Would you leave your child with a babysitter in a foreign country? (poll)

[dudi]

Assuming its not someone that has been recommended by family and friends and not the local chabad family. Would you only leave them for a couple hours? What about a full day?

Wouldn't even in my own country. If no one I know can recommend her she's not coming close.
And BTW we had neighbors in Israel that a babysitter for many years (the kids were between 6 and 12 Y/O) she was watching them all day every day, took the parents 5 years to realize she was abusing the kids BIG TIME in their own house.

[TimT]

And BTW we had neighbors in Israel that a babysitter for many years (the kids were between 6 and 12 Y/O) she was watching them all day every day, took the parents 5 years to realize she was abusing the kids BIG TIME in their own house.

That's happened even with best ranked sitters.

[dudi]

That's happened even with best ranked sitters.

True but when they not recommended by anyone you have no way to even possibly know.

[Emkay]

Your neighbor whom you know is very different than a stranger in a foreign country.

For which reason(s)?

[sky121]

Because hopefully when you get to know a person a bit you have an idea of who they are.  Obviously that only goes so far.
And you can never be too sure. But getting to know a person helps. And at the end of the day there has to be a normal amount of trust in a person. Otherwise you'd never let your kid out of your site for any reason.

[TimT]

Because hopefully when you get to know a person a bit you have an idea of who they are.  Obviously that only goes so far.
And you can never be too sure. But getting to know a person helps. And at the end of the day there has to be a normal amount of trust in a person. Otherwise you'd never let your kid out of your site for any reason.

+1

[Emkay]

Because hopefully when you get to know a person a bit you have an idea of who they are.  Obviously that only goes so far.
And you can never be too sure. But getting to know a person helps. And at the end of the day there has to be a normal amount of trust in a person. Otherwise you'd never let your kid out of your site for any reason.

I still don't see much substance in this answer. Can you be more specific? What are the worries precisely?
Physical abuse? Sexual abuse? Kidnapping? Ebola? Drowning? Overall neglect?

[3yummyboys]

In a foreign place chances are you're going away for longer periods of time & you can't really tell her neighbors to check up on her.

+1

At home a babysitter generally knows that you have neighbors, family etc. that can check up at any time.

[Emkay]

+1

At home a babysitter generally knows that you have neighbors, family etc. that can check up at any time.

So don't give the babysitter a return time and s/he won't know when your returning or have them sit in a public hotel place like the lobby or kids area.

[TimT]

Is it right to make them stay out in a public place for a long period of time ?

[sky121]

I still don't see much substance in this answer. Can you be more specific? What are the worries precisely?
Physical abuse? Sexual abuse? Kidnapping? Ebola? Drowning? Overall neglect?

My general concern would be negligence and then abuse.  And obviously negligence would be more concerning for an infant.

[Emkay]

Is it right to make them stay out in a public place for a long period of time ?

Yes. They gladly will and are expecting it.

[Emkay]

My general concern would be negligence and then abuse.  And obviously negligence would be more concerning for an infant.

What type of negligence?
Sorry about the nitpicking, I'm just trying to convince myself not to do it on my next vacation but im slowly being convinced thats its not even remotely as scandalous as it sounds

[TimT]

What type of negligence?
Sorry about the nitpicking, I'm just trying to convince myself not to do it on my next vacation but im slowly being convinced thats its not even remotely as scandalous as it sounds

Let the baby scream, not feed at the appropriate times, not change the diaper for hours, etc.

[sammy n]

Let the baby scream, not feed at the appropriate times, not change the diaper for hours, etc.

I don't think that's a typical problem especially in a professional babysitting service. 

[rileywiles23]

Emkay, what does your wife have to say on the matter ?

[Emkay]

Let the baby scream, not feed at the appropriate times, not change the diaper for hours, etc.

If that's what the concerns boil down to then I'm doing it every vacation. Maybe even weeks at a time

[Emkay]

Emkay, what does your wife have to say on the matter ?

Well my kid has been to around 15 countries in 15 months and I never did it, so that should answer your question.

[sky121]

What type of negligence?
Sorry about the nitpicking, I'm just trying to convince myself not to do it on my next vacation but im slowly being convinced thats its not even remotely as scandalous as it sounds

It can be something simple as not changing the babies diaper to letting them cry for hours at a time. Or worse not watching them properly and letting them do things that are harmful or unsafe.

It's not scandalous. And chances are if you use a bit of common sense things might be just fine. I just don't think it's worth it.
And for me what I would consider a responsible amount of research and trusting my instincts I couldn't do properly in such a situation.

[Emkay]

It's not scandalous. And chances are if you use a bit of common sense things might be just fine. I just don't think it's worth it.
And for me what I would consider a responsible amount of research and trusting my instincts I couldn't do properly in such a situation.

Finally an answer I'm somewhat satisfied with.