Has anyone ever used a hotel babysitter??

We have been invited to a big birthday party interstate, and we would LOVE to go- haven't seen all the friends for more than 2 years. We think we could maybe stay at the hotel where the event is and get a babysitter through an agency or via the hotel, if they used an agency that looked trustworthy. This way I'd be close and could pop up and check on things. We would put him to bed and then would just need someone to sit in the room with him while he's sleeping. But how does this work, has anyone done this before? The poor babysitter would be sitting in a dark room with a sleeping toddler and couldn;t watch tv or anything. Would they be willing to do this do you think? Also not sure I would be comfortable enough with the situation to enjoy myself at the party. We have always just had an early night or read with a torch on holiday if we're sharing a hotel room. Any other options I haven't thought of? Arrgh, it's all looking too hard, but we really want to go!

Hi, I have used a hotel babysitter before but we had a 2 bedroom appt so my daughter (& on the next occasion my son aswell) could sleep in the bedroom & the sitter could watch TV in the lounge. Going through an agency I would feel comfortable but its different for everybody. I've always been pretty leanient (I guess thats the word)with my kids, happy to have them babysat & even sleepover at families houses etc from a young age where as alot of people wouldnt be comfortable with that IYKWIM.
At least ud only be down stais so can check on ur son as often as u like ;)
Good luck

I haven't ever used one. But, I've only been in a hotel once since the kids were born and it was just DS then, lol. I doubt I would use one for quite a while, but that's not because I don't trust them or think they would do a bad job, it's more because I suffer separation anxiety and have only ever left my kids with my parents twice and another family member once. It took me over 2 years before I let my Mum babysit, lol!

I haven't but I would imagine that if they are employed to look after your child and that means sitting in a dark room then so be it!!! I wouldn't think they would think twice as they aren't paid to watch tv( nice bonus though I guess!!! ) I would call and have a chat and it's nice you will be so close too! Enjoy!

We have looked into this before. Hotels (most if not all) do use babysitting agencies and the sitters are checked out properly. I would also assume that the babysitters have previous experience with the hotel, its guidelines etc so the babysitter would know what they are getting themselves in for.

Why dont you give the hotel a call and have a chat to them about the situation?

We've never used one though.. Always plan to, but never get the chance to. A

Thanks Guys! I think i am probably overthinking this! (As usual!) I think I should ring and ask... just didn;t want to sound like an idiot!! I;m also looking into a holiday apartment a block away, which might actually be better for the rest of our stay, ie we can cook and have bit more space to run around, which might work. Thanks for your ideas!! I would love to be a bit more relaxed about this... i mean I'm sure nothing would go wrong... but I just can;t get Madeline McCann out of my head (totally different situation I know but just makes me very nervous about leaving him for a second on holiday). I need a chill pill.

Except remember Madeleine was left on her own, so completely different. You should have seen m e in Spain when DS was 18 months. I was convinced he would be stolen! But I digress.

Have you thought about getting a two room apartment? It means that you also don't have to sit in the dark if you are staying more nights. ( something again I had to do with DS in Malaysia.)

Then you can still come in and check on the sitter, without leaving him/ her sitting in the dark.

Ask the hotel heaps of Q's. Even f they seem silly ask anyway. And remember, if it s the same hotel, as the party, and you are really concerned, you and your partner could take it in turns looking after DS while the other attends the party.

An apartment is a great idea to give a bit more space. If you are not comfortable with a hotel babysitter, do your friends have kids and could they recommend any babysitters they know. FWIW I have used Agency babysitters and have always been very happy with them. If you did end up going down the agency path you could always meet them a couple of days before for a bit so you feel more comfortable with them. If you get a good agency, they do all the police checks, have first aid, etc, etc and are all checked out. I know it is a big thing to leave your little one with a stranger, the first time I went through an agency I was majorly stressed out but the babysitter we had was absolutely gorgeous, the reason they are babysitters is because they love kids. Good luck with this and I hope you enjoy the party.

We have always been lucky and taken someone we know like my mum. But I have been one of those agency babysitters while I was at uni and I was lovely ;) and yea I took a torch and just read a book. With mobile phones the way they are now they would probably use their Internet :)

Just on a side note. It's ok to say no too if that's what you want. It's been a while but if you are just not comfortable leaving him yet then you're just not!

I know Madeleine was a totally different scenario, but it still makes me nervous!! Those eyes... Anyway, thanks for your info! And sorry to any babysitters, I am by no means implying that you're all toddler stealing criminals! I guess it's just what COULD happen, and that makes me think through every possibility. I reckon an apartment is the answer, and then find a reputable agency.

Tegam- aw thanks for giving me permission to say no! That's so sweet. But we really want to go so would like to make it work with something we're comfortable with. I can count on one hand the times we've been out in the last 2 years, well maybe 2 hands, but only just!

getting so excited about a night out in a fancy bar!!

ps any good agencies in sydney that anyone knows??

i used to be an on call babysitter in brisbane for a couple of hotels. i would just go there. have a chat with the parents, get to know the kids.
we were there to look after the kids, not watch tv.
they get good agencies to do this.. i wouldn't be concerned with the quality of babysitter. just explain to however it is what you expect them to do... if you want them to sit in the room with your child then tell them that.

I wasn't implying that babysitters just wanted to watch tv, only that he'll probably be put to bed by us anyway, so he'll be asleep (hopefully) and the babysitter won;t have anything to do except sit in a darkened room. I know when we've been on holiday I've found that fairly boring and ended up going to bed REALLY early, so I wasn't sure if that's what babysitters did too. Anyway, Tegam obviously did it when she was a babysitter so that made me feel better!
Thanks for your replies

I hope you have a wonderful night.

We used Dial and Angel in Melbourne (but they are available in other capital cities) just 10 days ago at they were fantastic to deal with and the sitter was excellent. It was the second professional sitter we'd used at a hotel in recent months. On both occassions DD has had a great time with the sitter and they've put her to bed without any issues at all!! We are pretty lenient when DD is being baby sat (whether it be by a professioal or someone we know) and just let the sitter make the call on when she's ready for bed as we'd prefer she be happy with the sitter than stressing out about someone strange putting her to bed right on schedule, IYKWIM.

The most recent sitter easily put DD to bed at 8pm in our hotel room and was able to watch TV and read a book without any issues until we got home at 12.15am! I think letting the sitter do things their way, to a certain extent, definitely helps. The sitter we had in QLD a couple of months ago played with DD and read on the couch with her until she fell asleep, on the couch (she has NEVER done that for us!) at 8.45pm then she transferred her into bed and DD didn't stir again! We had an apartment on that occassion.

Good luck with it all and try not to worry. The professional sitters are amazing and deal with little ones, of all ages, all the time. Go out and enjoy yourself and rest assured your LO will be in safe hands :)

we use a hotel babysitter when DD1 was 6 months old. I felt a bit bad for babysitter as yeah, the room was not lit up that bright, and yeah, the no tv thing. But she was great and had already thought of that and brought her book :)

I dont think they would mind, as well, they are providing a babysitting service at a hotel!