unejam1

Hello. My wife and I will be spending a week in Waikiki with our 17 month old son, and we are looking for a babysitter that will come to our room and just sit there while he sleeps so we can go out after 7PM. I know the hotels have lists, but I was wondering if someone knew of someone reliable that would do this. Our son sleeps through the night even when we travel, so it would really be minimal work, and we don't want to have to pay the same price as someone who would be playing with and feeding him. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

lcuy

If you don't want to pay the hotel prices, that is fine, but seriously, you want to pay less because you think your child will be asleep?

Can they change extra at the end of the evening if you child (like lots of traveling kids) won't sleep, or wakes up and has a fit when he sees a stranger in his room?

Are you getting a suite? If not, will the sitter have to sit in the dark or not use the TV?

You will be turning over your child to a complete stranger. At least use one that the hotel has (hopefully) verified their references and experience.

nanabee

i would be skeptical of leaving my child with a stranger i've never met before.

welovemexico

Yes, I would be skeptical too. I don't think I would leave my child with anyone I didn't know while on vacation.

You bring your children on vacation, you look after them. If you wanted romance or quiet time together, perhaps leave the child at home with a relative next time.

unejam1

Haven't been on these forums in a while. Things sure have changed. Let me see what I can do to change them back.

lcuy: "I understand you not wanting to pay the hotel prices but you might want to rethink the pricing simply because you think your baby will sleep through the night.

For example, if your baby won't sleep, or wakes up, or has a fit when he sees a stranger in the room, you should consider paying them more.

Are you getting a suite? If not, keep in mind the sitter will have to sit in the dark or not use the TV.

You will be turning over your child to a complete stranger. At least use one that the hotel has (hopefully) verified their references and experience."

MichelleY

A babysitter will charge the same whether your child is asleep or awake. At least that has been my experience. Use the hotel recommended sitters since they will probably come with references.

suze

That's nothing special about Waikiki. Babysitters don't charge different rates depending on if the child is asleep or awake.

MichelleY

Try your request at trip advisor. Two years ago, someone on TA asked for a babysitter in Cabo. We were to be there at the same time so arranged to have our teenage daughter babysit for this family. They met the kids ahead of time so there were no surprises. It worked out well.

lcuy

My daughters did babysitting for friends of friends in Waikiki many times when they were younger. It worked out very well for both the families and my daughters, but again, these were friends of friends, not total strangers referred from a travel board. And they preferred doing it when the kids were awake. They hated just sitting in a hotel room watching tv with the volume down.

Also, one time one of their friends was sitting and got locked out of the room. Security would not let her back in, as she wasn't a registered guest. It was complicated by the fact she didn't have a cell number for the parents.

lcuy

Unejam, you may not like my writing style, but I felt you needed to think about these things that might affect your child.

Would you rather I had given you the number for the tenant who offered to babysit our receptionist's baby? I suspect she will do anything for a bit of money. She's very charming, but I wouldn't trust her to walk my dog.

unejam1

Thanks, everyone!