Stingy parents refuse to pay 19-year-old babysitter for the time that their child was sleeping: “We feel weird paying full price if you didn't really do anything”

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
May 25, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

I've done more than my fair share of babysitting in my lifetime, and dare I say that I'm actually pretty good at it? I have a really strong connection with my inner child, so distracting kids from their iPads is my specialty. I can't lie, though. The best babysitting gigs were the ones where parents simply needed someone to be home while they were away on a date night – the ones where I didn't even have to put the kids to sleep. Sure, sometimes they'd wake up, and I'd have to quell a tantrum when they realized that their parents weren't home, but it was usually smooth sailing with lots of Netflix and free snacks.

In our story today, a pair of stingy parents refuse to pay their 19-year-old babysitter for the time that she spent at their house watching over their son. Their reasoning is that he was asleep for the majority of the time, so she didn't really "do anything." Now she knows for next time, she's free to just leave as soon as the kid falls asleep! 

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  • 01

    AITJ for expecting full payment when the baby falls asleep while babysitting?

    Cheezburger Image 10508880640
    via Maria Sbytova

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

  • 02
    I (19F) babysit occasionally for a couple in my neighborhood. They're nice and the kid is sweet it's usually an easy gig. Last weekend they asked if I could watch their 2 year old from 6-10 PM while they went to dinner with friends. I agreed on the usual rate and showed up at 6.
    via u/SecretiveGurl
  • 03
    By 6:20, the baby was already passed out in my arms after a bottle and a quick cuddle. I laid her in her crib and didn't hear a peep the rest of the night. Literally just sat on their couch scrolling my phone for almost four hours checked the baby monitor a few times and that was it.
    via u/SecretiveGurl
  • 04
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    via pixelshot

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

  • 05
    They came home around 9:45 and were surprised the baby had been asleep almost the whole time. Then the husband half-jokingly said, "Dang! maybe we should just pay you for the 20 minutes of work"
    via u/SecretiveGurl
  • 06
    and the wife laughed. I laughed too at first thinking it was just a joke but then they handed me cash for one hour and said, "Honestly we feel weird paying full price when you didn't really do anything"
    via u/SecretiveGurl
  • 07
    I told them I still came over they still had their night out, and part of babysitting is just being there in case the baby wakes up. They didn't budge and said they'd "make it up to me next time" but I left feeling kind of taken advantage of. I didn't argue further because I didn't want to cause a scene.
    via u/SecretiveGurl
  • 08
    When I vented to my sister she said they were being cheap and I was totally right to expect full pay. AITJ for expecting full pay even though the baby was asleep almost the whole time?
    via u/SecretiveGurl

  • They just scammem vulnerable teenager with little life experience our of her valuable time. I think they planned to do exactly this from the get-go. 

  • 09
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    via studioroman

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

  • 10
    JuucedIn H I no. You're paid to watch the baby. Not for what the baby does.
    via u/JuucedIn
  • 11
    SecretiveGurl OP Yes, exactly! I like the kid but now that they did me something like this I won't be coming back and babysit again
    via u/SecretiveGurl
  • 12
    Ride Vermicelli2268 Next time they call you, when you get there tell them you're now collecting payment in advance.
    via u/Ride_Vermicelli2268
  • 13
    Charge them the balance from the last time and full payment for the anticipated hours you're about to work. Leave if they balk. These are not the type of clients you need.
    via u/Ride_Vermicelli2268
  • 14
    mrchickostick Yes! Payment in advance going forward
    via u/mrchickostick
  • 15
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    via Kaboompics.com from Pexels

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

  • 16
    Icy Mathematician2668 So it would have been cool if you left after an hour? If the baby is cranky and throws up on you do you get more? Theyre paying for piece of mind. Your sister is right theyre cheap
    via u/IcyMathematician2668

  • Right, she should definitely make this argument, get the money that she desreves, and never babysit for them again! 

  • 17
    Ditnoka I was always happy when my kid slept through babysitters. Easier job for them, less stress on my kid. Not once did I consider paying less than the time we were gone. That's actual crazy behavior.
    via u/Ditnoka
  • 18
    Annsohapiii You spent 4 hours with the baby so they still need to pay you full. You should demand the rest of the pay. That's just crazy
    via u/Annsohapiii
  • 19
    No-Poem-9846 When I used to babysit, there was one family I loved and would drop almost any plans to babysit for their two boys. They let me have friends over, eat whatever I wanted, and one time I went over at
    via u/No-Poem-9846
  • 20
    the specified time and one son was having a meltdown. A meltdown so bad the parents cancelled their plans. THEY STILL PAID ME FOR MY TIME BECAUSE I HAD RESERVED IT FOR THEM! no wonder I loved them hahahaha
    via u/No-Poem-9846
  • 21
    Vegetable_Debt7737 You are paid for the hours your work. If the child is sleeping you're still ensuring safety. Dad is just being cheap
    via u/Vegetable_Debt7737
  • 22
    RT3K69420 Cheap? I'd say the dad is being a crook.
    via u/RT3K69420
  • 23
    tacogardener Don't babysit for them again - this is a red flag. Also stand your ground.
    via u/tacogardener
  • 24
    Alfitown Or do it again and as soon as the baby sleeps call them to come home immediately because you're not getting paid to watch a sleeping baby..
    via u/Alfitown
  • 25
    romanaribella Even better, call them and say 'hey, baby's asleep, sooo I'm gonna goooo.... It's cool, right? It's not like the kid needs anything from me, right? It's not like watching a sleeping kid is actually necessary. It's not work, right? So imma head out, k?'
    via u/romanaribella
  • 26
    Born-Lingonberry-816 I would be telling everyone that they don't pay their sitters. This would be like someone not getting paid because customers didn't come in during the shift. Wrong and gross, they need to start paying cash in hand before they leave to rebuild trust with you or no
    via u/Born-Lingonberry-816
  • 27
    more baby sitting, if you go back. A good sitter is soooo hard to find! Maybe have a parent explain to them that what they did was theft and they can fix it or moving forward please don't reach out but don't expect any other neighbor kid to watch your kid for free either. Nta but these people are.
    via u/Born-Lingonberry-816
  • 28
    No_Community_8279 You should tell them they need to pay you in full. Were you supposed to wake the baby up and not let him sleep so you 'earned' your pay? Or would they have been okay with you leaving the baby home alone since he was sleeping?
    via u/No_Community_8279
  • 29
    They agreed to pay for your time. You spent 4 hours there. They need to pay for 4 hours. Don't sit for them again.
    via u/No_Community_8279

Tags

childcare Babies babysitter entitled parents married with children adulting teenagers parenting raising teens babysitting raising kids money Parenting Fail parents entitled people
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