Feeling useless as a babysitter

[JennsPeeps]

DBF's best friend is a general contractor. He's over at our house today, working with DBF to replace our water heater with a tankless and relocate our boiler (long story summarized: we haven't had central heat for about 5 weeks due to problems with our boiler).

B/C DBF's friend watches his 7 month old daughter on weekends while his wife works, today I'm taking care of their little girl. thank goodness for their 10 year old son! I feel so useless!!

I'm in my 30s, used to babysit all the time, and want a child of my own. But their daughter is in that "stranger anxiety" stage. Her brother looks at her and she's fine. I look at her and she freaks. It's hard and frustrating.

Speaking of frustrating, think I'll go see if she wants to eat something.

 

[smom1976]

I have had to watch some kids like that.. I just hang in there till they go home..

My kids are not like that at all.... very hard to deal with..

 

[newchickenfamily]

Stranger danger! That's a tough age to watch a baby that doesn't really know you too well...

 

[PotterWatch]

My youngest son was like that for a very long time. He was just generally an unhappy baby/toddler though, not just for strangers. He usually wouldn't even be happy if my husband or my mom was holding him, it had to be me. We found out when he was four that there were medical problems behind his issues, that made it much easier to deal with.

 

[conny63malies]

all my kids needed to see is a combat uniform and they were happy. But its a tough age espec. if they are on the shy side to begin with.