First-Time Mom Wonders: Is It Acceptable for Babysitters to Nap While Watching Kids?

A new mom has captured attention on TikTok with her concerns about a babysitter dozing off on the couch while her baby was asleep. Leaving your first child with a caregiver for the first time can be nerve-wracking — many parents vividly recall that anxious moment when they hired a sitter and stepped out. The uncertainty about what behaviors to expect from the babysitter and how to react can be overwhelming.

In this case, first-time mom, Lisa Johnson, decided to go out with her partner for a long-awaited date night when their baby was just 10 months old, hiring a sitter to keep an eye on things. However, when she discovered that the babysitter had fallen asleep on the couch after the baby was put to bed, she felt alarmed. Lisa turned to TikTok for guidance, questioning whether she was overreacting by thinking that the sitter was neglecting her responsibilities by catching some sleep, or if her concerns were valid given that she had entrusted her baby to someone who was snoozing.

“First-time parent struggles, I get it,” she wrote in her post. “But is this normal?” She explained that the babysitter successfully put the baby to sleep in just 15 minutes, and he remained asleep throughout their outing. Yet, after some time, the home security cameras revealed that the sitter was lying down on the couch. “We were only gone for three hours—our outing was from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM,” she elaborated. “With cameras set up throughout the house, I checked the footage around 9 PM and saw her asleep on the couch.”

Lisa texted the sitter to remind her to bring in the family dog for the night, only to see that she didn’t stir. “Internally, I was freaking out,” she admitted. “She’s responsible for our son, but he’s also asleep. He’s only 10 months old—would she hear him if he woke up and cried?” The anxiety about leaving her child with a napping sitter became too much to bear, prompting the couple to return home. “When we walked in, it took her a moment to wake up,” Lisa recalled. “I had left a sound monitor, but it wasn’t on. Now I’m left wondering: Is it common for babysitters to fall asleep while watching kids if you’re back by 9:30? We weren’t out late!”

Ah, the joys of being a first-time parent! Reactions from commenters varied, with many expressing sympathy for Lisa’s worries, while others were more critical of her concerns. Most commenters agreed that it’s generally acceptable for a babysitter to catch some sleep while the children are asleep.

Others highlighted the wide range of parenting and babysitting styles, with some pointing out that it’s perfectly fine for a sitter to doze as long as they can hear the baby or monitor if something goes awry. The best advice came from someone who emphasized the importance of communicating expectations with the sitter before leaving. If parents feel uneasy about a sitter sleeping, it’s crucial to discuss it beforehand. And remember to inform your babysitters and nannies if they are being recorded during their time with your children.

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In summary, Lisa Johnson’s TikTok post illustrates the anxiety that can accompany first-time parenting, especially when it comes to leaving your child with a caregiver. While concerns about a babysitter sleeping on the job are valid, many commenters reassured her that it is generally acceptable for sitters to nap while children are asleep, provided that proper communication and safety measures are in place.

Keyphrase: babysitter sleeping on the job

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