Babysitting

[IHateLivingHere]

AIBU to think that if my daughter went to babysit and found that she was actually sitting for 3 families, she should be paid by each of them for their own child?

She is nearly 18 and babysits regularly for family X. On arrival at their house last week, she found she was also sitting for family Y & Z. One of these families actually live down the road and obviously had not organised their own babysitter. The other family were visiting family X.

When my daughter was paid, she was given the amount she was owed for one child.

I say you wouldn't expect to turn up at a childminder's and have them mind three children (from different families) for the price of one. Nothing was pre-arranged, she didn't even know there were to be extra children there.

What do you wise mumsnetters think?

I babysit a good 3/4 times a month and often have extra children. The "nice" families always ask me beforehand if it is ok and give me a bit extra (maybe an extra tenner, I wouldn't expect or take more than that) The not so nice family let me turn up once to find six kids when there are normally just 3. Kids were 1, 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7. I also didn't get any extra money. I was less than impressed but would not dare ask for extra!

BTW I am 24 years old, have nannied for two years, first aid cert, CRB etc.

should of added thats never been a late 1 though, usually only a few hours

Totally unreasonable for these 3 families to take the piss out of your (obviously lovely) daughter. You were well within your rights to say something - I also would not have been able to restrain myself.
YADNBU

Another one who thinks they should have thrown abit extra money into the kitty for your daughter. And they could have informed her before she arrived that there were more kids than usual. Just common run of mill decency isn't it?

Good on you for having a word with the family. Better than silently seething.

That is totally unreasonable. I have 3 children and always ask any new babysitter whether he/she is comfortable with that many children at once. If I ever were to have another person's child (which I have once, my niece) I asked the babysitter first. Whilst I didn't actually offer more money, as a matter of course I gave her 1.5 times her usual rate.

As advice, I would also warn your daughter that it is likely to happen again. She should ask in advance how many children will be there.

They probably had no choice than palm their kids off on your daughter. I bet no-one else will babysit for the tight bastard pisstakers! They probably thought THEY were doing a favour to HER and she's lucky they didn't charge her for the privilege! I've met folk like this. Poor kids

YANBU, although I'd be more worried about the lack of warning than about the lack of pay.

Once when I was 13 (yes, 13!) I went down the road to babysit for a neighbour's perfectly lovely 3yo... and found that his cousin's effing enormous Alsatian was thrown in for good measure. After DC went to bed the dog sat on the living room floor between me and the door and looked steadily at me for c. 2 hours.

Oh, and the only advice the dad gave me about the dog when I first turned up was to hand me a frozen bagel and say, 'If he causes trouble throw this up the stairs and he'll go after it and probably stay up there for a while'

They 'overpaid' me to compensate... when I went back to give back the extra (my parents made me) the dog attacked me!!

Okay not sure how relevant that was but thought I'd share

Thanks, Revolting! That made me laugh! Reminds me of something that happened to me when I was that age! Wasn't funny when it was me though

I babysit and have an hourly rate, regardless of whether the family have 1 or 5 children. I have no problem with families combining and wouldn't expect extra money as long as I was told in advance. Any more than 5 children I would take my 16 yr old dd with me to assist and charge £10 per hour for both of us.

Childminding is different because each child is charged for individually. Agree that op's dd should have had warning with the option to cry off.

I agree that it's completely unreasonable. I used to babysit regularly from 15-19 and if I'd been put in that situation with a regular family I would not have said anything at the time because aside from anything else most families I babysat for were members of the same community as us and known to my parents. I would have gone home and complained and asked their advice which would probably have ended in them calling the family or telling me that if I didn't like it to turn down any future requests from that family which I would have done. I only babysat for about 4 families at a time (separately) and occasionally got others when my friend who did them was unavailable so it wouldn't have been a great loss.

As a babysitter (particularly a young one) you're not in a position to dictate terms to parents so if she thinks it's best to do it directly I'd wait until she gets asked again and then bring this up. If they try to shrug it off or not give fair recompense (and I do think double is reasonable) then she should end the relationship.

Well, found out last night that family Z had a babysitter booked, who cancelled on the day, due to sickness. Family X told them to just bring their child round and my DD would babysit. No call to DD to check if that was okay - and no payment offered either....

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr