Paris Mums

[Deleted]

Tentatively planning a trip to Paris for next month. Anyone have a lead for me on finding an English speaking sitter for one night + possibly an afternoon or morning too? For a one year old. We are staying in a hotel in the Montparnasse area.

[anna7602]

Just wanted to respond before anyone tagged me. Unfortunately, our one English-speaking sitter moved out to the countryside and doesn't do any gigs in Paris anymore. our other sitters were either Spanish or French-speaking and we're planning on using one of them when we travel back this spring.

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2014 7:28:51 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Just wanted to respond before anyone tagged me. Unfortunately, our one English-speaking sitter moved out to the countryside and doesn't do any gigs in Paris anymore. our other sitters were either Spanish or French-speaking and we're planning on using one of them when we travel back this spring.

Strictly French speaking? I speak a bit of French and would be comfortable with someone that speaks a little English.

[anna7602]

Mmmm, i dont think she speaks any English at all. She's From Portugal, but has lived in France for 20-some Years. In à pinch, if DD couldn't think of what she wanted to say in French, she would say it in Spanish and this woman understood.

[anna7602]

@myblue might have contacts?

[Deleted]

Sorry! I don't have any babysitting contacts, but I do know there are agencies you can contact for babysitters. Babyspeaking does offer evening sitters but I'm not sure about daytime sitters. I nannied in Neuilly and only knew moms in that area, so they wouldn't have anyone in the Montparnasse area.

[anna7602]

I do have creperies to recommend in Montparnasse, however! Creperie de Quimper on Rue de Montparnasse (not to be confused with Blvd. du Montparnasse) was my favorite, but I also really liked La Bretonne (bonus, this one is open all day) and Plougastel. There's also an open air market on Edgar Quinet on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a Monoprix right across from the Montparnasse train station if you want to have fresh fruit/etc. in your room.

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2014 9:50:36 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Mmmm, i dont think she speaks any English at all. She's From Portugal, but has lived in France for 20-some Years. In à pinch, if DD couldn't think of what she wanted to say in French, she would say it in Spanish and this woman understood.

In an odd twist I will be there with my sister who lives in Brazil and is learning Portugese. But, sounds like a stretch. Thanks for responding though

Edited to add: thanks for the recommendations. Mouth salivating at thought of crepes.

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2014 13:01:09 GMT -5 @myblue said:

Sorry! I don't have any babysitting contacts, but I do know there are agencies you can contact for babysitters. Babyspeaking does offer evening sitters but I'm not sure about daytime sitters. I nannied in Neuilly and only knew moms in that area, so they wouldn't have anyone in the Montparnasse area.

Thanks @myblue. Will check out Babyspeaking.

Any chance of hiring you? From your ticker I would suspect you're not up for an evening with a 1 year old.

[Deleted]

Will the baby already be in bed?

[Deleted]

Jan 17, 2014 16:36:46 GMT -5 @myblue said:

Will the baby already be in bed?

Gotta be honest: he is not a super sleeper right now .

But usually pretty chill. We've been able to leave him with sitters since 4-5 months even though he is BFd and is hit and miss with a bottle.

Trying to convince DH that he could handle both of them for a weekend (also have a 4 year old). I know he can do it but not sure he wants to...

[Deleted]

Oooh! You get a vacation in Paris without the husband? Sweet!

[Deleted]

Jan 19, 2014 7:20:26 GMT -5 @myblue said:

Oooh! You get a vacation in Paris without the husband? Sweet!

DH said he couldn't handle it yet so taking the 1 year old with me. Not ideal but I'll still have fun.

Spent two weeks there back in 2007 and my sister has also seen Paris before so it should be a chill weekend of walking and indulging in a lot of great food.

Just booked tickets. Sometimes it really is glamorous living overseas. Just dropping in to Paris for a few days to hang with my sister. No big deal. Wee!