Jerseygirl

TBH I would forego a dinner or two for just the 2 of you and make it for 3. I can't imagine leaving my small child with a stranger just for a meal out. There are lots of places where the three of you could have dinner.

shabab1978

that is a very rude judgment. Our little boy is almost two years old and in that time we have not once had a baby sitter,been in daycare and he has never been left period. My wife is a stay at home mother with no family here. I work very long hours in the city and i though it would be nice if i could take her to dinner for once where she can enjoy dressing up. We are VERY responsible parents thank you, hence asking advice from people. stop being so rude and critical. A dinner out as a couple in two years is not grounds for judgment or your nasty responses. If you have nothing helpful to say, don't say it.

Novocastrian

Don't they have babysitting firms in London then?

Jerseygirl

I don't think anyone is being nasty or rude...just concerned. There are far too many cases of something happening to children by strangers while their parents aren't around. My husband was working between the UK, US and Switzerland when our daughter was young...I too was a stay at home Mum...and I too like dressing up and having a night out...but under the circumstance I would take my child with me.

BristolUK

I think one or two are being a tad judgmental and maybe taking things too literally.

The fact that JohnboyE has provided a link to a seemingly appropriate website suggests the assistance requested is sought by many.

Besides, aren't we all taking advice - or at the very least opinions - from strangers? It doesn't mean we're going to act on it.

Abarth

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Tirytory

I reserve the right to still think it's odd...so you are coming for a week on holiday, you have never had childcare of any sort at all until now and yet you are choosing to look for a babysitter now for a "few nights" your own words I might add... Wouldn't it be best to just do it at home where you can source a known babysitter from friends around you??

It was an issue that crossed our minds when we moved here...to go from family occasionally (very) babysitting to having no one around to do it. But that's having children for you... Tbh I would never be able to relax knowing a stranger was looking after my not able to talk one yr old or nearly two yr old.

bats

Well I'll be rude and judgemental. It's not fair on your child to leave him for the first time when he is in a strange environment so unless you get some practice in before your vacation he is going to be one very unhappy child.

I doubt your wife will enjoy her evening when he balls his eyes out as she leaves him with a stranger. However well qualified they may be. Does she know about your plan btw? I think this night out is all about you wanting your pre-kid dressed up wife back.

BEVS

I agree with this.

Oakvillian

No. No, there really aren't. There are very, very, very few cases of strangers doing anything to children while their parents aren't around. Their very rarity is what makes them headline news when they do happen.

To the OP: where are you staying when you're here? Hotels sometimes offer babysitting services (and will, presumably, have done police checks and vulnerable-sector screening checks on their sitters, if for no other reason than public liability concerns). If not, hotel concierges may have information about local agencies that provide police-checked sitters to hotel guests. If you really must go out for a meal without the child at all, that is.

However, I would echo Bats' point. If you've never left your child with a stranger at any point in the last two years, don't do that for the first time when the child is in a strange place with strange people around all the time. It's not fair on the child. Take him or her with you to dinner, or take a day off work when you get home and have a meal out in London. If that's rude and judgmental, then so be it.

dbd33

I suppose it wouldn't be helpful to say that, in those circumstances, we gave the child a glass of wine then locked the door and went to dinner.

Jerseygirl

IMO one case is far too many.

I would never leave my child with someone I didn't know well. I don't care how much vetting an agency, hotel etc has done...I would not trust strangers with my young child.

JamesM

I don't get it????

Hooters is a family restaurant. Just take the child with you.

Tirytory

Ooh ooh ooh what did Shard say??? Drat I missed the going too far bit

dbd33

We did take one to the Quebec Carnival when she was a few weeks old. I've a picture somewhere of a basket, containing the child, on the foot rail at the bottom of the bar stools. Small children can be taken anywhere, it's the self propelling bellowing Tarquins that are more bother, from about age 2 to, say, 17, they're best left indoors.