Gen Z Gets Babysitting Contract, Rules Shock Everyone

A Mother's Shock at a Daycare Provider's Contract

A young mother from Indiana recently shared her surprise after reaching out to a daycare provider who sent her a written contract, which she described as "unprofessional." The 22-year-old mom from Salem, Indiana, chose to remain anonymous, but her experience highlights the challenges many parents face when seeking reliable childcare.

The mother initially contacted an in-home daycare provider to inquire about availability. Instead of receiving basic information, she was sent a two-page document outlining fees, house rules, and disciplinary policies. At first, she thought it was simply poorly written and unprofessional. However, as she read through the details, she realized her son would not be staying with this provider.

Fees and Paid Time Off

The contract included charges of $25 per child, per day, with additional fees for siblings. It also outlined late-pickup penalties and mandatory weekly payments. One particularly controversial aspect was the requirement for families to continue paying during the provider's two weeks of paid vacation, 10 personal days, and several federal holidays.

While the mother recognized some conditions, such as keeping sick children at home, were standard, she felt the contract went too far. She noted that while some aspects were common, the way the provider communicated made it seem unprofessional. "The rest was just flat out ridiculous," she said.

Discipline Policy Shocks the Mom

One clause in the contract stated that discipline could include tapping hands or placing children in a corner. The provider even added that, if necessary, she would "pop them on the butt." The mother was shocked to see such measures in writing. "I can't believe some people do that, let alone daycare providers," she said.

In Indiana and across the U.S., corporal punishment is prohibited in licensed childcare centers and family childcare homes under state regulations designed to protect children's safety. While parents may legally use "reasonable" physical discipline in private homes, non-parents, such as daycare providers, are barred from doing so.

Finding Reliable Childcare

Finding reliable childcare is already a major challenge for families, from finding the right placement to the costs involved. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, nearly 23 million children under the age of 5 live in the U.S., and 71% live in households where all parents work. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in 2024, 78% of mothers with children aged 6 to 17 were working or looking for work, compared with 92.5% of fathers.

After reading the contract, the mother decided not to sign the agreement and has not communicated further with the provider. "I just haven't replied to her," she said. "She sent me this 'contract' that I'm not signing, so I don't see any reason for further communication with her."

Internet Reacts to the Contract

The mother later posted the document to Reddit's Am I Overreacting? forum, where it gained widespread attention before being deleted. Reddit users quickly weighed in, with many expressing shock at the content of the contract.

One commenter wrote: "This is the worst and most poorly written 'contract' I've ever seen." Another added: "This document looks like it was typed 49 years ago. Obviously lots of red flags."

The paid vacation time was a recurring subject among the comments, as one user said: "Maybe I'm personally overreacting, but an independent babysitter demanding that you pay her vacation time off is insane to me lmao."

Another user commented: "2 weeks paid vacation? Let's be clear, you are a small business owner. You provide your own paid vacation. Next she's gonna ask for health insurance."

Some commenters were more sympathetic to the provider. "Most of this is common for an actual daycare center, even having to pay while you are on vacation. However, the paid vacation and personal days are something she could expect if she worked for a center, but she doesn't," said one user.

Another wrote: "I actually think this is fine as a contract for babysitting until you get to the discipline part."

The mother explained that she shared the contract online "because I thought Reddit would have fun with it." She added: "For the most part, it looks like most everyone else agreed with what I thought, but of course, it's the internet, so even though I shared very little information about the issue, you still have those trolls jumping to conclusions. But I don't know any of these people, so it doesn't really bother me."