UPDATE: An Indiana mother is raising eyebrows after revealing a shocking babysitting contract filled with unexpected rules and fees. The 22-year-old mom from Salem expressed her disbelief after receiving the two-page document from an in-home daycare provider, which she described as “unprofessional.”
The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, first contacted the babysitter to check availability. Instead, she was met with a detailed contract outlining charges of $25 per child, per day, extra fees for siblings, late pickup penalties, and mandatory weekly payments. This contract included a stipulation that families must continue paying during the provider’s two weeks of paid vacation, 10 personal days, and several federal holidays.
“I thought it was a very poorly written and unprofessional contract,” she told Newsweek. “But by the end, I could see my son was not going to be staying with this woman.”
One particularly alarming clause stated that discipline could include “tapping hands” or even “popping them on the butt.” The mother was taken aback, stating, “I can’t believe some people do that, let alone daycare providers.” In Indiana, corporal punishment is illegal in licensed childcare settings, raising serious concerns regarding the provider’s practices.
Finding reliable childcare is a significant challenge for many families. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, nearly 23 million children under the age of five live in the U.S., with around 71% of them in working households. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 78% of mothers with children aged 6 to 17 are in the workforce.
After reviewing the bizarre contract, the mother opted not to sign it and has cut off communication with the provider. “I just haven’t replied to her,” she said. “I don’t see any reason for further communication.”
The contract went viral after the mother posted it on Reddit, sparking a flood of reactions. Commenters expressed disbelief at the contract’s terms, with one stating, “This is the worst and most poorly written ‘contract’ I’ve ever seen.” Another added, “Maybe I’m personally overreacting, but an independent babysitter demanding that you pay her vacation time off is insane to me.”
However, some users noted that many of the terms are not uncommon in commercial daycare settings. “Most of this is common for an actual daycare center,” one user pointed out, while another remarked, “I actually think this is fine as a contract for babysitting until you get to the discipline part.”
The mother shared the contract online, stating, “I thought Reddit would have fun with it.” She found that most users agreed with her perspective, but acknowledged the presence of trolls on the platform.
As this story continues to trend, it raises critical questions about what constitutes acceptable childcare practices and the realities facing parents seeking reliable options. With the challenges of finding trustworthy babysitters already daunting, this unexpected contract adds another layer of complexity to the childcare landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
