To not know how much to pay babysitter today?

[flownthecoopkiwi]

Due to a family emergency my DH couldn't look after the two children today, aged 4 and 9.

I managed to find one of the preschool workers to come and babysit them today from 8-4 while I work.

I raised the issue of money. She said 'pay me a sum of money'

ARGH?

What would you think would be ok? I initially said £50 but thinking that might be too low?

It seems mad to pay someone to look after your children virtually the same amount some parents would actually be paid for working their own shift.

But this is last-minute emergency cover. It's not your standard daily rate, so it should be higher than normal. You're paying for the convenience of having someone come to your home and care for your children at the last minute! Why isn't that worth at least minimum wage? These are your children we're talking about!

It is a short notice emergency, she sounds very accommodating, would pay £10 an hour and be really thankful.

£10 per hour, over the min wage plus there's 2 of them and she's done you a biggy.

A childminder around here would charge £4ph so £64 for those hours, before considering how much she has helped you out with last minute emergency childcare. She also sounds like an absolute star and one you may want to keep on-side for any future childcare ;)

My childminder charges £37.50 per day per child, this is 7am-6pm so more hours than you too. so £80 sounds about right - the extra is just a bit to say thank you for having them on such short notice.

I'm surprised by the rates people are being charged.

Generally, I don't think people should be paid £8 or £10 per hour. Or certainly not for older children. Not in the evening anyway.

I used to get paid £20 for a whole evening. Which I always thought was very fair because the children were asleep and I never actually saw them!!

Ultimately I suspect that market forces win - pay too little and you don't get anyone, pay too much and you can't afford it...

You are also paying someone for lost opportunity - yes, the kids might be asleep, but you can't go out / earn money elsewhere / etc. - so it needs to be a balance...

I think that short notice and being helped like this needs recognition in two ways:

• remuneration (i.e. the correct hourly rate e.g. £10 per hour or whatever is right locally)
• thank you - either a bit extra, or some flowers / chocolate / wine / gin - take your pick!

Pay her the £10 per hour, it's the right thing to do in the circumstances. Next time a similar situation arises you will be at the front of the queue.

It seems mad to pay someone to look after your children virtually the same amount some parents would actually be paid for working their own shift .

Why? surely looking after children is a proper job, with a great deal of responsibility and effort, few breaks? why wouldn't you pay a decent wage. And, importantly, surely your children are the most important thing in your life so trying to get care on the cheap is a bit... silly?

OP, it's annoying she hasn't said. I would expect to pay about 30% over whatever her hourly rate is at nursery. For last minute flexibility and availability I'd be inclined to toss in another bit. We did that when our nursery helper had to keep coming back to look after DS because DD just didn't want to be born! .

If you really can't ask her what she's usually paid, I'd go for at least £9 per hour. £10 if you're near a big city.

I pay £8 ph for one child and £10 ph for two.

At least minimum wage if you want to encourage her enough that you could call her again. Most professional babysitting services where I am charge £10-20 per hour.

I genuinely never understand people who don't value their childcare providers and moan about how 'expensive' they are. They're the most important part of your life, surely you want to pay the person caring for them a decent sum to ensure that you're getting quality care? They're more often than not qualified now, police checked and often first aid trained. I'd say that's an absolute bargain for a tenner an hour, which is the minimum I'd pay.

Sorry op, wasn't a dig at you at all.

Maybe grab a bottle of something nice or chocolates on the way so she's paid as well as got a thank you for stepping in at last minute.

I agree chocolate. The people paying peanuts will probably one day regret it.

My 22 year old DD gets £10 an hour for similar ....but she thinks she is massively overpaid. 😂. Looking after two kids that age is a doddle - yes it's a responsibility but it's not exactly hard. I'd pay her the same as her normal hourly rate at work. Most childcare workers are not paid £10 an hour.

DD17 gets between £7.50 and £10 an hour for 1 to 2 kids under 6. She also works in a nursing home and gets less than that! She says the babysitting job is the easiest money as once the children are in bed, she gets to do her school revision, so earning to study!

I think £60 would be about right. Min wage x 8 hours. As others have said - it was probably a pretty easy day for her and will be cash in hand she hadn't been expecting, but OTOH she helped you out of a hole at the last minute, so paying her her normal wage (which will seem like more to her as no tax or NI on it I suspect) seems fair.

I'd go for £80 minimum and a bottle of wine x

£8 per hour minimum if you are skint, £10 if feeling generous/likely to need her again