Babysitter expectations

[New Creation]

For the past 8 weeks I've been hiring a babysitter to come and watch Meaghan for 60-70 minutes while I go for a run. I started at twice a week for a month, then 3 times a week and now she comes 4 times a week. We'll max out there.
We live in a small village of 150 so I'm very fortunate to have the young girl I do. I'll call her Sarah. She will be 13 this month and has a five year old brother that I've seen her helping her mother taking care of since I've known them. She was my first choice. He mother also lives right around the corner so if anything (God forbid) ever happens, her mum would be right over.

I've told Sarah to help herself to whatever she would like in the fridge and on the shelves. And she does. No problem.

My question is :what should I expect of Sarah? For example, Meaghan seems to tear the place apart while I'm gone for that short amount of time. Is it unreasonable for me to ask Sarah to help Meaghan tidy up before I come home. It's basically just toys strewn everywhere but I have to get dinner started immediately after my run. Also: When the weather is a little nicer, I'd like Sarah to take Meaghan outside for a while. Sarah doesn't have tv at home and is very enamoured of Hannah Montana at our place. In fact, she stays over an extra hour or half hour sometimes to watch tv- which I don't have a problem with.

I don't want to demand too much of what is probably the only game in town for me.
What do you ask of your sitter?

 

[Birbitt]

Well, I expect my sitter to prepare meals (simple things that I leave out for her) and snacks, be sure the boys take their naps, play with them, and clean up any mess that she or the children make while I"m gone..keep in mind though that my sitter is with the boys for 8-10 hrs per day 2 days a week while I"m at work. When I have a sitter for the evening so that hubby and I go out we have different expectations of our babysitter. For the evening I expect that my children are supervised, that she interact with them (playing and reading with them), I also expect that she help them to clean any mess they make, clean up her own mess, and put my children to bed on time (IF we aren't home and that's a big IF). So no I don't think it's too much to expect her to clean up a bit before you return..

 

[Neenie1]

I don't think it's too much to expect her to help toddler pack up the toys that they've been playing with at all.

Also I don't think it's too much to expect her to take the toddler outside on warmer days. Just talk it out with her and see what she says.

Obviously if she likes to watch the tv, and you are happy with her watching it when you come home then tell her so, but mention that you would like her to take your child out for play time, and then later on she can watch a bit of tv. I think that's reasonable.

 

[TCat]

I wouldn't have a problem with the TV since it is only for an hour, she dosn't have one at home and the show is not a bad one. As long as she is keeping an eye on the little one and not ignoring her in favor of it. As for taking her outside, if she is only at the house for that short time I am guessing you can take your little outside during the rest of the day so why should that time be so important.
I would ask that they both pick up the toys and tidy the room about 5 minutes before you are scheduled to return from your run. Making that an expectation with a time frame would probably be a good idea.

 

[RedTulipMom]

I would say it is up to you on what you require of your babysitter. If picking up toys or cooking meals is part of your requirement then find a sitter willing to do those things. If you are limited in who can babysit then its a bit harder sometimes. My cousin is going through this. The 16 yr old girl next door is her ONLY choice of babysitter, and no matter how many times my cousin has asked her to have the kids pick up the toys before she comes home the house is always a disaster. The sitter also puts the kids to bed later than she is asked to. My cousin doesnt have another option for a babysitter so she just has to deal with it. If you have certain requirements talk to your sitter and see if she is willing to comply.

 

[Beautiful Fireball]

I'm not a parent but I am a nanny, and no I don't think it is unreasonable at all for you to want her to pick up the toys and tidy up the mess that they made while you were gone. I think it would be unreasonable for you to expect her to clean up messes that were made before she got there but I don't think you are asking that. And as far as the going outside thing I think you should encourage it but I don't see why its that big of a deal. If you were gone for a longer amount of time then it should be expected but I really don't think that an hour of being inside is that big of a deal.