AITA for Am I in the wrong about saying I won’t babysit unless his child is potty trained?
The babysitting gig started with visions of juice boxes and cartoons, not a nose-diving dive into diaper chaos. A 19-year-old thought they were doing their brother a solid by watching his 4-year-old son, only to face a smelly surprise: the kid’s not potty trained and has a knack for fibbing about his accidents. One gag-inducing diaper change later, they’re done—vowing no more childcare until the nephew’s aiming for the toilet.
It’s a story that hits home for anyone roped into family favors, only to find the fine print’s a dealbreaker. The brother’s breezy “it’s normal” excuse, paired with hints of marital mess, leaves readers torn between sympathy and side-eye. Is it fair to draw that line in the sandbox, or should they just hold their nose and deal? Let’s wade into this toddler-sized tempest and figure it out.
‘AITA for Am I in the wrong about saying I won’t babysit unless his child is potty trained?’
Yikes, talk about a babysitting plot twist—agreeing to watch a kid only to face a diaper disaster is enough to make anyone rethink family favors. This 19-year-old’s new rule—no babysitting until the nephew’s potty trained—isn’t just about avoiding a repeat; it’s about setting boundaries after being blindsided. The brother’s “it’s fine” attitude, blaming marital chaos, feels like a cop-out, especially when his 4-year-old’s lying about accidents. Both sides are in a bind: the babysitter’s out of their depth, and the brother’s dropping the ball.
Potty training’s a big deal—most kids nail it by 3 to 4, per the American Academy of Pediatrics, unless developmental or emotional issues, like family stress, slow things down. The brother’s home troubles might be stalling progress, but springing that on an unprepared sibling’s unfair.
Dr. Tovah Klein, a child development expert, says, “Caregivers need clear expectations to support kids effectively—surprises set everyone up to fail”. Here, the brother’s silence on his son’s habits left the babysitter scrambling, while the kid’s lying hints at inconsistent guidance. Honesty upfront could’ve spared the Fabreeze fiasco.
Moving forward, the babysitter’s boundary holds water but could flex with prep—maybe learn diapering basics or team up on potty training. The brother’s got homework: consistent routines and open communication with caregivers are musts. If home drama’s the root, parenting support or counseling could help. Readers, ever had to slam the brakes on a family favor? How do you keep it real without starting a feud?
Here’s the comments of Reddit users:
Reddit’s serving up a steaming pile of opinions on this diaper drama, from gasps to giggles. Here’s the cream of the crop, tossed with a pinch of humor for flavor. These Redditors aren’t holding back, but are they dropping wisdom or just stirring the pot? Let’s see what sticks.
This diaper dust-up shows family favors can turn into a real stink if expectations aren’t clear. The babysitter’s done wrestling with rogue diapers, and who can fault them after that nose-wrinkling nightmare? But with a brother shrugging off his kid’s delays, this mess isn’t just about potty training—it’s about trust and teamwork. Ever had to push back on a family ask that crossed your line? Spill your tales—what’s the stickiest situation you’ve dodged, and how’d you keep the peace?
