Member Articles

If you're one of the fortunate parents who live near family, we don't have to tell you about the blessings (and challenges) of living in such proximity. However, when it comes to babysitting, parents everywhere -- especially working parents -- are more than willing to put up with just about anything to get reliable, free child care.

We're not here to tell you that you should or shouldn't use a family member as a babysitter. Situations are so different and people are so diverse that it's impossible to make such a firm statement one way or the other. So as you read through think about what you're willing to manage and what would work best for you.

1.) Free care. If your relative has refused to accept any money, as many will, then you've got one of the most motivating benefits -- free child care. That's what family's for, you may think. Why would they charge me instead of just help out? You're probably right, but because using a family member as a caregiver is such a delicate situation -- you don't want the relative to feel taken advantage of -- you may want to offer to pay whatever you can afford.

2.) Comfort. Not having to build a relationship from the beginning will do wonders to ease your mind about the parent-caregiver relationship. You probably already know the strengths and weaknesses of your sister, how your uncle would handle an emergency and the vast amount of patience your cousin has, even when she's being pulled in four different directions with a child on every limb. Understanding your relatives' nuances and personalities ensures that you'll have one less thing to worry about while you're out of the house.

3.) Built-in trust. It goes without saying that if you ask a family member to care for your child, you trust that person. After all, if you do understand their nuances and you still have all the faith in the world that they're more than capable of handling your little ones, you're already several steps ahead of parents who aren't yet comfortable with their babysitters. And when you're not worrying about what's happening while you're gone, you're much more focused on what you're supposed to be doing, whether it's as important as a big presentation to the CEO or as relaxing as getting a mani/pedi.

4.) Bonding between the relative and child. By asking a family member to babysit, you're also offering both the caregiver and child a unique opportunity to strengthen their bond and grow much closer than they would if they just saw each other at, say, then annual family reunion. This is by far the most precious, incalculable aspect of leaving your child with a relative.