old school. I just think you are expecting something you really shouldn't.

When I was a teenager (20 years ago), the people I babysat for picked me up and dropped me off until I was old enough to drive and had a car of my own. I don't recall ever actually asking them for that. They wanted me to babysit and knew I wasn't old enough to drive so they just offered.

One of the girls that watches my son was babysitting for friends of mine before she was old enough to drive. Her parents suggested that the family pick her up since the kids would still be up and then her mom or dad would pick her up from their house since their kids would now be asleep.

When I babysat the parents always came and got me and brought me home and when I started needing a babysitter I just expected to have to do the same thing. Some of the parents the first time they sit with my kids bring them so they know where we live and can meet us if they don't know us very well. I sure hope you aren't paying the babysitters $10 an hour we pay between $3 and $5 and my babysitters eat what the kids are having for dinner. The amount depends on the age and experience of the sitter. We get most of our sitters from church also and a couple can drive and if they offer to then I let them but the option of me driving them is always there. My husband is usually not home when I need them so I do have to get my kids up or keep them up so we can all go and we all do still survive.

My daughter is 15 and just started babysitting. The parents always pick up my daughter and bring her home although I told them that I can bring her. But I have 5 kids and an infant so maybe they're thinking that they don't want to inconvenience me. =) To me, if it's easier to have them be dropped off and picked up, that you could ask them to do that or find someone who will. =) I'd drop my kid off and pick up assuming you were close. If you were far, I'd have my daughter decline... Good luck!

I think it depends how desperately you want a sitter. I would be willing to pick-up/drop-off for certain events I really want to go to. If my own daughter was babysitting I would try to drive her, but then again the parents have lives to and may not be able to drive their kid to a babysitting job. Its give and take. If you really want that sitter you might just have to drive them. My husband has had to drive 40 minutes to pick up his brother to babysit because he doesn't have a car (he's 25 though). But he babysits for free so that's worth it to us. I suppose a babysitter with reliable transportation would be worth more money than one without.

I know you're annoyed that the mother who is home won't drive her daughter to your house, but some parents don't like to drive their kids everywhere, or maybe they have other plans. My mother never wanted to drive me anywhere, I used to walk 30 minutes up a highway just to get to my after school job then try to bum a ride home from someone at work.

We have typically picked up sitters not old enough to drive - but it is wonderful to have sitters that can drive (or live very nearby and can walk). If there are not two adults in your household, however, it does make things considerably more difficult. There's nothing wrong with asking if they can get a ride either. If they can, great! It would help, even if it's not every time.

I have never heard of that I think its rude if there parents are there and i wouldn't pay them for the first n last hr of baby sitting because of the transportation I can see maybe onc ein a while if the parent isn't there but not ever time. Especially if the parent is home or there already driving there child

We always offered to pick up and drop off our sitters. It was worth it to us to have a good sitter. Often they didn't need it; their parents would do it, but we did offer.

We have one sitter who doesn't drive. Her mom drops her off, then we drive her home.

Who was the one to initiate picking your sitter up from the jump? Babysitting is a job, which means your employee is responsible for her own transportation.

I never drove to my babysitting jobs! (Even when I was old enough and had my own car.) The parents always picked me up and brought me home. If your babysitter is driving to your house, I hope you pay him/her a premium for driving!

I do have to say none of the families were single moms or dads, where it would be very difficult when the children are in bed to bring a babysitter home.

And I do realize babysitters now a days get paid much better than I ever did. I just think it's a lot to ask to have a teenager drive to your house.

Are you kidding me?? I babysat from the time I was 12 to 20 and before I drove I was ALWAYS picked up and dropped off by the family. I had four kids and ALWAYS picked up and drove home the sitter unless she had a car. My girls babysit and they get picked up by the family or they don't babysit. You hire my kids, NOT ME. When my girls got jobs in a retail store I drove them, but it was MY GIRLS that wanted to work in the store, not THE STORE wanting my girls to work for them. If a family wants my girls to work for them, come get them.

I have only taken one of my 15 yr old babysitters home at the end of the evening, because we got home so late, and it would have been an inconvenience to her parents to pick her up at midnight. But I NEVER picked her up. I think you should tell her she needs to be dropped off, or you'll find a new sitter!