How many kids per babysitter?

thedash · February 2014

My regular babysitter only has my DS (3 in two weeks) and DD (5 months) at her home each day. This summer I have a friend who will need occasional care for her two girls. They are 4 and 3. It would really vary but probably be a few half days each week. I haven't asked the sitter or my friend yet, but I think my sitter would be interested in watching them for the extra cash. Would you be comfortable with that many kids and a baby? Our sitter is very experienced with kids and used to work at a preschool with 3 year olds so they are kind of her specialty! My DD will be 9 months by the time this would begin. All three older kids know each other and play well together.

sillygirlio · February 2014

I'm a daycare provider. For me, two 3yr olds, a 4yr old and a baby would be an easy (boring) day. On the average day I have a 5yr old, 3yr old, 2.5yr old, 20 month old and two 1yr olds. I'm about to get a newborn. I could take on another full time child over 18 months and two after school kids and still be within my ratio, but I like to keep it at seven.

If she's honestly good with kids and is set up with a good routine and safe location then what you described should be no problem.

jf198400 · February 2014

I think that sounds manageable. Will she be able to get out of the house with that many kids? Are there parks within walking distance? Does she have a car that could fit that many car seats? I just wouldn't want my kids stuck in the house, especially during the summer.

jf198400 · February 2014

sillygirlio said:
I'm a daycare provider. For me, two 3yr olds, a 4yr old and a baby would be an easy (boring) day. On the average day I have a 5yr old, 3yr old, 2.5yr old, 20 month old and two 1yr olds. I'm about to get a newborn. I could take on another full time child over 18 months and two after school kids and still be within my ratio, but I like to keep it at seven.
If she's honestly good with kids and is set up with a good routine and safe location then what you described should be no problem.

I'm just curious, what state are you in? That is a hell of a lot of kids for one person!

sillygirlio · February 2014

I'm in a Midwestern state.

I know it sounds like a lot of kids, and I probably wouldn't choose to have this many babies at one time... that just happened because siblings were born, couldn't really be avoided... it's really not that bad though. Sometimes it's easy! The 3+ kids are independent and play alone/together most of the time. The babies take 2 naps a day. All "my" kids have really great parents so the children are well behaved which makes a huge difference! I used to work with "tougher" kids. In that circumstance, seven would be too many.

iverske9 · February 2014

I would as a sitter, my mother had 4 of us and we survived lol. IN the state of CT at our centers the ratio I believe is 1 sitter to 4 infants, and 1 sitter to 5 children if I remember correctly. She would probably love the extra cash and when they are a little older the kids can actually be helpful sometimes (depending on the kid of course)

jlaOK · February 2014

Sounds manageable and I'm sure your DS will enjoy having playmates

thedash · February 2014

jf198400 said:

I think that sounds manageable. Will she be able to get out of the house with that many kids? Are there parks within walking distance? Does she have a car that could fit that many car seats? I just wouldn't want my kids stuck in the house, especially during the summer.

Her house has a huge backyard with a swingset and slide but she doesn't drive the kids anywhere, even when she just has my two. In the summer she often sets up the sprinkler toy, puts out sidewalk chalk on the patio, etc. There are a few shady spots where she can sit with the baby and still control the older ones. The more I think about it, it would be nice for DS to have the older girls to play with since he won't be going to his P/T preschool over the summer.

thedash · February 2014

sillygirlio said:

I'm a daycare provider. For me, two 3yr olds, a 4yr old and a baby would be an easy (boring) day. On the average day I have a 5yr old, 3yr old, 2.5yr old, 20 month old and two 1yr olds. I'm about to get a newborn. I could take on another full time child over 18 months and two after school kids and still be within my ratio, but I like to keep it at seven.
If she's honestly good with kids and is set up with a good routine and safe location then what you described should be no problem.

Wow! That's intense but it sounds like you have it all under control.

She is very good with older toddlers and one room of her house is practically a daycare due to all of my kids' toys, games, changing supplies, etc. Right now she cooks breakfast and lunch for my kids but maybe we would start sending something prepared so she doesn't have to juggle all 4 while making food for three of them.

cecilyandgautam · February 2014

In my area, daycare ratios are generally 4 to 1 for an in-home situation so this is probably fine - plenty of in-home providers do this everyday. Plenty of daycare centers are run with such ratios.

I wouldn't want the sitter to be in a compromised situation though so if it's possible to verify how many non-relative children you can watch before you need to be licensed, that might be a nice thing for you to confirm for her.

Kbrittonhart · February 2014

In home daycare ratio where I live is 6:1. Given the ages and limits hours, I think it would be fine

Mustardseed2007 · February 2014

In Texas the legal maximum ratio varies depending on the age of the children involved and are way too high IMHO. However, the situation you describe sounds totally manageable to me.

mittensonkittens · February 2014

I think she would be fine. With 3/4 year olds, it's almost easier to have a few of them because they entertain each other and act as a group. And the baby will still get plenty of attention.

MammaBear81 · February 2014

My au pair watched 6 kids, every day. I don't see a problem in watching 4 kids, as long as they have experience in dealing with multiple kids and ages. I'd also "try it out" before it was needed to make sure everyone gets along. Nothing like spending your afternoon keeping kids from killing each other rather than going to the park.

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