Skip Nav
Love It. Save Your Favorites Now.
The 8 Things Moms Do Before the Babysitter Comes
View On One Page
Photo 6 of 8  
ADVERTISEMENT ()
6

Take out all the toys you never want to play with so that your kids can get their fix.

Legos, Bunch ‘Ems, Play Doh, kinetic sand — everything you never want to play with because it’s either a mess, grosses you out, or is hard to clean up is totally fair game for the sitter. They’re likely young and energetic and have far more patience than you.

Previous Next
Sundown Scaries: An Expert on New Parent Anxiety at Night
Family Life
How to Survive the "Sundown Scaries" as a New Parent
by Taylor Andrews 12/01/25
Why These Women Want to Be TikTok's "Cool Aunt"
Travel Inspiration
Why Everyone on TikTok Wants to Be a "Cool Aunt"
by Emma Glassman-Hughes 9/25/25
Big Little Feelings Moms Share the Best Postpartum Products
Parenting
The Moms Behind Big Little Feelings Share Game-Changing Postpartum Products
by Lena Felton 7/21/25
How Buy-Nothing Parents Are Embracing Secondhand Shopping
Parenting
Amid Rising Costs, Parents Are Overcoming the Stigma of Secondhand
by Andi Breitowich 11/25/25
How Modern Parents Are Organizing Family Photos and Memories
Parenting
The New Ways Parents Are Memory-Keeping
by Jennifer Heimlich 6/24/25
Cool Basement Parent: An Expert on the Meaning and Benefits
Family Life
The Case for Becoming a "Cool Basement Parent"
by Taylor Andrews 6/18/25

From Our Partners

Now You Know

Love Is Blind: Where Do Those Engagement Rings Come From?

Fashion

Everything to Know About the "Love Is Blind" Engagement Rings

by Sarah Wasilak 2/19

shopping

Oprah's Favorite Things List Has Major Gems, Including an Under-$100 Air Fryer

by Balim Tezel 11/06/25

Fitness

Paralympians Earn the Same Pay For Medals as Olympians, but Is It Enough?

by Karenna Meredith 8/29/24

health

How Often Should We Be Getting COVID Vaccines?

by Alexis Jones 8/23/24

Food

Pumpkin Spice Season Is Back Aug. 22

by Lauren Mazzo 8/21/24

Beauty

The Exact Red Lipstick Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Swears By

by Alaina Demopoulos 8/20/24

health

What to Know About the Latest Mpox Outbreak, According to MDs

by Alexis Jones 8/16/24

health

Céline Dion Promised Her Children She’d Live: “They Already Lost a Parent.”

by Sara Youngblood Gregory 6/11/24

Latest Family
We're Hiring! Write For Us Advertise With Us Accessibility Contact Archives
Power Your Happy
Terms Privacy Policy
©2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.