Is it true that if you babysit your relatives or just children in general a lot, it better equips you to be a good parent?
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I think it does especially if you spend a lot of time taking care of children not just see them once in a while and play with them! My sister used to come visit with my niece a lot so I got to spend a lot of time with her and learned a lot of things related to caring for children.
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I think so! At the very least you know the technical details about soothing a crying baby and what goes where when you change a diaper :p
I'm totally nervous about changing diapers. I told hubby we need a nanny for me first before we consider one for the baby hahaha... oh lordy, help!
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I dont know...
Someone said that to me and I dont know if its true. How can babysitting prepare someone to be a good parent?
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I guess you learn patience, mostly, and how to deal with little kids- and you work on your stamina. Personally, I find toddlers exhausting. They have mA so much energy and are always on the go- I don't know what I'm going to do!
Why do you think it doesn't?
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
Because I babysit my niece A LOT. The 3.5 yrs old is almost permanently attached to me and we do lots of things together. My BIL and I play tug of war over her…
The thing is, even though Ive been there since the day she was born…I forget so many things that only her mother (my sister) could think of. Sometimes there is guilt because of that too. 
The point is, I was talking to a friend of mine and he said something like “I babysit my nieces and nephews all the time, Im pretty sure Ive got the hang of this kid thing”. That statement just seemed a bit off to me.
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I think it depends on the context and how you approach it. A few of my cousins have just started having children in the last few years and there's no shortage of babysitters willing to play with them and spoil them. Parenting is something else.
I'm the eldest of six, so I played a significant role. This doesn't mean that I am better equipped to be a good parent but it does mean that's there's a lot of things I already know how to do, so I'd start off a more confident one at least. I think because of that, I have already formed some quite strong ideas on how I would parent, based on observing my mother and my own experiences. I was however, less of a babysitter and more of an extra parent in my opinion, from caring for them when they were ill, making sure things were organised for school, discipline etc.
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
It's not the SAME as being a parent, but I do think it prepares you to be a good parent.
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
There are always things you learn only when you become a parent because it's definitely true that the more you spend time with kids the more you know and feel confident about raising kids!
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
i dont know bout good parent or not... but babysitting does teach you how to change a diaper, if a baby gets sick what you can do ... if it hurts itself how do you help it get better or feel better.. yada yada yada...
i had loads of cousins that i would feed and bathe and play with... it didnt even come close to the real deal when i became a mother.. but i already did know how to put in a diaper, what do with a nappy rash.. how to soothe a crying baby etc.. hey.. before all of it.. how to HOLD a baby :D hehe...
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I am happy they told me the basics at the hospital ..after the baby was born.... otherwise I would have been doomed.
Re: Babysitting = Parenting?
I think it depends on the context and how you approach it. A few of my cousins have just started having children in the last few years and there's no shortage of babysitters willing to play with them and spoil them. Parenting is something else.
I'm the eldest of six, so I played a significant role. This doesn't mean that I am better equipped to be a good parent but it does mean that's there's a lot of things I already know how to do, so I'd start off a more confident one at least. I think because of that, I have already formed some quite strong ideas on how I would parent, based on observing my mother and my own experiences. I was however, less of a babysitter and more of an extra parent in my opinion, from caring for them when they were ill, making sure things were organised for school, discipline etc.
I agree, also i have lots of cousins and because of that i know how to do the basic things like changing the nappy, feeding them, etc. But at the end of the day you play with the baby and it goes back to the parents you are not with the baby 24/7. So there is a difference, but you do learn things by babysitting them. Oh and hi everyone!