A good friend recently told me that she won't hire "good looking" babysitters. She didn't feel comfortable with the idea, and when asked if it was because there were issues at home, she said: "There aren't any issues, which is why I don't hire them." 
I'm pretty sure she was joking, but also realize that every couple and family has their own dynamic. Most people do want to see what their potential nanny looks like before meeting them for an interview. But, is there a fine line between hiring someone who's pleasing to the eye and someone who's potentially going to cause problems in your relationship? It seems that some people, like my friend, would just rather not take the risk. Is hiring an attractive babysitter or nanny to look after your kids an issue for you?
There are plenty of examples out there to justify this paranoia, of men and women cheating on their spouses with the babysitter or nanny, especially in Hollywood—movies like The World According to Garp
But, are our fears valid? Or are we just being manipulated by fictional situations and the fickle Hollywood elite?
Take our quick poll on Care.com, called Your Thoughts, and check back for the results—or post your own stories and opinions right here on my blog!
I only hire attractive sitters. I do not want my kids to be scared of some pizza faced sitter.
Posted by: Steve | July 08, 2008 at 09:32 AM
I agree. I would not hire an attractive nanny/babysitter. I do have issues at home and I have to look out for the best interest of my family.
Posted by: RoseGee40 | July 08, 2008 at 09:34 AM
I would say looks somewhat matter and this reason is that if the babysitter cares about her looks than she will care more about your child as opposed to an overweight unattractive person and if you are threatened by a pretty babysitter than your marriage isnt strong enough.
Posted by: Tina | July 08, 2008 at 09:37 AM
The babysitter's qualifications and availability and how she interacts with the kids is what matters. Attractiveness is from within anyway.
Posted by: Rich Angus | July 08, 2008 at 09:39 AM
It's all about trust. I trust my wife and she trusts me. it wouldn't matter what the baby sitter looked like at my house because we trust each other not to be stupid. All the examples that were given were movies, so when did hollywood become the moral authority on how to behave with your nanny.The last time i checked hollywood was a good place to look for how not to act. Bottom line, if your afraid to hire a pretty babysitter because you think he might cheat then you have some serious trust issues going on and counselling might be a good thing.
Posted by: shawn | July 08, 2008 at 09:41 AM
I think it is much wiser to be concerned about the quality of care the person is providing than how attractive the person is. This is absurd!
Posted by: Angie | July 08, 2008 at 09:48 AM
It was never an issue before a year ago with me. A girl that had been my sitter for the last 6 years of my sons life got pregnant by my ex while we were supposedly working things out. Now my rule is not over 17 and unattractive. They have they're happy little family now and mine was torn apart...
Posted by: Amber | July 08, 2008 at 09:49 AM
I look at the person's qualifications, not their looks or size. If a sitter is able to keep up with my kid, I don't care if he or she is "pizza-faced" or the size of a Bears defensive tackle.
If a sitter embodies habits I don't want my kid to learn - like sitting in front of the TV all day, eating junk food, or judging others solely by how they look - then I don't care how attractive that person is on the outside. I'm not hiring him or her.
To Tina's comment, I would far rather hire an "overweight, unattractive" person who provides loving care for my child than a shallow, vain, self-centered person who spends all his/her time in front of the mirror.
Posted by: Angela | July 08, 2008 at 10:06 AM
In the end, I think this topic boils down to a reflection of the couple's relationship rather than a level of care issue. It's sad to think that a wife couldn't trust her husband with an attractive woman for ANY LENGTH OF TIME...even with the kids around. ;)
Posted by: Alex C | July 08, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I don't think that the looks for a babysitter/ nanny matters. As long as you know your job.
Posted by: Tracy Love | July 08, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Either way it's STILL discrimination!!!
Posted by: Michael | July 08, 2008 at 10:16 AM
It matters to me only because I don't want some dirty sloppy person taking care of my child. It doesn't matter if they're a plain jane or pretty as long as they're clean and look nice. I'm not insecure about my looks and I know my husband wouldn't think twice about another woman. If he did, then that would be his loss. He only has eyes for his wife and loves the way I look. So its not an issue for me.
Posted by: Rebecca | July 08, 2008 at 11:06 AM
I don't have a problem with having an attractive babysitter...There are attractive women everywhere you go, as a woman you just have to be confident in yourself and trust that your man appreciates and sees the beauty he has at home... And besides you shouldn't choose your babysitter on how good she looks, it's about the quality of care she's gonna give your child. So if I had to choose between a non-attractive babysitter with little to no credentials and a attractive one with great references then you better believe I'm going with the attractive one!!
Posted by: Keneeatria Bircher | July 08, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I DONT THINK ITS IN THE LOOKS I THINK IT IS IN THE EXPERIENCE AND THE REFERENCES I WANT MY KIDS TO BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF I DONT CARE IF SHE IS UNATTREATIVE AS LONG AS SHE TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN AND IF YOU DONT TRUST YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE
Posted by: norma | July 08, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I would hire an attractive sitter or nanny.....I don't care one way or the other....my husband loves me and only me...so an attractive sitter wouldn't make a difference....
Posted by: Nickhole | July 08, 2008 at 11:40 AM
It don't matter the way the nanny or babysitter looks cause i know my husband. As long as the person is clean and dresses nice. also i see it like this if he's going to mess around he's going to do it weather i hire an attractive nanny or not.
Posted by: marirose sells | July 08, 2008 at 11:51 AM
If we're just talking about physical appearance here, yes, I would hire an attractive babysitter but she better take care of my kids as "beautiful" as she is. If a marital problem comes up, that will be between me and my husband to talk about.
Posted by: donna | July 08, 2008 at 11:58 AM
It is all about trust. As well as the qualification of the nanny. I prefer to stay with my child if I can't take him to some one I know. I will not leave my sons with someone with no experience.
Posted by: Ava | July 08, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I would hire any babysitter that does a great and loving job with my children, I trust my relationship and am not concerned with the way she looks, as a matter of fact I like watching my spouse stumble over himself when a gorgeous woman walks in a room, it's cute.
Posted by: Christina | July 08, 2008 at 12:15 PM
It's amazing to me how everyone envisions overweight people as unattractive, lazy and sloppy. America is the most unhealthy overweight society in the whole world true ignorance is shown in a lot off comments here. My boyfriend [305pds.] and i [220pds.] are over weight but we're very attractive and active people our children do active things all through the year. We just happen to be real good cooks and love to have all the kids and our friends come over to eat that's our way of saying we love you. Ooh i forgot to mention that i am also a daycare provider my families and their children wouldn't go anywhere else. They love us for all that we do for our kids. The children go home happy, well fed and tired!!!! Looks should be the least of your worries. GO to counseling and work on your relationship or your own self esteem issues. BIG and BEAUTIFUL both inside and out.
Posted by: maritza cabrera | July 08, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I don't base any of my decisions on people's looks. Look at the movie "Mrs. Doubtfire"; there couldn't be a better babysitter than Robin Williams in drag! In all honesty, I have known of 3 women who have discovered their husbands had affairs with their babysitters, but the 3 babysitters were not all beautiful, either. If a husband is going to cheat, he'll find someone out there to cheat with. Our children are our most valuable resources, we need to screen potential sitters to find out about their morals and values, lifestyles, and how dedicated they are to what they are doing. Never judge a book by it's cover; the most beautiful young girl may be a strong, decent Christian; and someone less desirable might be a homewrecker.
Posted by: Jeanne Marie | July 08, 2008 at 12:21 PM
It's not about issues at home or anything but that men will always be men. And whether they like it or not, they will get attracted and feel some kind of an urge toward an attractive babysitter especially the thought that "she is taking care of his kids". So yup, I will never hire an attractive babysitter. Just want to give an example. A very good friend of mine had a friend and she never thought that there was something happening between her husband and her sitter cause they act normal, no awkwardness whatsoever. But she just wondered how the sitter treats her children when she is not around. So, she set a hidden camera in the sitters room and in the living room. When she came home that day, she immediately checked what was caught on tape. And to her surprise, after she left, her husband came back home right away then the nanny and the husband had sex in the sitters room all caught on tape. I'm not saying that attractive sitters are homewreckers because that will be very discriminatory and I'm not like that but, just for some precautionary measures, I won't and never will hire an attractive babysitter.
Posted by: rosalie | July 08, 2008 at 12:43 PM
no it really does not matter, it is how they interact with our handicapped son that matters. We have 2 wonderful sitters now and they are both attractive. and they play well with our daughter.
Posted by: dale nakayama | July 08, 2008 at 12:47 PM
No, the way the sitter looks has little to do with the job. Unless hygiene is a factor. If you don't trust your spouse, why get married. This has nothing to do with the sitter. You need to separate why you're hiring someone in the first place, but being comfortable is also an issue, but you can't blame a person how they look.
Posted by: Dean | July 08, 2008 at 01:19 PM
I don't think it has anything to do with looks. As a nanny/sitter myself, I wouldn't think of even dreaming to disrupt the family life. I think it's more important to see how the person deals with the family & the children rather than on looks. Looks can be deceiving, not to sound cocky, but I'm a really good nanny/sitter. The kids ask for me all the time & I'm a pretty good looking gal. Enough that I go out on dates 3x's a week when I'm not watching my kids. But i also guess it goes with my territory. I am mormon & I am 18... so i guess that has a little something to do with it. But you shouldn't base someone off of looks... they can't help it!
Posted by: Leavitt | July 08, 2008 at 02:08 PM