I have babysitter questions.

[cjeanette]

I would have her put her to bed. She is old enough that it might freak her out if someone she barely knows comes in later.

I would provide dinner. Maybe get a frozen pizza?

[game blouses]

I'd definitely have the sitter give her dinner (if possible) and put her to bed. We have them come at 4 so they can play with the kids while we get ready, then we leave around 5 and the sitter gives the kids dinner around 6. I write out a nighttime routine for my sitters and it generally goes fine.

We usually leave a meal from Trader Joe's or the grocery store deli for them.

[momin2013]

I also would have her put her to bed. I remember as a babysitter putting kids that age to bed and it turned out o.k. Definitely better than your DD waking up and wondering where her mom and dad are.

To me, 6:30 is a bit late for dinner, unless your DD usually eats at that time, in which case I'd probably have something simple like a pizza/frozen pizza ready. If not, I'd make sure to have a couple of options for snacks and just make sure to leave them out/show her where they are so she knows she's welcome to them.

[imojoebunny]

I usually get a few box frozen meals, like Amy's or Cedar lane burritos that are widely appealing and I like too. I would leave before bedtime because I hate bedtime and want the sitter to do it.

[Deleted]

I think you can forgo dinner for her at 6:30. I give my babysitters free reign of the fridge and pantry if they want a snack but I don't worry about dinner if they arrive after 6pm. I'm not sure if they take me up on the snack offer but I think it is nice to give them the option.

I would have the babysitter put her to bed. I find it amazing that these teenagers can get my kids to bed so easily. I used to stress out about it and think that the poor things would be struggling and that my kids would be up all night in tears. That has never happened and I now enjoy the freedom of being out past 8pm. I have come home a couple of times and found my kids out of bed way later than they should be but I know if it a very rare occurrence and I can have them take a nap the next day to make up for it. My time with DH is more important than stressing about bedtime.