1/3 parents bring family babysitter on their holidays

Two people, mother and her child walking in sand together, on the beach.
By Hannah Edensor


Holidaymakers are bringing extended family members on holidays to help have a break from their kids, a new study from comparison site, finder.com.au, has revealed.

More than one in three Aussie parents (35 per cent) admit they have taken a family member – such as a grandparent or aunt – on holidays to help look after their children.

The new survey of over 2000 parents shows 14 per cent have invited a family member on holidays more than once, while five per cent do it all the time.

A further 17 per cent haven’t brought a family member along, but admit they’ve thought about doing it.

Bessie Hassan, Money Expert at finder.com.au, said multi-generational holidays are becoming more common and they can make holidays with kids more relaxing.

“It could be the perfect way to travel with young children,” she said.

“It’s possible that parents may be trying to have the best of both worlds: quality time with grandma or another family member, as well as time out as a couple,” she says.

Taking a family member on holiday to help with babysitting was most popular with families from New South Wales (38 per cent admit they had done it) versus 37 per cent of Victorians, 29 per cent of Queenslanders and 34 per cent of families from WA.

Hassan added the high cost of childcare means many families are turning to their immediate family for extra help, and this can extend to holidays.

“Splashing out on an extra ticket for Grandpa could be money well spent.”

“Parents may be looking for a way to spend some time without the kids, without having to worry about leaving them with a stranger in a kids’ club or hotel nanny,” she said.

“The idea isn’t to limit the time you spend with your children on holiday. But rather, to have a trusted carer who you know the kids adore, freeing you up to indulge in those rare activities such as going to the gym, reading a book, or having a cocktail in peace.”

“To have an extra set of hands on the plane or at a restaurant could also make it a more peaceful holiday for other travellers.”

Fathers (40 per cent) are most likely to have travelled with a family member to help with babysitting, compared to mothers (33 per cent).

Have you invited a family member on holiday for extra help with your kids?

  • Yes, once 16 per cent
  • Yes, more than once 14 per cent
  • Yes, I do it all the time five per cent
  • No, but I’ve thought about it 17 per cent
  • No, never 48 per cent

Best family friendly destinations in Australia

1. Kangaroo Island
2. Great Barrier Reef
3. Hobart
4. Mount Hotham
5. Surfers Paradise
6. Coffs Harbour
7. Rottnest Island
8. Sydney

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