How do I politely tell a neighbor to stop sending her kid over whenever I babysit?

Question

I babysit for this one family every Wednesday night, but the neighbor has now caught on and for the last month has dropped off her kid to play for about three hours. The family that I being paid to watch has four kids all of which are a handful, and the extra child makes it very difficult to keep an eye on all of them. This isn't just the kid coming over, otherwise I would say no...the mom brings the kid over and basically drops the boy off. Do I tell the people I'm babysitting for, or just confront the mother directly? Parents, please help! Thanks in advance :)

Answer 1

I think you should tell the people who you are babysitting for - if this is done with their permission you should be paid for watching five kids, not four, and if not then they should be the ones to talk to the neighbour since it is their house.

Edit: there seems to be a bit of confusion here. Whose house are you in when you are babysitting? If the kids are coming to your house then it's your job to speak to the neighbour. If you are going to someone else's house, then it's the parent of the kids you are babysitting (who presumably owns the house).

Answer 2

Confront the mother directly: Tell her that you already are babysitting 4 kids, and 1 more is very difficult.

Answer 3

Oh my God! Some people have some nerve!! Tell the parents your babysitting for for sure. Maybe they know her and will know how to handle the situation better than if you go alone.  If nothing is done about it then I would confront her myself.  Just tell her it's too much for you to handle. This is your job and your not being paid to watch her child too.  It's not a free service.  Give her your going rate and tell her she either needs to stop bringing her child over or you need to be paid if she does. That's so wrong of her!!

Good Luck & God Bless!

Answer 4

That stinks because you are not getting $$$$!!! lol  I would say this very nicely to the boy's mother:

I am already babysitting 4 children, and it is very difficult. Having another kid to watch makes the job even harder, so I would appreciate if you could keep your son on these days. He is a really nice boy, but I can't handle taking care of five kids on my own at my age.

If you are willing to babysit that kid than you could say this in addition to that stuff:

If you want me to babysit (insert kid's name) than I would be happy to on tuesdays (or whatever day you are free) for (amount of money) per hour.

The mother will probably understand. She probably thought you enjoyed having that kid over because you never said anything. Hope this helps!!!! :)

Answer 5

Tell the family what is going on. Or simply tell the boy he has to leave within 5 minutes of his mom leaving.

Answer 6

You can do one of two things:

1. say: "There seems to be some confusion, when the Smith kids come over to play, I am actually baby sitting them. My rate is ___ an hour. If you want to send your son to be babysat at that time too, then we need to work out a payment plan."

2. say: "we have enjoyed having Johnny over to play the past few Wednesdays. However, because I baby sit Wednesday nights, it is not a good time for him to come and play, and I will have to send him home in the future. If you would like to arrange a play-date with my kids, the best day for us is Saturday."

Then, follow through. If she agrees to pay, then collect. If she does not, everytime he comes over on a Wednesday, say: "Johnny, this is a busy night for us, as you can tell! We'll see you later, but it is time for you to run home now! Good bye". Be firm and send him home.

Answer 7

Tell the people that you're sitting for.  Be polite and let them know that it's just not okay with you and that either (A) your rate is going to go up by 10/hr or (B) she needs to stop sending the kid over.  Ask for permission to send the kid home.

Answer 8

I do not see where politeness comes into it. The neighbor is obviously rude and inconsiderate. I would confront her directly and point out to her politely, but firmly,  that this is your job and if she needs a babysitter you are more than willing to come to some kind of financial arrangement. I am sure once money is in the equation you will have no more problem.I would not worry about her getting angry, I have found that people usually get mad and upset when they are in the wrong, when they are in the right they are more likely to discuss it. And you do not owe her an explanation or an excuse, this is her child not yours.

Answer 9

wow i cant believe the nerve of some people...  you have to tell the people you are babysitting for that she is dropping off this kid every wednesday night.  the mother should tell that mother that her son cant be dropped off wednesday nights.  i had  a similar situation happen to my house...  my niece lives with me and already watches her daughter and my daughter when i go on errands, i also have 3 boys.  i took the 2 boys shopping and the other son i have was at a friends house.  the friend and my son were dropped off back at my house while i was gone.  my niece watched my daughter, her daughter and my son and the friend.  that friend tripped over something at the house and hurt himself..but wouldnt say anything about it or cry that he was hurt so my niece didnt know. when the friends sister came to pick him up he started crying and said his foot was hurt.  the next day my niece went over to this friends house becuz the mother had asked her to do a favor.  she gets there and the husband asks why she is there.. then proceeds to ask her a question about "what she did yesterday..."  this man blamed my niece for his sons hurt foot...and even was mad about her not walking her son home...  I told my husband what he did and then my husband called him up and told him not to drop off his kid at our house when the mother or father isnt there and that my niece has ennough things to worry about and doesnt need any more responsibilities.  Dont ever watch any one elses child for free they c**p all over you and then have the audacity to COMPLAIN.  This bothered me so much that I probably wont be letting my kids play with this other family's kid anymore.  this father is nuts the way he nit picks about things.  so please stick up for yourself or you will get walked on all over.  

Good luck honey!!

Answer 10

She just wants a free baby sitter. Tell her that she has to pay you also, if she does. But, tell the parents and see how they feel.

Answer 11

lol ok you can either tell the people your babysitting for. or tel the mom who keeps dropping off her kid that the people your babysitting for said she cant be bringing her kid

Answer 12

Tell the people that you are babysitting for that she keeps sending her child over and that you were paid only to babysit 4 children... not 5. And they should be the ones to confront your neighbor because it's their house that the neighbor kid is being sent to and it's their duty to stand up for their babysitter. If you confront her, she might not take you too seriously or spew lies to the parents who employ you.

Answer 13

Tell the people that you are babysitting for - a child who is not theirs is on their property without their permission.  If I am paying you to babysit my children, I want you concentrating on them, not anyone else's child.  As a parent, I would be ticked off that my neighbor would be taking advantage of the situation and I would tell them that it needs to stop.  It's my house and I do not want their kid in my house when I am not at home.

Answer 14

What about those whose life doesn't belong to God?  Are they sinning when the commit suicide?  As for the kid coming over when you babysit. The next time just send the mother a bill for her kid.

Answer 15

Well, when I have a babysitter, they are in charge, so you can run it by the parents, or simply say, "no friends tonight..." Or even say, you can bring him if you pay for the hours cause I have four kids here. She will understand, if she thinks your rude, then she has no sense of anything and not worth your time. It's easy, if your uncomfortable, I'm sure the parents will do it for you.

Answer 16

if your front door is locked, how does the child get into your house????

Answer 17

I'd just tell the mom directly "I'm sorry, the parent's are not here now and I am not being paid to watch your child. I cannot allow extra children to stay who don't live here while I'm babysitting because it makes my job more difficult than it needs to be." You could also stay indoors and not answer the door when she drops this kid off as well.

You may also want to mention this to the people you sit for that you are not comfortable taking in the neighborhood kids in addition to their own and that you'd appreciate it if it not continue because the extra child makes your job more difficult than it needs to be.  If it continues you could also tell the mom of this other child that you want $5 an hour for her kid because it increases your work load. If she doesn't pay, he doesn't stay.

Answer 18

The first thing you should do is to let the parents of the children you are babysitting know what is going on.  Then ask them to talk to the lady.

If she continues to drop the kid off after that,  Meet her at the car  and let her know that you would be glad to babysit for her but it is going to cost her how ever much you are getting paid for babysitting the other kids.  double the money!!! And I bet she wont leave him or bring him back.

Answer 19

You can either talk to the parents you are working for , that you don't appreciate being taken advantage of. Your basically babysitting another child but for free.

Or

You can talk to this mother and tell her nicely, "I don't mind at all watching your son every time you drop him off, but it's going to cost you $$$$, the same price i'm getting paid by Mr. and Mrs. so and so. " Hopefully then she'll stop.

Answer 20

Confront the mother and tell her that she owes you babysitting fees.  You would like X dollars for X dollars per hour times 3 days (or however often this has happened).  Then tell her that she cannot drop her kid off without your approval.  These folks are paying you to babysit their kids, not hers.  You should have done something about it the 2nd time she dumped the kid off.

Answer 21

Confront directly. Just go and tell her i would appreciate it if oyu would quit dropping your son off while im babysitting. Because its hard enough babysitting these four WITH pay but your son is just making it a huge hassle. And unless you want to pay me please quit sending him over.

thats exactly what i would say if i was u wait thats what i do say lol