Vegas with Kids

We took the kids to Vegas when they were little -- we all had fun. There are lots of things for kids to do. No judgment here.

We did use a hotel babysitting service once, and I was nervous but it was fine. Don't recall the service, though. Have fun!

I might be inclined to use care.com or SeekingSitters.com to find a local babysitter in Las Vegas. That way you can pick the sitter.

There are two routes. There are sitter services or hotels with Kidquest.

Kidquest is only available in some hotels. They require a birth certificate & shot record. Call before you leave home to be sure you have everything, or they won't take them.

As for sitter services, I used Nannys and housekeepers. I used the service when my daughter was a new born. I liked everyone they sent except one sitter, in which I requested that she not return and there was no problem. They also go out to the hotels.

That's the only service I used.

Don't worry about what people say about Vegas. My oldest daughter saw colorful things in other states and countries. She saw a vagrant change his pants on the side of the road in Phoenix and watched another vagrant snort a line of coke right off the sidewalk in the entry of a closed business. Life happens in the oddest places. Who would guess she came from Vegas and saw this business elsewhere.

I don't have any advice regarding the babysitting IN Vegas. Sorry. An option would be to take a babysitter with you. I remember my parents doing that with us when we were little. The sitter was in her own room adjoined to ours and the trip was her payment. Sometimes older teenagers are down for that. Just an idea!!

Las Vegas can be a super fun place for families! Sorry the grandparents aren't going. That would have been an ideal situation. There are so many things to do in Vegas at very reasonable prices. Even for boring Mormons like us who don't drink,smoke or gamble.

I don't know about babysitting in Vegas. I just wanted to say that I have been to Vegas and loved it. I would definitely want to bring my kids there if I could afford it. There was so much to do and see for families! I would rather take the family to Vegas than Disney! I wouldn't worry too much about the sitter services. Your boys are old enough that they only need a sitter to make it legal, and your boys can certainly tell you if they were unhappy with the sitter. I'm sure whatever service the hotel offers will be fine.

I hope you find what you are looking for. We are not gamblers and our daughter was about 13 when she went with us. We saw the Blue Man Group and aquarium and more.

I don't really see the need to get snippy in the SWH... "Listen peeps" is insulting. If you don't like a response just move on. "Good grief"

I have only been to Vegas once and that was like 15 years ago.

Can your kids stay with your parents/in-laws at their place?

Vegas is no place for children and it is so sad to see them sitting on the edge of the casinos waiting for their parents (no one under 18 is allowed in the casino, not even a baby).

This is just me and some of my paranoia. I hated Vegas and wouldn't even consider taking kids there. My one and only panic attack happened in Vegas. I felt sick most of the time because there was no where to escape the cigarette smoke. Even outside it seemed like one big ashtray. I was uncomfortable with a lot of the advertising for burlesque shows, escort services, strip clubs, etc. I don't consider myself a prude, but I definitely would not want my 6 and 8 year old seeing some of the those things. There are lots of areas of Vegas (on the strip) where kids under 18 can't even come in. I don't remember seeing many kids at all when we were there. Vegas just seems like an adult vacation to me.

I would not be comfortable with leaving my kids with total strangers, even if they are highly recommended. I have a hard enough time leaving my kids with my SIL who I know very well. And knowing my kids, they would be very uncomfortable being left with a complete stranger, even in a "kids' club" type of setting.

I know people take kids to Vegas (and a good friend of mine grew up there), but personally I'd rather take my kids someplace more kid friendly if we are taking a family vacation.

Vegas has an awesome children's science museum (better than ours in Seattle).

Some of the hotels have great supervised play areas that I'm sure your boys would love and most of them are open late into the evening. They do require proof of shots from your doctor before you can leave them. A couple years ago it was around $7.00 per hour, per kid. As for people who say that Vegas isn't a place for kids - I disagree. We have gone with kids and they love it. I would recommend going to Red Rock Canyon if you have time for it. It's beautiful, cheap, and your boys would love all the rock climbing. It's one thing my grandsons still remember. The most impressive thing to them was Spiderman! The guy was good and the kids swear he was the real thing.

ETA: I just received an email that lists Vegas as one of the top 10 "family friendly" staycation destinations in the country. Huh, who would have thunk it :) I am going to do a little research myself to see what they all have going on!

I know this really isn't answering the question, but is it possible that your folks could simply watch the kids for the weekend so you and your husband can go alone? Just a thought . . .

I haven't used a nanny/babysitting service in Vegas, but I think if it were me, rather than use one through the hotel, I would search places on your own and go right through the service itself, rather than the hotel. That gives you more information on deciding who to use and getting references on your own.

Good luck!

I have never been to Vegas so I don't know. I don't take vacations to get babysitters for my kids though. We do family things on family vacations and adult things on adult vacations. There is a place about an hour from here that we LOVE and sometimes we bring the kids, sometimes we don't. There is one restaurant my husband and I love, but it's not kid-friendly, so we avoid it when they are with us, no big deal.

And no need to get snippy in your SWH. This site doesn't give everyone the answers they want, which is what makes it beneficial to most of us.

I love when people don't answer the question asked... MGM is a very reputable company so if they offer a babysitting service, I'd be pretty comfortable. I'd call a few times of course to check in while I was out but likely they screen their very sitters well. They do not want bad publicity. I remotely work with them so have some comfort. Also, looks like your kids aren't toddlers which helps. And there are lots of cool things in Vegas for kids. I think the "bad" stuff is kind of over their heads so they just see all the cool stuff and enjoy the amazing pools.

Maybe you can save the stress and have your kids stay with your folks at their house.

I don't know about sitting services, but if you haven't taken your kids to the aquarium at the Mandalay Bay, I highly recommend it. It is an AZA accredited facility and is really good. My kids LOVED it!

we took our 13 year old to vegas. we all had a blast. he was old enough to be at first startled then amused by the guys handing out flyers to strip clubs every 5 feet on the strip.
there's a ton to do in vegas that doesn't involve gambling. silly town. i love it.
i don't know about babysitting services, though, as we don't really drink or gamble, and went as a family so we stayed together as a family. i don't think it's awful, though, to want an adult night or two on the town. but your SWH is a bit shrill.
i'm not sure you can do better than going through the hotel concierges. it's their job to be able to help with that sort of thing. without knowing the local sitters or being able to interview or check references, really all you can do is assume that the hotels are professional and efficient about it, or not leave the kids at all, right?
khairete
S.

There are lots of fun shows in vegas for the kids to see(and you can get the half price tix too :) and we loved just walking around to the water show and things the hotels have in the front. My friend has done the babysitting but not in vegas, so not sure how it is there but she was pkeased at the service at the hotel she did it at.