Dictionary

childsit en · VERB

Etymology

From child + sit, after babysit.

Meanings

1. Synonym of babysit.
   • You agree to childsit for a neighbor’s baby. 1998, Linda Meeks, Philip Heit, Randy Page, “Lesson 26 Review”, in Health and Wellness, Blacklick, Oh.: Meeks Heit Publishing Company, published 1999, →ISBN, unit 3 (Growth and Development), lesson 26 (You Can Provide Responsible Care for Infants and Children), page 227, column 2:
   • MOM WANTED to childsit my 5½ and 4 year old girls, 5 hours each week. 1981 June 17, “Help Wanted”, in Cohasset Mariner, volume III, number 37, Marshfield, Mass., →OCLC, “Classifieds” section, page 20, column 2:
   • Out of the twenty-four hours of the day, plan on saving at least one hour for yourself. You could either hire somebody to childsit or ask a family member, a friend, or a neighbor to lend a hand, and take the relay for just one hour. 2012, Nadia A[bou] Shanab, “Making Time for Yourself”, in Everyday Life with Autism: Practical Tips for Parents & Educators to Help Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Reach Their Full Potential, →ISBN, pages 27–28:
   • In another case, a 17-year-old adoptee, who had a very deprived background, was frequently left to childsit for two young girls, who both had a history of sexual abuse. 1991, Catherine Macaskill, “The trauma of allegations”, in Adopting or Fostering a Sexually Abused Child (Child Care Policy and Practice), London: B. T. Batsford Ltd in association with British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, →ISBN, page 104:
   • Even though Regina felt Bobby was fairly independent, she was worried that he was home alone too much, and she had been seeking someone to childsit for him, to be sort of a companion. 2011, Frank Brady, “Childhood Obsession”, in Endgame: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall—from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness, New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers, →ISBN, page 27:
   • Sonny came round to childsit today. (Not babysit. I’m not a baby any more – thank you very much!) 2005 June 30, Malorie Blackman, “Callie Rose is 11”, in Checkmate (Noughts & Crosses; 3), London: Corgi Books, published 2006, →ISBN, page 174:

Forms

Relateds

childsitter

Synonyms

babysit