28-year-old woman refuses to babysit sister’s “miracle baby” after sister mistreats her dog, the mother gets involved and calls her selfish: “You’re never stepping foot in my house again”

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Apr 18, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Hey there, internet lads and ladies. Having a younger sibling who's just starting out in adulthood could be the perfect recipe for a free babysitter when you're older, more established, and are in dire need of free childcare. Not only is it free, but there's a lot of trust built in because it's family. Your sister or brother is vetted, and you can trust that they'll do an honest job taking care of your little one. I couldn't imagine the stress of having to hire a babysitter to be with your newborn or toddler. There are some weird people out there, and you just never know what's going to happen. 

If you do have a child and need a sitter, it's easy to ask family. But that doesn't mean that they're obligated to help you. My sister just had a baby, and we live thousands of miles away from each other, or else I would love to be the one to babysit my niece when she wants to go on date night with her husband. 

In the story below, the protagonist is a woman who let her sister come over after having a baby. The sister has a problem with the protagonist's dog, Benny. The dog comes between the sister's relationship, resulting in the mother getting involved. 

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to babysit my sister’s miracle baby after what she did to my dog?

    Cheezburger Image 10493687296
    via GustavoBotta from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    So my sister (32F) had a baby last year after years of struggling with infertility. We were all happy for her. She called him her miracle baby and honestly I didn't mind the attention he got until things got weird.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 03
    I (28F) have a golden retriever named Benny. He's 5. Sweetest boy alive. Everyone in the family loves him. Even my sister used to until the baby came along.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 04
    One time I brought Benny over when I visited. He stayed on his mat didn't bark or even move. The baby started crying and my sister went I think he's making the baby nervous and asked me to put him outside in the middle of winter. I said no and left early. That was strike one.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 05
    Next time I saw her she told me straightup she didn't want Benny around her son because he's a dog. I said okay whatever and stopped bringing him. But I could tell something shifted.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10493687040
    via miodrag ignjatovic from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 07
    Then one day, I was out of town for a weekend and she begged me to let her stay at my place because hers was getting fumigated. I agreed thinking it was chill.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 08
    I come home Sunday night. Benny is hiding under the bed trembling looking all scared. I find out she locked him in the laundry room for two days straight because he was staring too much and that made the baby fussy. No food or water bowl just locked him.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 09
    I lost it. Told her she was never setting foot in my house again and that she was lucky I didn't call animal services.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 10
    Fast forward a month she's going back to work and suddenly I'm her first choice for free childcare. Wants me to watch her baby two days a week.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 11
    I said no. She flipped and called me bitter and selfish. And said I clearly don't understand what it means to love family unconditionally. My mom got involved and said I'm being cruel when I could be helping.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 12
    But this isn't just about a dog. It's about how she treated something I love without remorse and now expects me to drop everything and help her like nothing happened.
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10493687552
    via Jac Liaw from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 14
    AITA for saying no to babysitting my nephew because of what she did to my dog?
    via u/No-Sprinkles7135
  • 15
    Chibeau NTA! What she did to Benny is horrible! You trusted her with him and she locked him and didn't even give him food or water! Also, she has no right to claim your time anyway
    via u/Chibeau
  • 16
    Femmetwinkie NTA People who mistreat animals don't get to cry "family" when they need something. Good on you for setting a boundary.
    via u/Femmetwinkie
  • 17
    Writing_D3mon Don't even need to read the post, you're not obligated to baby sit for anyone.
    via u/Writing_D3mon
  • 18
    ETA: holy crap, read the post and my initial response wasn't severe enough. You're not only not obligated you shouldn't ever help her again for any reason, her or your mom.
    via u/Writing_D3mon
  • 19
    loverofcoins ABSOLUTELY NTA! people feel so entitled at times, i get it if its your sister and all but like zero reason to be cruel, its her baby so thats her world, we dont all need to live in her world. and just becaue her baby is here
    via u/loverofcoins
  • 20
    doesnt mean now everyone has to bow down to her. you are not obligated to babysit for anyone! do not feel bad and do not get gaslit!
    via u/loverofcoins
  • 21
    Dapper_Ad_819 NTA and you should report her for animal cruelty
    via u/Dapper_Ad_819
  • 22
    CurrentAccess 1885 NTA at all. If someone locked my dog in a room for any amount of time without food or water, I'd never speak to them again. That's literally like you locking her baby in a room and ignoring it.
    via u/CurrentAccess 1885
  • 23
    TaffetaSkye 20h ago You don't get to mistreat someone's loved one and then act shocked when they don't wanna help raise yours. idc if that baby was born under a full moon with all the planets aligned, your dog is family too. and your
    via u/TaffetaSkye
  • 24
    sister showed she doesn't value the things that matter. to you. she broke trust. that's the real issue here. not babysitting. not the dog. it's that she made it crystal clear she can't be trusted with your heart.
    via u/TaffetaSkye
  • 25
    mi... Huh. Two stories in two days about someone and their kid being a b while they're staying at their sister's place while it's being fumigated. Weird coincidences, I'm sure.
    via u/michael_the_street
  • 26
    WonderingMe Who was supposed to be watching Benny while you were out of town?
    via u/WonderingMe
  • 27
    GardenSafe8519 Your dog is your baby. Protect your baby. "No" is a complete sentence without having to explain anything. Though, you could remind sis that Benny will be at your house and you absolutely
    via u/GardenSafe8519
  • 28
    WILL NOT lock him away because she's got some weird phobia now about your dog looking at her baby. NTA. Not in the least
    via u/GardenSafe8519
  • 29
    NovaPrime1988 Time to cut out sis and mum. This was ab e. The excuse of "family" doesn't excuse ab e. You're not cruel, they are. NTA
    via u/NovaPrime1988

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family drama dogs drama siblings family feud relationships babysitting lol love family reddit thread Reddit funny dating
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