Babysit

Babysitting is the practice of temporarily caring for a child on behalf of the child's guardians. Babysitting is most commonly performed as an odd job by teenagers for extra money, stereotypically girls. In general, the child being watched is of some family or social relation to the babysitter, although professional babysitting services (see Nanny) are also extant.

The term "baby-sit" (from "baby" plus the agent form of "sit") first appeared in 1937, and its short-form "sitter" is attested from 1943. The use of the word "sit" to abbreviate "to baby-sit" is recorded from 1966. The term probably originated from the action of the caretaker "sitting with" the baby in another room, whilst the parents were entertaining or busy in another.