“Baby-Sitters” Organised

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 24, 24 February 1948, Page 5

“Baby-Sitters” Organised

Service Offered By Public-S^ ,r,ted Nurses Mothers anfl fa»C“ have not had a night' •»“' together since as far back :**-£ v iAe y can remember will stai planning when they read of tiA? ' nnova_ tion of “baby-sitters” around Whakatane. “Baby-sitters” from the W^ 3 " tane angle, are a group of nm' ses from the district' hospital who ha\ ’ e organised a spare-time service, offering to sacrifice their own offduty time to allow parents who cannot get domestic help a little relaxation. How It Started Commercial baby sitting began, it is thought, in America, following World War I, when parents had plenty money, and Mum and Dad felt they had to go out nights and keep up with their childless friends, so would hire the girl next door to come in and mind Junior. Bright “Babies” There is a case of note in an American University; four young students advertised themselves as baby-sitters anywhere and for any duration. . The four were engaged almost immediately to look after four babies in a certain street, from seven in the evening. Arriving at the appointed place, at the agreed time, they found themselves engaged to “sit” with four “babies” from the fraternity house of their own university. Three have married their “babies” and the other is still engaged. Development In N.Z. m

No such cases have yet been noted in New Zealand but there is plenty of scope and the movement is yet young. It originated in Wellington among students ht the various colleges and hostels during the domestic staffing shortage and has caught on with many parents and become a means of allowing them an occasional free evening together, besides making the additional shilling or so for the students.

The nurses however, are .very anxious that the intending users of this service should not ring the hospital as they cannot use it as a office.? They have already advertised a telephone number, at which messages will be received.