Sister-in-law babysits niece for $400 biweekly, protests when mom docks her pay for selling their $600 stroller: 'I told her it was a loan'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Oct 5, 2026 12:30 PM EDT

Why did she think she had the right to sell somebody else's property?

The belief that family helps family is rarely more important than when it comes to childcare. One of the most valuable resources that a parent can have is somebody who is willing to occasionally look after their kids for free or at a heavily discounted rate. The people who are most likely to be willing to do that are probably going to be related to them.

Of course, it is wrong to assume that just because somebody is a relative, they will happily babysit your children. A lot of people are going to expect something in return, whether that is money or just a general favor. The other awkward thing about relying on family members for childcare is that you cannot hold them to the same standards as professionals; they are more likely to be casual about the whole endeavor, and maybe behave in ways that you don't approve of. If you end up in some kind of disagreement, you cannot expect to continue to get those babysitting benefits that you once enjoyed. It is a matter of trust that can sometimes be betrayed in the most unexpected of ways.

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  • An expecting mom smiles as she picks up her young daughter.
    via Brook Cagle (Unsplash+)

    An expecting mom smiles as she picks up her young daughter. Photo is a representation of scenes.
     

  • A mom had worked out what she thought was a good arrangement with her sister-in-law where she paid her $400 every fortnight to watch her daughter 2 days per week. It was a setup that everybody involved was happy with.

    However, tensions rose when the mom realized she was expecting again, and she asked her SIL to return the stroller she had lent her for her son. It transpired that she had sold it, so she asked her to find a way to pay it back.

    When she refused, the mom decided to take the money from her paycheck. The SIL refused to do more babysitting, and the family was split on her response.

  • Am I wrong for docking my SIL's babysitting pay after she sold the stroller I lent her?

    My SIL watches our daughter 2 days a week while I'm at work and I pay her $400 every other week. It's way less than daycare and our daughter loves her, so it's worked out great for everybody.
    via silky_bubblezz
  • About 2 years ago when she had her son I lent her our stroller, the really nice one that cost us around $600. I told her to use it as long as she needed but that we'd want it back if we ever had another baby.
    via silky_bubblezz
  • Then we found out I was preg nt, very much a surprise. A couple weeks ago | asked if we could have the stroller back since the baby's due next month and she told me kind of casually that she'd sold it online back in the spring for $350 and put the money toward a girls' weekend at the beach.
    via silky_bubblezz

  • The SIL didn't believe that she had done anything wrong.

    I asked if she could pay it back however worked for her, even $50 a month. She said no because "it was basically a hand-me-down anyway" and I should've said something if I wanted it back. I did say something, I said it the day I gave it to her.
    via silky_bubblezz
  • So last week when I paid her for babysitting I sent $50 instead of $400 with a note that said minus 350 for the stroller. She called my husband crying and then texted me that she's done watching our daughter after this month, which is right when the baby's due. My husband was literally standing right there when I told her it was a loan. My MIL thinks I should have let it go to keep the peace since she watches our daughter for so cheap.
    via silky_bubblezz
  • A woman pushes a stroller with a baby in it down a country road.
    via Vikram Singh

    A woman pushes a stroller with a baby in it down a country road. Featured likenesses do not identify those mentioned.
     

  • She took something from her.

    AdMountain6124 Why is always the victim supposed to "let it go" or "be the bigger person"? Why can't they tell the other person "to be a better person"
    via AdMountain6124
  • starlit-shimmerx she sold ur stroller to pay for a beach trip and somehow ur the problem?? nta Imao
    via starlit-shimmerx
  • Professional_Feed_85 My husband loaned a stroller that wasn't his(on loan) to one of his buddies. Well that guy Dan got rid of and when the original guy came asking for it back, my husband delievered a brand new very expensive running stroller to him.
    via Professional_Feed_85

  • It was time to look at alternative childcare options.

    Egbezi NTA. Your SIL is a thief. However, I'm sorry but you're going to pay more for childcare. Thief's don't feel remorse or they did anything wrong.
    via Egbezi
  • Bunion Soup Y'all are NOT READING THAT SIL ONLY BABYSAT FOR TWO DAYS ($100 a day) EACH WEEK! Getting $400 paid every other week. How are these slave wages?!?
    via Bunion_Soup
  • Consistent-Ad3191 She sold something that wasn't hers. It was deducted out of her pay, regardless of what they agreed upon. She shouldn't have sold the stroller to begin with. She still got her payment, but it was deducted because she stole.
    via Consistent-Ad3191

  • It shouldn't have been her responsbility.

    Good-Seesaw1933 You husband you should dealt with that. It's his sister. But 100% your SIL is wrong in this situation.
    via Good-Seesaw1933
  • notanametoday Parents always tell the more reasonable person to let it go because it is easier than dealing with the unreasonable one. It is bad parenting. Now that you have two kids, keep that in mind and don't behave that way. You have seen first hand the problems it causes.
    via notanametoday
  • AdLiving2291 Nta. You did the right thing, she's well out of order.
    via AdLiving2291

  • There was a price to pay.

    Flaky-Hovercraft8768 Your nta but that stroller is going to cost you a whole lot more than the money she sold it for now you have to pay for proper childcare.
    via Flaky-Hovercraft9768

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family drama moms babysitting stroller
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