Babysitter in Vegas?
Jan 31st, 2009, 08:07 AM
#21
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I apologize for anyone who was offended by my remarks. I did not intend to insult anyone or the city of Las Vegas. It's a very fun city and there is much to do for kids if you make the effort to find it. Of course, I know thousands of families live there. One of my best friends lives there with her 4 kids. I'm familiar with LV.
I was trying to make the point that I would think twice about hiring a stranger (and particularly one I wasn't willing to spend more than $10 per hour for) to take my 6 year old up and down the strip for several days. I have hired sitters through agencies recommended by hotels. I actually don't have a problem with hiring a sitter. However, I have never had a sitter take my kids up and down the strip in LV. Pool and dinner at a hotel, Yes. Deciding whether the scantily clad pirates are acceptable, no. I think most fodorites agree that the strip isn't the most child friendly experience. I wouldn't hand my child over to a stranger and expect that person to make the same decisions that I would make as a parent as to what is and what isn't child appropriate entertainment. I hope I have been clearer this time.
I was trying to make the point that I would think twice about hiring a stranger (and particularly one I wasn't willing to spend more than $10 per hour for) to take my 6 year old up and down the strip for several days. I have hired sitters through agencies recommended by hotels. I actually don't have a problem with hiring a sitter. However, I have never had a sitter take my kids up and down the strip in LV. Pool and dinner at a hotel, Yes. Deciding whether the scantily clad pirates are acceptable, no. I think most fodorites agree that the strip isn't the most child friendly experience. I wouldn't hand my child over to a stranger and expect that person to make the same decisions that I would make as a parent as to what is and what isn't child appropriate entertainment. I hope I have been clearer this time.
Jan 31st, 2009, 09:03 AM
#23
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padams.. I agree. This isn't about the people who live in Las Vegas .. I think many of us still have the sad memory of little Madeline McCann who was taken from a hotel room while her parents were dining just so many feet away .. and never found..
Jan 31st, 2009, 10:08 AM
#24
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jbee and barbara,
Thanks very much for the links to the "rest" of Vegas--exactly the kind of info I was hoping for!! Thanks to the person who mentioned the sheriff's card too. That's useful to know.
That said, it's always interesting to see what else comes out of the woodwork; people living overseas don't "know what Vegas is", or I'm just out of wack in my life with my son and professional life...hmmph!
Thanks very much for the links to the "rest" of Vegas--exactly the kind of info I was hoping for!! Thanks to the person who mentioned the sheriff's card too. That's useful to know.
That said, it's always interesting to see what else comes out of the woodwork; people living overseas don't "know what Vegas is", or I'm just out of wack in my life with my son and professional life...hmmph!
Jan 31st, 2009, 01:15 PM
#26
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I'm thinking of the child - two 10 hour plane trips (if you have direct flights which I'm not sure even exist) + you'll be in conferences 8 hours a day + some evenings. What IS the purpose of taking the child along ?
Jan 31st, 2009, 01:32 PM
#27
Leave Jr. at home with grandpa & grandma. A week in LV for an adult is way too long let alone a kid. Plus expecting a stranger, no matter what the price, to entertain him all week is asking way too much.
MY
MY
Jan 31st, 2009, 01:40 PM
#28
You will get many responses about whether leaving your child with a sitter is appropriate or not. I wouldn't do it in a hotel situtation and I definitlely would not do it in Vegas. But that is me. My best friend would do it in a heartbeat and wouldn't think anything of it. That is what makes us different.
I would call the hotel directly and see exactly what they can offer you in this area. I am sure if it is a large hotel, that they will offer a service that can cover you for this.
I am with everyone else that Vegas is an adult destination, and if you can, leave him home with a friend or relative.
I would call the hotel directly and see exactly what they can offer you in this area. I am sure if it is a large hotel, that they will offer a service that can cover you for this.
I am with everyone else that Vegas is an adult destination, and if you can, leave him home with a friend or relative.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 05:33 PM
#29
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sorry to disappoint you all, but this is not the appropriate time in my son's life or mine for his first night away from me.
If you think there's someone at home we could leave him with, you clearly don't know anything about our lives. And why should you? That's not the point of the conversation. Do you realize what asses you are being?
If you think there's someone at home we could leave him with, you clearly don't know anything about our lives. And why should you? That's not the point of the conversation. Do you realize what asses you are being?
Feb 2nd, 2009, 06:11 PM
#30
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If 8 hours a day is too long for a child to be in a hotel with a sitter, then maybe 8 hours a day is too long for a young child to be in a foreign country, exploring Las Vegas with a babysitter who happens to be a stranger!
Feb 2nd, 2009, 06:32 PM
#32
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Saacnmama- I don't believe people think that Las Vegas is "another planet". I'm thinking that the people who replied wouldn't leave their child anywhere for 8 hours each day in a foreign country. Not even if it was Kansas!
Feb 2nd, 2009, 06:53 PM
#34
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Your best bet is to contact your hotel and make arrangements through them (and also see if the hotel has a kids club-- this would be less expensive and potentially more entertaining for your child). Hotels usually charge around $20 an hour for babysitting.
I pay teenagers $10 an hour.
I pay teenagers $10 an hour.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 06:54 PM
#35
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saacnmama, you are willfully misunderstanding.
It's not the Las Vegans, its the tourists you have to worry about.
You're expecting to hire, sight unseen, a person to care for your six year old (who we assume does not speak English since you won't address that) for more than eight hours each day (as well as some evenings) who will be able to act in loco parentis and make all sorts of judgments about what is appropriate and inappropriate for your child to see. Hotel pool---topless or not? That's the first of many issues your babysitter will face---and your budget is $10 per hour?
Surely you have some kind of support system if you have no relatives close by. Friends your son could stay with? You have time over the next month or two to get him used to spending the night without you. After all, you're proposing that he spend at least 8 hours every day without you on the trip.
It's not the Las Vegans, its the tourists you have to worry about.
You're expecting to hire, sight unseen, a person to care for your six year old (who we assume does not speak English since you won't address that) for more than eight hours each day (as well as some evenings) who will be able to act in loco parentis and make all sorts of judgments about what is appropriate and inappropriate for your child to see. Hotel pool---topless or not? That's the first of many issues your babysitter will face---and your budget is $10 per hour?
Surely you have some kind of support system if you have no relatives close by. Friends your son could stay with? You have time over the next month or two to get him used to spending the night without you. After all, you're proposing that he spend at least 8 hours every day without you on the trip.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 07:03 PM
#36
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Hey all... she is intent upon bringing him so instead of judging her, please give her info so she can make the best decision.
Although I understand completely your perspective (we also have never left our children w/ sitters at hotels, we each have different comfort zones, personal situations, etc.. We don't know where she is coming from, so we really can't say what may be best for her and her family.
And sacnmama, take the info that you have already garnered from this site and start looking into it.
Hope you and your son have a wonderful trip (try to do some side trips-- you aren't too far from some of the US's most beautiful sites).
Although I understand completely your perspective (we also have never left our children w/ sitters at hotels, we each have different comfort zones, personal situations, etc.. We don't know where she is coming from, so we really can't say what may be best for her and her family.
And sacnmama, take the info that you have already garnered from this site and start looking into it.
Hope you and your son have a wonderful trip (try to do some side trips-- you aren't too far from some of the US's most beautiful sites).
Feb 2nd, 2009, 07:32 PM
#37
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I'm not judging, Jeanned, just trying to explain to saacnmama that she's not going to find Mary Poppins on the Strip for $10 per hour unless she is that kind of "babysitter" who dresses up like Mary Poppins and strips for $10 per hour.
No one said that denizens of Las Vegas were strange, dangerous, etc. But it should be fairly obvious that, since Vegas is a place where people go to misbehave, the babysitter and her son may encounter questionable characters when they venture out of the hotel room.
No one said that denizens of Las Vegas were strange, dangerous, etc. But it should be fairly obvious that, since Vegas is a place where people go to misbehave, the babysitter and her son may encounter questionable characters when they venture out of the hotel room.
Feb 3rd, 2009, 01:54 AM
#38
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My kid speaks English better than most.
You all have made up your own minds about him so friggin clearly that you still cannot get it through your heads that he is an American, has spent most of his life with an English-speaking mother, and is returning to his home country to visit family before and after the conference.
NO; I DO NOT owe you that explanation, just am pissed off at your refusal to consider that events might be different than the way you've dreamed them up in your little heads.
As far as your 'stranger' anxiety--everyone is a stranger until you get to know them. Hello! Have you never moved to a new city (or country) and hired a babysitter? It won't be your kid's auntie jane. The kid must adapt, the parent must plan (ie, No thanks to the plan one of you offered of someone dragging him up and down the strip for 8 hrs and to the TI pirates show.) and screen applicants.
The only side trips we'll be taking are to clear out a storage locker in NW Texas, perhaps visit my cousin in Phoenix, and see my parent on the East Coast. No, he is not ready to be so far away from me to stay with those people.
You all have made up your own minds about him so friggin clearly that you still cannot get it through your heads that he is an American, has spent most of his life with an English-speaking mother, and is returning to his home country to visit family before and after the conference.
NO; I DO NOT owe you that explanation, just am pissed off at your refusal to consider that events might be different than the way you've dreamed them up in your little heads.
As far as your 'stranger' anxiety--everyone is a stranger until you get to know them. Hello! Have you never moved to a new city (or country) and hired a babysitter? It won't be your kid's auntie jane. The kid must adapt, the parent must plan (ie, No thanks to the plan one of you offered of someone dragging him up and down the strip for 8 hrs and to the TI pirates show.) and screen applicants.
The only side trips we'll be taking are to clear out a storage locker in NW Texas, perhaps visit my cousin in Phoenix, and see my parent on the East Coast. No, he is not ready to be so far away from me to stay with those people.
Feb 3rd, 2009, 03:08 AM
#39
Well Saccnmama you have obviously come to the wrong place for your inquiries. If you think we are all a bunch of asses, then why ask strangers questions about who to leave your son with in an obviously unfamiliar place.
There are many holes in your questions, for example that he speaks English. This is a board from people who come from all over the world. We never assume the child is American if he is coming from somewhere else.
Many who have been to Vegas realize that it is not a place THEY would bring the kids to.
So, you have no one to leave your son with is something everyone did not get until your last obnoxious post.
If you really want information on this, call your hotel. All large hotels offer babysitting services and or kids clubs. You could also try the local college as offered by someone else above.
There are many holes in your questions, for example that he speaks English. This is a board from people who come from all over the world. We never assume the child is American if he is coming from somewhere else.
Many who have been to Vegas realize that it is not a place THEY would bring the kids to.
So, you have no one to leave your son with is something everyone did not get until your last obnoxious post.
If you really want information on this, call your hotel. All large hotels offer babysitting services and or kids clubs. You could also try the local college as offered by someone else above.
Feb 3rd, 2009, 03:14 AM
#40
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When you ask a travel question without giving any kind of details about your particular circumstances you must either expect useless answers or ones that you don't like. How odd that you would take offense at complete strangers' expressed concern over your child.
And if you don't want to screen applicants yourself when you arrive do you simply plan to hand him over to whomever the hotel recommends---even if that person makes you uneasy? Why should someone's suggestion that you spend time monitoring the babysitter and your child together make you angry?
You could at least line up several agencies to send candidates to your hotel and go to your conference a day early to interview them. If you're not even willing to do that, you shouldn't be taking the child with you, imvho.
And if you don't want to screen applicants yourself when you arrive do you simply plan to hand him over to whomever the hotel recommends---even if that person makes you uneasy? Why should someone's suggestion that you spend time monitoring the babysitter and your child together make you angry?
You could at least line up several agencies to send candidates to your hotel and go to your conference a day early to interview them. If you're not even willing to do that, you shouldn't be taking the child with you, imvho.
