To spend £3 per meal per child?

[VaseofRoses]

My mum (an ex-nanny) is going to look after my 2 year old and my friend's 5 year old every Friday. This is obviously really nice of her and although she is insisting on not taking payment I want to make sure she is not out of pocket for meals. I have no idea what is fair but want to offer something and ask my friend for something too. I was thinking £3 per meal. This is in London and will be nice food.

Would like to canvas opinion! Can I ask, how much do you think you spend on food per meal for a child?

[VaseofRoses]

Thank you everyone. OP here. In response to questions

• This is just for the kids' food not mum's as well
  
• She will be taking them EVERY Friday. Mostly eating in I expect but not always
  
• She doesn't need to be a registered childminder, no
  
• Thank you to those who felt my mum was being taken advantage of. I will pass on your concerns :)
  

Seems like about £5 per meal per child might be better given the responses above.

[Spandexpants007]

I think £10 per child to cover snacks, meals, toddler groups, ice creams in the park. The money should cover the cost of your mum eating too

[endofmytethertake100]

I suppose it depends what you can afford. If she was going to park and doing picnic lunch £3 is fine if she's going out to play centre and dinner obviously more. If you can afford it just leave extra incase they do something more expensive.

[endofmytethertake100]

I'm assuming 5 year olds at school in which case she'd have just your child during the day. My mum has helped occasionally when DDs nursery or school had inset and despite offers she refused so I just used to treat her with flowers meals etc.

[WorraLiberty]

Seems like about £5 per meal per child might be better given the responses above

What?? They'll be mostly eating in and she's going to need £10 or £20 to feed them?

Are you sure they're kids and not horses?

[OhSoGraceful]

I think it sounds about right, but make sure any extra outings, bus fares, etc are also covered. Might not be every week, so could be done on an ad hoc basis, but it would be nice if she didn't have to worry that extra activities would leave her out of pocket.

[EveOnline2016]

Your mother is an adult and if she doesn't want payments she doesn't want payments.

How about getting her something really nice, for me it would be an iTunes gift card.

[Pinkheart5915]

I would give £3 per child per week.
Your mum will be able to cook a good meal for that for a 2 & 5 year old, I mean how much can they possibly eat for dinner or lunch?

Ask her to tell you if she plans to take them out any week, so you can give her more to cover the meal out.

I think it's lovely your mum offered to have them

[MarthaMonkeynuts]

You could send with a packed lunch

[BackforGood]

Does totally depend what you are expecting to cover. I mean, clearly you wouldn't spend £6 on ingredients for a meal just for a 2 yr old and 5 yr old, even if it were a cooked dinner. Presuming the 5 yr old would be in school for most of it, then it's going to depend how early you are dropping and how late collecting - is it a snack after school or is it a full cooked meal? Would your Mum be making something anyway for herself (and anyone else who lives in the house) or are you expecting her to cook stuff just for the dc? Are you expecting lots of milk, fruit, snacks etc ? If it's not a 'full cooked dinner' then stuff like eggs or beans on toast cost even less.
However - if you are both getting a day's free childcare (saving £70 ish??) then it would seem churlish to scrimp on what you offer for the meals.