Do grandparents have an obligation to babysit the grandkids?

I never ask my mom to watch my kids because I never go out. I choose to spend my free time with my kids, plus I'm more of a laid back person, I love being home. But, I do have a sister that goes out a lot and she is either asking me or my mom to watch them. My mom finally put her foot down and told my sister that she isn't doing anymore over the night baby-sitting and said that she has done her part in raising her kids and she is done. I can't say I blame her. She is grandma, not mommy. My sister still will ask my mom to babysit, but if it's overnight, she asks me. And I believe she goes out once maybe twice a week and me and my mom just take turns babysitting. I love her, but I think she needs to settle down a little. My mom has said the same thing you said about investing in a babysitter if you really must go out. So, I understand what you are saying.

It is important to differentiate between obligation and desire. On the rare occasion that I ask one of parents to watch my children or some of my children, I never EXPECT them to do it. However, my parents enjoy spending time with my children and I do not feel bad if I ask them to watch them occasionally, whether it is for hubby and I to have a date or for me to run to a doctor's appointment. if they cannot do it, I have many other relatives who will usually help out and if none of them can I will hire a sitter or make other arrangements (not go, take kids with me). As for paying the grandparents or other relatives, we are family and we do favors for each other often. I care for my nephews and niece and my little brother (yes, I have an 11 year old brother), as often if not more than I have others care for my kids. I also bring my dad food and cook for him often. trust is also an issue. I trust my family more than I trust a paid babysitter. I KNOW without a doubt that my family has my child's best interests at heart. It also provides for good bonding experiences for the children to spend time with relatives WITHOUT mom and dad around.

I am a grandparent and I don't feel any obligation to babysit my grandaughter - I do it because I love doing it. Actually my daughter very rarely goes out in the evening - maybe once every couple of months - but if she has an appointment or something like that I keep my grandaughter. Although she has her own room in my home she's never stayed overnight with me yet because there's never been a need for it and both my daughter and I feel that at just one year old she's still a little young to do that just for the sake of it as it would upset her routine. I've seen other posts on here where people talk about needing "time off" from being a parent and I think that's a little strange to be honest. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying there's anything wrong with going out, etc as long as your child is well cared for by a responsible person in your absence, but being a parent is a 24/7 job and there is no "entitlement" to time off or a break. If you're lucky you will have trustworthy, responsible people that can help out but I don't think anyone else is obliged to do so and that includes grandparents.

No, I don't think grandparents are obligated to babysit their grandchildren. Both my mother and my husband's parents live out of state so there were no babysitting services from them. I never expected them to help me, but they did what they could and I was grateful for that. I live next door to a couple who have six kids and all their kids have children of their own and they do babysit every single day and frankly, I think they don't like it one bit.

I don't believe that a grandparents has an obligation to watch their grandchildren. They aren't the ones who brought them into this world. Grandparents have already raised their children so unless they want to spend the time with their grandchildren they shouldn't have to. My parents like to have my sons over to spend the night every other Staurday night. It has given them a close bond. My fiancees mother lives with us so that she can watch the children while my fiancee and I are at work. It is part of a deal her mom and her made years ago when my fiancees mother found that she couldn't work anymore.

Parents do need a break, but grandparents have no obligation to be the providers of that break. I'm fortunate that my mother loves to spend time with my kids, and makes a point of giving all of us (my siblings also have families) date nights a few times a year. I don't think she needs to be sitting in the rocking chair waiting for me to drop my kids off, though. She raised us and did a good job. Now it's her turn to do her own thing. She's a great grandmother, and a part of that is b/c she isn't taking care of the kids out of obligation.

If your parents have said beforhand that they will love to baby sit, then you you can get them to baby sit. But you shouldn't assume that they have nothing better to do and just drop off the kids at your parent's house and leave.Even if your parents want to baby sit, you should call first to see if they are free.

My brother is always having my parents watch them, and he even has tried to ask me. Luckily I said no. In fact, he has my sister-in-law's sister watch his baby all the time! In fact, he pays her 500 USD a month to watch him because she is always watching him. Now, I don't mind watching once in a while, however, he calls at the last minute (the night before of the day of) and asks my parents to babysit. I've already told him no before when he asks me. My parents have babysat their grandchild for two weeks when he was at work, so that was about 5 hours each day for two weeks. It's not like we live close to each other either, he lives in a suburb, and we live in the city so it takes us about 50 minutes to get there. I KNOW I am being very selfish about this matter, in fact, someone had posted about how grandparents are supposed to take care of them from time to time and how we should rejoice (from the Bible, now I forget the passage, sorry). However, I feel my brother is taking advantage of us, and the only reason he is getting his wife's sister to do it is by paying her! It is very difficult for me to always have to cancel plans at the last minute when he doesn't give us advanced knowledge (we share a vehicle together, my parents and I). Therefore, I'm without any transportation, and it does make me angry at times. However, I understand that he wants to work as much as he can, many times 3 shifts back to back. Pablo

As a grandparent I enjoy taking care of my grandchildren. But we don't have an obligation to babysit the kids. I feel that parents, if they are able to, should raise their own children, however, sometimes the parents due to illness can't always take care of the children then the grandparents should help out. When I was raising my kids, my parents lived in Puerto Rico and I lived in the states so they couldn't help. I had to hire babysitters when I needed a break as my in-laws would never babysit even when I was sick.

No I don't. They didn't make the kids.

I guess it deends on the circumstances again, i would never leave my daughter with someone i didn't trust, especially not just some baby sitter who has barely hit their teens! I do think Grandparents like looking after their grandkids more often than not, they see it as being their time to spoil & bond. I know my Mum would be over the moon if i asked her to look after my daughter but i don't feel comfortable right now leaving her with anyone anyway (my parents are a fair drive away) & even so, i don't do anything that requires her to need another person's care anyway! I guess it's really up to the parent & also how their parents feel about taking care of kids.

No, when my parents lived within a mile of us, they watched the kids sometimes, like if I had a doc appt and they happened to be home, they would watch the younger two kids since the older ones were in school. Now that they are further away, I just keep them with me all the time. I don't have anyone to watch them, and I worry about leaving them with a stranger. I don't mind asking, if they were already here at my house or something so I could run to the store real quick without everyone, I mean they can always say no. I don't think they have an obligation though and every weekend is just wrong lol.

It true what you say. I dont ask my parents to look after my children when I have to go somewhere. If we want to take a break, we should arrange for someone to look after our kids. We should only bring our children to visit their grandparents and not to ask them to look after.

They do not have any obligation but I think it would be nice when they do it. I mean they do not have a job and they have a lot of free time and in this way they could help their children to manage the situation. And I think for them is also a lot of fun:).

No I don't think grandparents should babaysit all the time. Every once in awhile if their health isn't bad and is up to it. Than yes. I do. I think it is a bonding experience for the grandparents and grandkids. It gives them time to spend with each other. When otherwise they wouldn't have. My parents do not watch my kids. As they live in another state than I. I am lucky enough to have an older child in his teens who helps to babysit his much younger siblings for a few hours so I can get a break. Even if it means just going to the grocery store to buy groceries by myself. Other wise my kids go with me everywhere I go. Even if they are in a grumpy mood and feel like throwing a fit. They go with me.

no they don't have to watch them but it is nice if they do. My parents watched my daughter when she was little so that I could have date night with my husband once a month. My mom was my baby sitter while I worked. Grandparents are wonderful but remember they are still your children. Your parents have raised their children they are just helping you out.

I believe being a parent is a 24/7 365 days a year responsibility. I never feel obligated to babysit but I do think of it as a privilage. I am privilaged that I have been blessed with my two grandchildren and even more blessed to see what good parents these children have. My daughhter flat out told me right in the beginning that I would not be raising her children and I am certainly not being used as a babysitter. They don't believe much in babysitters because of all the crap that goes on for one thing but I personally do believe they should go out at least once a month even if it's just for a couple hours to the show, but I work hard at minding my own bussiness. I'm just happy as can be when I am asked to sit with the kids but it's never for long and certainly not very often.

Grand parent job is to rasie there sons adn daughters nto there grand kids there should eb no obligation to do this they should be asked if they want to and not made to feel they need to say yes. Grandparents are there to spoil and enjoy there grand kids nothing really more.

Nobody is obligated unless they are their own children. My parents are very supportive of their grandkids but I certainly don't take their help for granted.

i wouldn't think it's expected. however i would much rather have them watch him vs some teenager i don't know very well. and they always want to see him, all the time. so it's a chance for them to visit with him, and yet it does us a favor as well!