Sugar Baby Safety 101: How to Be Safe as a Sugar Baby

There are certain sugar baby safety rules that all sugar babies should follow. Because knowing how to be safe as a sugar baby will be what keeps you healthy, happy, and safe throughout your entire journey.

Sugar dating in general is fun and the chances are, you’ll have a blast mixing and mingling with the many different types of sugar daddies out there.

But there are always a few rotten apples intent on spoiling the party. Such scam artists, sleazeballs, and jerks have been known to crop up on even the best sugar dating websites posing as potential sugar daddies.

We’re going to show you exactly how to avoid them. You’ll learn:

• Is being a sugar baby safe?
• The main dangers of being a sugar baby
• The most important rules of sugar baby safety
• Exactly how to be safe as a sugar baby

Let’s dive in.

Are There Dangers of Being a Sugar Baby?

Before we dive into the details on how to be safe as a sugar baby, you should first know what it’s important to be safe from. Mainly, what are the unique dangers of being a sugar baby?

We’re going to list them here. It may be unnerving to read through them but make sure you do.

You want to go into the sugar world with eyes wide open. You want to know exactly what to watch out for. That’s how you’ll avoid the risky aspects of the sugar world and indulge only in the good stuff.

So here goes…

#1. Sugar Daddy Scammers

One of the most obvious dangers of being a sugar baby is the risk of getting bamboozled by a sugar daddy scammer. Most of us don’t think it can happen to us, but unfortunately, even the smartest sugar babies have fallen prey to scammers.

The difference? Not knowing how to recognize that someone is a scammer.

Read: 7 Sugar Daddy Scams You Need to Know Before It’s Too Late

The bad news, of course, is that you’ll most likely run into a sugar daddy scammer during your sugar journey. The good news is that these scammers are easy to spot and even easier to avoid. You just need to know what to look for and how to protect yourself.

In fact, if you follow the safety tips for sugar babies below, you’ll reduce your chance of being swindled by a sugar daddy scammer by 99.99%.

#2. Fake Sugar Daddies

It’s not just sugar daddy scammers you need to watch out for, there are also other types of fake sugar daddies who like to lurk on sugar dating platforms.

Read: 7 Types of Fake Sugar Daddies and How to Spot Them

The most common one that first time sugar babies often fall for is the insidious Salt Daddy. These are men who pose as sugar daddies in order to sleep with sugar babies. Once they get what they want, they disappear. No sugar given.

We especially recommend avoiding Salt Daddies because they will leave you feeling used and taken advantage of. Casual sex is one thing but misleading and dangling unfulfilled promises to obtain sex is quite another.

#3. Emotional Abuse

Here’s one of the dangers of being a sugar baby that just does not get talked about as much: the emotional mistreatment that some sugar babies settle for.

But here’s the thing: emotional abuse is not a feature of sugar dating. There are toxic sugar daddies just as there are toxic people in general. You know, the types of men who are degrading, controlling, and think they own you.

Read: Bad Sugar Daddies: How to Tell if a Sugar Daddy is Real Online

The mistake that some sugar babies make is thinking that you need to accept this sort of behavior just because he’s a sugar daddy. That’s just not true. The sugar relationship is first and foremost a relationship. Don’t settle for an emotionally abusive one.

#4. Sexual Assault

This is not to say that sexual assault is a unique danger of being a sugar baby. Unfortunately, sexual assault is a danger of being a female.

And when it comes to the online space, it can be magnified, simply because there is a greater pool of unvetted people. That’s why so many mainstream online dating platforms and apps have reported cases of sexual assault.

Sugar daddy dating is a form of online dating so beware that all the usual risks apply. You don’t know exactly who you’re talking to online so please follow the safety precautions we outline below.

And just as you wouldn’t blindly trust some dude you met on Tinder, don’t be naive when talking to a potential sugar daddy.

#5. Sex-Related Risks

If you’re a sugar baby in a platonic relationship, this particular danger of being a sugar baby doesn’t apply to you. But if you’re a sugar baby in an arrangement that includes sex – well, the usual risks of sex apply.

Yup, we’re talking STDs, STIs, and the possibility of pregnancy.

Of course, there are several things you can do to mostly avoid these risks altogether. We’ll explore all of that soon.

#6. Becoming Too Dependent

Here’s one of the biggest dangers of being a sugar baby that no major media outlet ever covers. It’s a risk that doesn’t seem particularly risky – a sugar daddy providing so much sugar that you don’t need to do anything? Sounds good, right?

Not quite. Allowing yourself to become too dependent on your sugar daddy places you in a very vulnerable position. If a sugar daddy is paying your rent (or the owner of the luxury apartment you live in), all living expenses, car payments, tuition fees, and everything else and you have no other means of financial support – you are not just a kept sugar baby. You’re a trapped one.

It means you can’t leave if the sugar relationship turns sour. You have nowhere to go. If the sugar daddy ever changes his mind and decides to “let you go” – you’d be in a terrible position.

This is one of the lesser known dangers of being a sugar baby but it is one that every sugar baby should keep in mind. Don’t let yourself depend solely on a sugar daddy.

Is Being a Sugar Baby Safe?

Hmmm. This question is a little like asking: is being in a relationship safe?

Because the answer really, heavily depends on:

• The type of sugar relationship you’re in
• The sugar daddy you’re in a relationship with
• The boundaries you set and maintain

Here’s what we mean.

What Type of Sugar Relationship are You in?

Wikipedia defines a sugar relationship as “a romantic, sexual relationship of an older wealthy person and a younger person.”

But to be honest, that doesn’t cover all the various forms of sugar arrangements out there. And trust us, there are a lot. Here are some examples:

Compensated Dating. This is when a sugar daddy gives a sugar baby money, gifts, or simply splurges for a luxury experience in return for the sugar baby’s company. This could range from a dinner companion while a sugar daddy is on a business trip to a new city to vacations to exotic locales.

Pay for Play. This is when a sugar daddy gives a sugar baby money each time they meet for sex. This type of relationship is not really a sugar relationship. But because there are people on sugar daddy websites who are seeking this sort of arrangement, it’s become a part of the sugar world.

Sugar Friendships. These are simply friendships that develop between sugar daddies and babies. They typically don’t have the same structure of a sugar relationship – i.e. there may be no regular allowance or meetings. But the friendship and some perks remain.

And of course, there’s the traditional sugar dating relationship, which is in essence, a romantic, intimate relationship. But one in which sugar is involved.

So is being a sugar baby safe? Well, as you can see – the risks vary depending on the kind of relationship. Pay for Play is essentially being an escort and comes with all the risks of that kind of sex work. Whereas a Sugar Friendship is very, very low risk.

All in all, it really depends on the sort of sugar relationship you choose. So choose wisely.

What Kind of Sugar Daddy Will You Choose?

Is being a sugar baby safe? One of the biggest determining factors to that question is who you choose to be your sugar daddy.

If you pick a sugar daddy who is essentially a kind, generous, decent person who will treat you well – yes, being a sugar baby is safe.

But if you go for a sugar daddy who is controlling, exploitative, and cruel – being a sugar baby will not be a safe or pleasant experience, no matter how big your allowance is.

So the question isn’t really “Is being a sugar baby safe?” It’s also not a question of “Are sugar daddies safe?“

It really comes down to choosing a good person to be your sugar daddy.

Do You Have Good Sugar Baby Boundaries?

Last but not least, one of the essential factors that determine whether being a sugar baby is safe comes down to boundaries.

One common mistake new sugar babies make is forgetting that a sugar relationship is still a “relationship.” It goes both ways. Both parties matter. What you want is as important as what he wants. Just like in a regular, “vanilla” relationship.

Just because it’s a sugar arrangement does not mean you are relegated to having to say “yes” to everything. Especially if it’s something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Just as you wouldn’t go on dates with a man who insults or demeans you on Hinge, you also need to maintain a similar set of standards in the sugar world.

This can include anything from a potential sugar daddy who tries to pry too deep into your personal life or one who tries to get kiss-y and grope-y with you on the first date. If it’s not something that you would accept from a date, why would you put up with it from a sugar daddy?

Here’s exactly how to stay safe as a sugar baby.

15 Sugar Baby Safety Tips

Overall, being a sugar baby is as safe or dangerous as you make it. That being said, there are several things you can do to make sure that you remain protected from any dangers of being a sugar baby.

Here are 15 sugar baby safety tips every sugar baby should follow.

#1. Stick to Safe Sugar Daddy Websites

This is a very underrated sugar baby safety tip: stick to the safe sugar daddy websites. Which ones are those?

In general, the websites that appeal specifically to people who are interested in sugar dating rather than the general population are safer places for sugar babies. Here’s why:

• Sugar daddies need to pay to sign up. That immediately weeds out a lot of scammers and Salt Daddies who simply can’t afford it.

• As such, the most common platforms that sugar daddy scammers use are free, i.e. Instagram and Tinder.

• Sugar daddy websites use a combination of AI and humans to weed out fake profiles, which also reduces the potential of mingling with scammers.

• The main sugar daddy websites use various methods from video verification to income verification to make sure that the sugar daddies there are who they say they are.

• Last but not least, sugar daddy website will take action if you report a member for trying to scam you or being verbally abusive. They don’t play around with bad behavior.

So stick to the safe sugar daddy websites that have been around for years.

#2. Protect Your Information

A crucial safety tip for sugar babies is all about protecting your personal information.

In the initial stages of chatting with a potential sugar daddy, keep your personal info to yourself. That includes your name, where you live, and where you work or go to school.

All of these details might come up when you start chatting with a potential sugar daddy and they seem like harmless details to share, but we highly advise not sharing in the beginning.

People with ill intentions can use information like your name and email to find out private information like your home address and where you work. So keep those to yourself.

Once you find a mutually beneficial arrangement that works for you, you can choose to share these details with your sugar daddy.

Read: Sugar Daddy Asking for Bank Info: What Info Should You Share?

As for personal information that has to do with security – i.e. bank logins, social security numbers, and so on – no sugar daddy should ever ask for these. If he does, he’s a scammer.

#3. Have “Sugar” Tools Ready

When you venture out into the sugar world, it’s important you have a couple of things set up to protect yourself. Here are the most valuable sugar tools we recommend:

Sugar Baby Identity

Use an alias, create a mock identity that’s close to your actual personality and details and use that until you’re sure a sugar daddy is trustworthy.

A Google Voice number

Google Voice is our favorite sugar baby safety tool. It’s a free service that allows you to choose from a database of available numbers from all over the US.

You can then link your Google Voice number to your real phone line and all the calls made to your Google Voice number will automatically be re-routed to your phone.

It also has the added convenience of requiring each caller to state their name, so you know who they are before you accept.

Even better, Google Voice transcribes voicemails for you so they are easy to read. And it’s also really easy to block numbers using Google Voice.

Skype is another option. A Skype on-line number costs about $20 for 3 months and you have to pay for credit if you want to make outgoing calls, but it functions like an actual phone so you can keep your Skype call record completely separate from your own phone’s call record.

Overall, this is a really functional way of separating your sugar baby life with your real one.

A Burner Email

We recommend you get this before you even start signing up for sugar daddy websites. You can then use your sugar baby burner email for any and all correspondences.

This lets you separate your sugar baby life from your real one – you don’t want to find messages from sugar daddies in your university email inbox, do you?

Plus, it keeps you safe from scheming sugar daddies who try to use your email address to find details about your identity, like social media profiles and so on.

PayPal Account

Some potential sugar daddies are going to offer to send you stuff. He might want your bank account number so he can send you a little gift. Don’t evermgive it to him. Send him your PayPal address instead.

It doesn’t have to be PayPal, per se. You can go with Venmo or CashApp. The point is to choose a method of payment that doesn’t require giving out your bank account information.

All you need to send funds via PayPal, Venmo, or CashApp is an email address. Connect it to your sugar baby burner email. Send it to any sugar daddies who offer to send you money.

Optional: A PO Box

Some sugar daddies want to send gifts. And some may pretend they do so they could get your address.

If you want, you can set up a P.O. Box for these instances and you can give that to potential sugar daddies freely. Otherwise, you can just politely decline.

Do not ever send a potential sugar daddy your real address.

In fact, until you’re in a steady arrangement with someone you know and trust, don’t share any personal details that could jeopardize you.

#4. Phone Chat and Video Call Before Meeting

One sugar baby safety tip that is an absolute non negotiable is this: Always do a phone chat and/or video call before meeting.

A quick Facetime or video call immediately lets you see that the potential sugar daddy is who they say they are. As for a phone call? We think it’s an essential way to get a feel for a person.

Because it’s not always easy to suss out someone’s personality via email, but you can get a much better idea about someone simply by spending a few minutes on the phone with them.

Insist on a little phone or video call just so you can “get to know them a bit better” before meeting. Of course, there will be some legitimate sugar daddies who don’t have great phone manners and you’ll want to give these guys the chance to meet in person.

But you might also come across a few guys who give you the creeps over the phone and in the latter case, you can save yourself some time by simple not meeting them.

#5. An Identity Check Before Every Date

Does doing an identity check before each date sound paranoid? It’s not – it’s both good for your safety and your time. Some sugar daddies simply aren’t who they claim to be. Why would you waste your time going on dates with fake sugar daddies when you have Google?

Some sugar daddies prefer to remain anonymous, but most will give you a phone number and a name. That is all you need to do a reverse phone look-up. If you do a thorough search, you’ll be able to find their full name, their address, whether they own a home, who else lives with them, etc.

You can then match this information with what they’ve told you to see if the person is legitimate or spinning lies. Another good idea is to look up the person on a sex offender database. Several sites offer database searches by name and location. Again, Google is a girl’s best friend.

Last but not least, always do a Google Image Search for the potential sugar daddy’s profile pictures. If any of his photos shows up in the results as a stock photo or a magazine picture, that’s a bright red flag. Do NOT meet up with that sugar daddy.

#6. Always Insist on Public Meeting Places

This one is obvious and pertains to all online dating. Even if you have been talking to a potential sugar daddy for an extended period of time, the first meeting should always be in a public place with plenty of other people around.

Under no circumstances should a potential sugar daddy invite himself to your home (major red flag, by the way). If he invites you to his place, gracefully decline.

To be honest, most meetings with strangers are fine. Most sugar daddies are nice, friendly people. BUT it is always better safe than sorry. Meet at a public place.

#7. Have Your Own Ride

Occasionally, a sugar daddy will offer to pick you up in his car. Politely decline by proposing he hire you a private taxi instead or simply give you the money for transportation costs.

You do not want to be getting in a car with a man you do not know. For obvious reasons.

As for the ride back home – choose your own car or have the funds to cover transport back home. That allows you to immediately leave if the sugar daddy turns out to be a creep or you feel like you’re in danger. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you’re dependent on a potential sugar daddy to get back home.

#8. Don’t Travel Too Far from Home

Sometimes a promising potential sugar daddy will contact you from the other side of the universe. Or just from a different city. And he’ll ask if you’d be willing to come visit him since he’s so busy running companies and all.

Some sugar babies agree to do this…and find themselves in really compromising situations in cities they don’t know, have no friends or family in and have no money to get back home with.

Do not do this. Traveling to meet a potential sugar daddy is not always a bad idea – but it does require some real preparations. So if you decide to embark on that flight over to his city, make sure he fulfills his side of the deal first.

#9. Stay Sober-ish

You don’t have to be a total teetotaller on all of your sugar dates. After all, he’s paying for the good wine.

But you’re a big girl. You know how much you can handle. Make sure you drink only a quarter of what it takes you get you feeling mighty buzzed. Say no to those shots. Sip that wine.

Because, as everybody knows, we don’t make the best decisions when we’re drunk or otherwise intoxicated. And on a first sugar date, you need to have your wits about you. Not just for safety, but also so you can get a clear feel for the potential sugar daddy you’re with.

Note: If you get the impression that a potential sugar daddy is persuading you to drink or do drugs on a first sugar date, that is a red flag. It’s time to call it a night and get out dodge.

#10. Get a Sugar Buddy

It’s understandable if you are hesitant about disclosing your sugar baby life to your friends. At the same time, the safest option is when someone you trust knows where you’re going and who you are meeting.

If you don’t want to tell your friends, do yourself a huge favor by logging onto your sugar dating website(s) and reaching out to a few sugar babies whose profiles resonate with you.

It is so important to have a confidante and safety buddy when you’re sugar dating.

And most sugar babies will be happy to hear from a fellow sugar babe and quite possibly looking for the same.

#11. Always Use Protection

Condoms are a must when it comes to sexual relationships, especially non-monogamous ones. Sugar relationships are absolutely not an exception.

It’s crucial that, as a sugar baby, you don’t place yourself at the risk of things like STDs and unplanned pregnancies. So get an IUD or go on another form of birth control.

But still, always use a condom.

#12. Don’t Be a Free sugar Baby

This is a sugar baby safety tip that may not protect you physically, but it will protect your time, energy, and emotional health.

And that is this: You are not his sugar baby until he is your sugar daddy.

That means you do not give a potential sugar daddy any sugar baby benefits until he’s secured his part of the deal. That means no going on date after date after date without an arrangement.

That means not dropping everything because he calls. And it definitely means not sleeping with a potential sugar daddy who hasn’t yet fulfilled his side of the deal.

#13. STICK TO YOUR BOUNDARIES

Sugar baby boundaries are a crucial part of staying safe and happy in the sugar world. You need to know yours. Here are some examples of common sugar baby boundaries:

• Immediate block for rude, crass, abusive sugar daddies
• No sex on the first date
• Three strike policy for sugar daddies who flake or ghost
• No more than three dates for him to propose an arrangement
• No sex without a condom

Write down your deal breakers. Stick to them.

#14. Have Post-Sugar Goals

This is a sugar baby safety tip that protects your future. And it’s simply to have a post-sugar plan. Know your goals for being a sugar baby and make sure that your sugar baby journey leaves you richer than when you started.

Because being a sugar baby is a very unique experience. But it’s one that doesn’t come with an employer match 401K, medical or dental benefits, sick leave, and it definitely isn’t something you can put on your LinkedIn as experience, no matter how good you are at it.

So don’t let yourself become so dependent and so focused on being a sugar baby that at the end of the day, a sugar daddy is the only thing you have going for you.

Have a plan to take care of yourself once your sugar baby days are behind you.

#15. Listen to Your Gut

As always, if something seems too good to be true, it’s most likely because it is. If a potential sugar daddy gives you a strange feeling, you never need to stick around to find out why.

If something feels off, just listen to your gut. There are always more sugar daddies and other opportunities. But you need to be safe and healthy in order to enjoy them so always prioritize your own safety.

Originally published in 2013. Updated and refreshed ins 2024.