Babysitting Services at the Reception

GR2010 Posted: Apr 19, 2009 11:24 PM

Babysitting Services at the Reception

I was just wondering if anyone offered babysitting services at their wedding for guests who had to bring their children? We know we're going to have 5-10 children coming at most and didn't want the parents to feel like they had to have their kids attached at the hip the entire time. The RH we picked has a great room off of the bridal suite that would be perfect for this...

little j Posted: Apr 20, 2009 07:05 AM

Re: Babysitting Services at the Reception

We have been thinking about this too. We will decide later on when we really check out the guest list. Some things I have been thinking about are:

*are the kids the same age? meaning, will they all want to play and do the same thing?
*how will the parents feel about this? i dont want to provide this service, and then have the parents say that they would rather the child stay with them (i think this might be the case more often then not in my situation)

Have you thought of these things? I would be interested in hearing other peoples thoughts...or how well (or not) it worked from brides that have done this in the past!

JAAMS Posted: Apr 20, 2009 08:38 AM

Re: Babysitting Services at the Reception

I've considered doing this, but I would have the babysitter stay in the same room w/ the children that the reception is going on in. It will ultimately depend how many children there are, and how comfortable parents will feel with this. I feel like if the kids are like 5/6+ they really don't need a babysitter if their parents are going to be in the same room with them.

That said, when my brother got married, they had a babysitter for my nephew (2 at the time), and it worked out very well.

JAAMS Posted: Apr 20, 2009 08:39 AM

Re: Babysitting Services at the Reception

Just a word of advice if you do go with a babysitter. I work every day as a babysitter so I have a pretty good idea of what parents are looking for. I would def def def go for someone who is a little bit older... like 18+ for sure, and you might even want to go for 21+ so you don't have to worry about alcohol.

qdp86 Posted: Apr 20, 2009 08:49 AM

Re: Babysitting Services at the Reception

I am having one of my friend's sister (who is in college), come to the hotel that night where OOT guests are staying and watch them all, maybe with a friend. We have about 5.

SB7308 Posted: Apr 20, 2009 09:11 AM

Re: Babysitting Services at the Reception

I did. I had 2 girls watch the few kids we had there. These girls were friends of my cousin ( I knew them too). They were 19 yrs. old.

We bought coloring books and movies to keep the kids occupied. They did great and the kids had a ball.

We used the bridal suite.

GR2010 Posted: Apr 20, 2009 06:51 PM

Re: Babysitting Services at the Reception

Those are the same questions I have been asking myself... the majority of the kids will be between 2-4 years old and most of these people are my FH's out of town friends so I don't want to say 'no kids' and make these people find something to do with their kids for an entire weekend but I do want them to be able to get up and dance and have the opportunity to have a few kid free moments if they want. The Woodlands has this great little room off of the bridal suite with couches and a tv and dvd player so I figured it would be perfect for the few kids we do have if they get bored or if their parents want to leave them in there for a little while...

Good call on the over 21 thing. My sister is a teacher so I was thinking of asking one of her friends who is certified in early childhood ed which I figured would leave some of the parents more at ease...