Never had a babysitter at 4 years old?

She’s almost 4 and has never spent a single hour away from her parents, not even with grandparents. Is that healthy, or could it backfire later?

So I’ve been wondering about my niece lately. She’s nearly four now, and her parents have never left her with anyone. Not even for a quick grocery run or a dinner out. No babysitter, no sleepovers, not even an hour with grandma or me (and I have kids of my own). It’s not like they don’t have support—there are plenty of adults in the family who love her and would be happy to help—but her parents are constantly hovering. Even if we’re just outside playing and one of us is clearly keeping an eye on her, they’re right there watching like hawks or following her around.

It’s their first kid, so I get it to some extent. I was anxious, too, when I became a parent. And obviously, they love her deeply and want to protect her. But it’s starting to feel... a bit much. Like they’re afraid to let her out of their sight. I remember when my kids were that age, their grandparents loved having one-on-one time with them. It wasn’t just about babysitting—it was bonding. That’s not happening here. The few times someone’s offered to help, it’s politely shut down with, “She’s not used to being away from us” or “She’d be upset.”

Maybe I’m overthinking, but is this kind of constant attachment actually helpful for a child in the long run? Or could it make things harder later when she has to be apart from them, like starting school, going on a playdate, or just building independence? She’s super sweet and bright, but very shy, and always checks that her mom or dad are nearby before doing anything new.

Curious if anyone else has seen this with friends or family, or been there themselves. Does it sort itself out, or is this the kind of thing that leads to problems with confidence and separation anxiety later?