Would you let friend watch LO?

cortney626

In regards to child care/ day care while you work? 

Backstory: My really good friend currently works at a day care center/preschool. She's toyed with the idea of quitting her job and looking for something else. Her sister is trying to convince her to quit her job and watch her newborn daughter when the sister goes back to work. Since I've been researching day cares, I jokingly told her she can watch my baby too. DH even told her we'd pay her to watch the baby. She mentioned it to her husband. Her husband and my husband have been friends since they were 10 years old. Her and I go back 15+ years. Her husband is worried that if something happens, we'd sue them or what if I don't like the way she cares for my child, etc. My friend works at a day care and currently has a classroom of 12 three year olds. She's worked in the infant room where she's had 4 infants to a teacher. When she watches her niece, she keeps a chart just like she does at school for the last time the baby slept, pooped, peed, etc. I don't question her ability to care for and love my child. We're pretty open and she would treat it as a job, respect my wishes, etc.

While she doesn't have any intentions on quitting her job at the moment, it could be a possibility. What other factors am I not considering? Would you be worried about ruining a friendship? Would you consider having this friend watch your baby? It'd be 3 days a week. 

gamommyx3

FWIW, I'm having a good friend watch my baby one day a week who has no daycare background, but is a great mom who has 2 kids of her own.  It never occurred to me that it could somehow ruin the friendship.  I think your gut would tell you if it was a bad idea...for example I have a cousin who is currently unemployed and who used to be a nanny, but I would never, never, never, never (did I say it enough?) NEVER use her for my child because I know it would be horrible, for a long list of reasons.  I'm actually more comfortable with my baby at my friend's house than at day care, because I know how great she'll be looking after him.  I wish she was available more days!!

kp90

Personally with her background and given history I think I would consider her to watch my baby if she was my friend. I think this is a personal thing. It just depends what you know about her and how confident you are that if an issue were to arise you could work it out like adults and not have it ruin the friendship. I will probably have my good friend here as an occasional baby sitter and trust her with that. So its just one of those situations where you need to weigh the pros and cons. Would probably be able to pay her a little less than a day care too!

BuzzBee614

The most important question here is if you trust her. I have a friend who would love it if I lived closer because she'd have me watch her child in a heartbeat. Also, would it be at your House or hers? I think paying for someone to personally watch your child in your own home is completely worth it.

jessiedee13

I agree with pps. I'm a SAHM but my friends and I (well now that I have kids) do a babysitting swap we'll call it....they watch our kids one week, we watch theirs another. We used to have a couple of my friends babysit and paid them for it. My MIL does it now because ds1 asks to stay there instead (I mean who wouldn't rather be at grandma's than home with mommy and daddy's friends lol) it was no trouble at all. If your gut says it's not an issue than I wouldn't worry. If anything, meet with her about your expectations just like you would anywhere else. I'd feel comfortable leaving my baby with a friend that has that much experience!

cortney626

I fully trust her and Dh does too. He really likes the fact that it'd be slightly cheaper than an in home day care or day care center. It'd be at her house as she'd watch her niece also. But she lives in the same city and would feel comfortable with my child at her house. My MIL will be watching the baby the other 2 days and I almost feel more comfortable with my friend watching the baby given her experience and how I know she'd respect my wishes. So there are a lot of Pros, just want to make sure I'm not missing any Cons. 

araecasey

I've nannied for a family member before, and we had zero issues. In fact, it was an amazing arrangement for everyone. I think it's important to move forward with everybody's expectations in writing (payment, time commitment, sick care, how to handle vacation/sick time for both parties, taxes, payment schedule, etc.) just so everyone is crystal clear in understanding each other. Otherwise, this sounds like a sweet deal! I'd totally go for it if she expresses further interest!

Par13

If I trusted the friend, I would totally do it! Your situation is more than an occasional watching, so I'd make sure to have an agreement or contract in place with all of the details and expectations. I think that can help with any of the unknowns that might be worrying you. 

Something to think about - will you be ok with her taking your LO places in the car? I had a friend who had another friend watch her child and that was an issue that came up that they hadn't discussed up front.

bookelf221

My friend will be watching our LO, and I'm ok with it! We'll be ironing out the details more as it gets closer to delivery and closer to her needing to be watched. But the friend who is watching her is a former EMT and still teaches infant CPR as well as having three kids of her own. It's also just really hard to pass up someone who won't accept more than $20 a day (she can't have any more kids and wants baby time she says lol). 

kami09

It sounds like it's the best of both worlds...you'll get the professionalism of a day care but your child will get a lot more individualized attention.