The forum thread was practically on fire. A frustrated dad was venting about sending out fifty applications for a summer sit in Provence, only to get fifty rejections. His crime? Trying to travel with a toddler and a six-year-old.
It’s a story Caro and I see constantly online. We’ll be sipping coffee in our campervan, scrolling through community discussions, and the same question pops up: "Is it actually possible to house sit with kids, or am I wasting my time?"
Look, Caro and I don't have children. We travel as a duo. But we have read enough threads, spoken to enough homeowners, and analyzed enough profiles to know exactly why that dad was getting rejected, and more importantly, how some families actually manage to pull it off.
It is absolutely possible, but let’s be real: the game is harder for you. Here is what we’ve learned from the community about turning those rejections into a "Welcome home."
The "One Bedroom" Problem
I would say that most house owners prefer solo or couple house sitters for one very logistical reason: space.
In our experience across Europe and Australia, most homeowners only have one spare guest room available for sitters. They might have a massive house, but the other rooms are full of their kids' stuff, or used as offices. When you apply as a family of four, the owner immediately does the math and thinks, "Where are they going to sleep?"
If you are serious about this, you need to filter your search aggressively. You aren't just looking for house sitting opportunities with cute dogs; you are looking for homes that explicitly advertise multiple bedrooms.
The Fear of "Sticky Fingers"
We have seen this debated endlessly. Homeowners worry about two things when they see children in an application:
Damage: Adults are generally predictable. Kids (especially toddlers) are chaotic variables. Owners worry about their antique vases or white sofas.
Attention: If you have a newborn, who is the priority? The baby. Owners worry the dog will be second fiddle.
We’ve read that families with newborns or younger children obviously have to spend a fair bit of time with the kids, which owners fear will affect the amount of time the house sitters would look after the pets.
The Strategy: Frame Your Family as the Ultimate Benefit
So, how do you flip the script? We’ve seen savvy families on forums turn their "baggage" into their biggest selling point.
If Caro and I want to go out for a nice dinner or a long hike, we just go. But families? Parents are often less mobile, especially with younger kids. You need to use this.
Your Pitch: "Because we are traveling with a young child, we are homebodies. We don't go out partying at night. We don't do 12-hour sightseeing tours. We will be home on the sofa, which means your dog gets constant companionship."
This is a massive advantage over young solo travelers who might want to explore the nightlife. You are offering stability. This approach works particularly well on major platforms like Trusted House Sitters where competition is high.
The Safety Talk (Non-Negotiable)
Before you even apply, you need to think about house sitting safety from a totally different angle than we do.
I think the first thing that comes to mind is: are the pets (especially dogs) safe for kids to be around? You really don't want a dog to act out on a kid.
When you get that video call, you have to ask the hard questions:
"Has this dog lived with children before?"
"Does the dog have food aggression?"
"Is the property fenced securely enough that a toddler can't wander off?"
We had a dog run away from us once into a forest (a story for another time), and that was stressful enough as two fit adults. Imagine adding a child to that equation. You need to be 100% sure the environment is secure.
Finding the Right Platform
Since you have a smaller pool of houses to choose from, you need to cast a wide net.
If you are looking in the US, house sitting america is a solid option to find larger family homes in the suburbs. For those down under, Aussie House Sitters has a massive inventory.
And if you are trying to convince a skeptical homeowner, having a background check or verified reviews helps. We wrote a guide on which companies provide verified reviews for housesitting services which might give your profile that extra layer of trust.
The Verdict
Is it harder? Yes. Is it impossible? No.
We see families doing it, but they are strategic. They apply for rural sits with big gardens, they emphasize that they are "home all day," and they target animals that love high energy.
If you are just starting out, maybe don't aim for the glass-filled penthouse in Manhattan. Look for a farmhouse where the kids can run wild and the dogs can join in.
It might take more applications, but is house sitting worth it for families? From what we read, saving thousands on rent while showing your kids the world, absolutely.
Caro & Konrad 🐾🚐
DM us @housesittersguide if you have questions — we answer everyone!
Is house sitting with children actually possible, or do homeowners mostly prefer couples and singles?
I would say that most house owners prefer solo or couple house sitters because they would usually only have 1 room to accommodate the house sitters. Whereas with kids, depending on the age, you might need extra space and room for the kids. I would also think that families with newborns or younger children would have to spend a fair bit of time with the kids which would affect the amount of time the house sitters would look after the pets. Also, I think the biggest thing is definitely that with adults you are more certain about how they will behave in a house, whereas kids could be more likely to mess something up or damage something.
How can we frame our family status as an advantage rather than a burden?
I think as families you could frame it from the point of view that parents are less mobile with younger kids and because of that will spend more time in the home and because of that look after the pets better.
What are the absolute non-negotiable questions we must ask about a pet's behavior around kids?
I think the first thing that comes to mind is, are the pets (especially dogs) safe for kids to be around. You really don't want a dog to act out on a kid, so making sure that the dog has a good history around kids (especially younger kids) is essential.
