Current Events > How are you supposed to sleep when babysitting kids?

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Our nieces stayed over for the first time, about a month ago. I was up literally every 5-10 minutes to make sure they were still sleeping/nothing was going on.

Theyre coming back over this weekend, and I definitely dont want to be up again all night.

wat do

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How old are they?
if they are infants then yes you should check up on them. If they are 2+ they will holler if they need anything.

3 and 7

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Just be within earshot of them and you will be fine. Kids wake up early tho so dont plan on sleeping in

Yeah Im gonna try to set them up in my office this time, which is right across the hall from our room. That way Ill be able with to hear if they get up.

We had them in the living room before, which was probably a factor

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As someone who worked 10 hours on 3rd shift and watched my son while my ex was at work for the next 8 hours: Baby Monitor (Ask them to provide; explain why and they'll use it themselves anyway), Find activities to tire them out, and have them nap as close to you as possible (I slept on the floor with my son frequently).

It sucks, I know. I love my son more than air and water combined; but it fucking sucked. The connection you'll have with them will never be matched than anyone but their parents though. it's a slow burn, and a marathon; but it's worth it.

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lww99 posted...

I was up literally every 5-10 minutes to make sure they were still sleeping/nothing was going on.

You don't need to constantly check up on kids that age. They're capable of sleeping through the night without issue.

If you're worried just spend the day with them doing something active to tire them out.
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Oh they slept through the night with no issue, and we woke up before them the following morning.

We make sure to tire them out during the day. This is all in my head, nothing theyre saying/doing.

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lww99 posted...

Oh they slept through the night with no issue, and we woke up before them the following morning.

We make sure to tire them out during the day. This is all in my head, nothing theyre saying/doing.

Well, thats good-ish. I know what it's like to take care of kids; its nerve racking. just try to think of it this way: How much supervision did you (or maybe just the average child; you may not have average experiences) need?

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Its probably just because its new. I never had to look after any siblings, cousins, anything like that.

But yeah, I get your point. I dont recall seeing my aunts/uncles check on us often

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lww99 posted...

Its probably just because its new. I never had to look after any siblings, cousins, anything like that.

But yeah, I get your point. I dont recall seeing my aunts/uncles check on us often

kids are hearty and resilient. You're fine. You sound like an amazing.... um.. Uncle? (I chose my gender).

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You don't. Or rather, you shouldn't. Speaking from experience. Things can get real bad in the matter of seconds. If you're in charge of kids, you make sure they are safe at all times. Even if they're just watching television.

this is one of the reasons I don't want kids, I'd never be able to sleep constantly wondering if my newborn is still breathing every 5 minutes

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Set them up close, and have a baby gate so youll hear it come down if theyre going somewhere they arent supposed to.

JimmyFraska posted...

Set them up close, and have a baby gate so youll hear it come down if theyre going somewhere they arent supposed to.

thankfully we do have one set up in the hallway for the dogs. and it had a little child lock on it.

so wed hear them if they tried to get into the kitchen or something.

sLaCkEr408___RJ posted...

You don't. Or rather, you shouldn't. Speaking from experience. Things can get real bad in the matter of seconds. If you're in charge of kids, you make sure they are safe at all times. Even if they're just watching television.

This is basically just for bedtime. Were with them the entire time during the day.

If one of us needs to use the bathroom, the other stays with the kids.

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sLaCkEr408___RJ posted...

You don't. Or rather, you shouldn't. Speaking from experience. Things can get real bad in the matter of seconds. If you're in charge of kids, you make sure they are safe at all times. Even if they're just watching television.

You are definitely not wrong (biggest fear of my life was my son dropping the top of his toy chest on his head/neck), but at those ages that's almost helicopter parenting.

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