What is the "right thing" to do in this situation/ Who should be responsible

Question

Okay, here is the situation. Yesterday while my (almost) 2 year old was at his babysitter's he damaged a pair of glasses which belonged to her grand-daughter's friend. The friend & her mother have demanded that I purchase a new pair of prescription glasses for the child (15 years old). I have offered to pay 1/2 of the repair bill to have the glasses fixed. I feel that she shouldn't have laid the glasses on the coffee table where they were easily accessed by small children. I also feel it was the babysitter's responsibility to make sure the children didn't break the glasses. I do feel as the offending baby's mother I should be responsible for a portion of the cost. HELP! I'm not sure what the right thing to do in this situation is.

Answer 1

Offering to pay half is enough.  I agree that it is the babysitters responsibility to look after the child and make sure things like that don't happen.  Also if their prescription glasses, how come they weren't on the child's face?  If I were you paying half would be my limit.

Answer 2

I think you should pay half and the baby sitter should pay the other...I don't think you should of even had to pay for it because you left her with the baby sitter who was supposed to be watching her but it would be a nice thing to do..

Answer 3

You shouldn't pay for any of it, the baby sitter should have insurance to cover it and if they haven't you shouldn't be leaving your child there.

Answer 4

I would stick to paying half of a repair to the glasses and take my kid out of there in case there are any grudges.

Answer 5

It is very nice of you to pay half, but your child is two. He didn't know any better. It is the responsibility of the babysitter. And if the friend  is 15, then she should have known better that a toddler is around, I probably shouldn't put my glasses where he can't get them.

Answer 6

I don't think you owe anything. The babysitter should be watching your child. What was she doing while your child had enough time to find them and break them, Not only that but the kid shouldn't have left them there. I wouldn't pay a dime I'd tell the mother to take it up with the babysitter. Maybe she'll actually watch your child from now on.

Answer 7

I think you should pay half and the babysitter should pay half -  for repair - why on earth should you pay for a new pair when they will probably be able to be fixed.  You presumably were paying for her to look after your child - what the h**l was she doing firstly for something to be left around that was breakable and for your child to be in a position to break them - she obviously wasn't keeping a close eye on things.

Also home insurance should cover the cost of breakages (unless of course your babysitter had not declared that she was using her home for this reason and then that is her problem not yours)

Answer 8

I totally agree with you. I also think that the babysitter should be responsible for all the cost, After all she was in her care at the time. The fact that you are volentering to pay for half the cost is being more responsible than the babysitter..That falls into the catigory of child proffing the house and toddlers are always grabbing things they should of been put up higher than she can grab.. Good luck and hope this helps!