'Can I make my babysitter do housework when the kids are asleep?'

"Light tidying is always acceptable if she's just sitting there. Why not make yourself useful?"

Finding a babysitter who not only enjoys hanging out with your kids but also does a little bit of tidying up can feel like hitting the jackpot. 

Walking into a clean house after a night out is always a welcome surprise - but a recent post has sparked a debate about whether this type of behaviour should be expected, or even - requested.

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"A list of tasks was laid out for her on the table"

Normally, the person who babysits for you is primarily focused on ensuring the wellbeing of your children.

They provide snacks, sometimes meals, play games and make sure your little one's bedtime routine is adhered to.

But after that, they usually just watch TV or scroll on their phones until you come home, right?

Cleaning up your house isn't usually part of the package.

But one mum in a private parenting group started a heated debate when she asked 260k women if it's appropriate to ever request house cleaning from a babysitter. 

The anonymous mum shared that her university-aged daughter recently began babysitting for a family.

However, things took a turn on her second day when she was presented with a list of chores waiting for her on the table. 

Tasks included washing that family's dishes and even cleaning up messes that were created before she arrived. 

Image: IStock

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"This is kind of passive-aggressive"

Many commenters agreed that anything outside the job of babysitting is an additional job, and thus should require additional payment. 

"Adding extra chores without previously agreeing to them seems kind of passive-aggressive. It seems like they're trying to skimp on getting a cleaner," one person said. 

Another wrote: "Some light tidying is always acceptable. But turning it into a full house-cleaning job - they're milking it haha."

"As a parent, I'd feel so guilty asking a babysitter to do house chores, that's not what they're there for," said a third. 

But on the other hand, some people thought it was okay to ask. 

"If your daughter is comfortable doing extra tasks and it's reflected in her pay, then why not? It could be a win-win," someone pointed out. "Her earning potential could increase."

"Sure, if the sitter has some downtime while the kids are asleep, why not make yourself useful?" concluded a different woman. 

Originally published as 'Can I make my babysitter do housework when the kids are asleep?'