Would you pay for babysitter Taxi?

[iceycage]

Hi all so I'm not a Mum but babysit now and then for extra cash and wanted some insight from mums as I've asked fellow nanny/babysitter friends who may be giving me different answers !

So I'm meant to be babysitting tonight. Where I live the main roads are fine but side roads are awful with black ice etc. Both me and the family live down side roads. I'm admittedly a bit of a whimp about Driving especially as I only passed my test last spring so this is my first winter. I really don't want to let her down though as she's in a band and performing tonight so I'd feel awful if she missed her gig. I'm thinking of ordering a taxi to pick me up from my nearest main road which is about a 15 minute walk away, and the same coming back.

should I ask to be reimbursed for this or not as it's my choice to get the taxi? I'm being told there's no harm in asking, but if I cancelled all together I'd obviously earn nothing tonight whereas even if I have to fork out for a cab I'll still be money up. If you were in this situation as a parent what would your thoughts be?

I'd pay. Text her and check arrangements if really snowy

Yes I'd pay too. I'd speak to her about it in advance and explain your concerns over driving. She may offer to pick you up and drop you back.

I would pay. In fact I do if the BS is a teen that hasn't passed their test yet. But my taxi wouldn't take me up side roads this week, so you should check yours will.

I would pay for a babysitter's taxi if it were me - no harm is asking! Just explain that you're nervous about the drive and hopefully she will be decent about it.

It depends what you are charging.
If you were a teen, getting a tenner for babysitting for the night, then the answer would be different from if you are one of these "professional babysitters" I hear about on MN.
If I were paying anyone an hourly rate at living wage or above, then I consider it the person I've employed's responsibility to get themselves to and from work, not mine.
Whether you suck it up to continue the regular contract, or if you cancel, you need to look at as part of the long term work opportunities.

All that said, how likely is it her gig will still be on ? I know things are different in different parts of the country, but where I am, all non-essential things are cancelled tonight.

Definitely. I've never had to use anyone other than family for babysitting, but we always paid for their taxis, if they needed them.

I babysat as a teenager and taxis were always paid for.

Another yep he'd- taxis were always paid for if required.

I was always dropped home or had a taxi paid for when i babysat.

I would pay

Taxi home is completely reasonable is public transport isn't an option.

The difficulty is that if the side roads are so dangerous a taxi may refuse to go down them. I had a taxi refuse to enter my street today, which I would rather he did, then go when it isn't safe and crash.

Agree with back for good. Depends on what you charge.

I've always dropped off or payed for a taxi for teen babysitters, but wouldn't if I was paying an adult wage.

Definitely ask for taxi fare to be paid.

No, we wouldn't pay for a taxi. But, we'd booked a babysitter yesterday and I called to see if she could safely get to us. She couldn't, so we just re-arranged our evening.

I’m an adult nanny (earning an adult wage ) and my boss has paid for a taxi twice this week due to me finishing late, but last night the taxi refused to go down my side road, which actually was fine as I only live 5 doors into the street. The taxi the night before refused to come down the side street I work on which was a little more problematic as it’s a dead end road and I work at the dead end but I got there! I’m sure you’re already there so hope you got there safely!

I have always given babysitters a lift home. Can you ask for a lift rather than for a taxi.

We always see our babysitters home - ours are all local so means dh walks are them home if we've been drinking

Presumably she has hired you and agreed a price based on you driving there and back. Paying extra for a taxi wasn't part of the deal, so if you ask her to pay for a taxi you're effectively renegotiating your price. By all means ask if she can pay extra to cover your taxi, and she might pay it if she has no choice, but I'd expect her to be annoyed because you're effectively upping your price.

I never understand how many people pay taxis for teen babysitters. If I did that then I’d be paying more than it would cost to hire a qualified childcarer with a car to babysit (which we normally do anyway) but I’m clearly in the minority

It’s all well and good hiring someone who can drive but, for example, I work in East London, there is literally nowhere I could park due to it being residents only until 7pm which is often well after I’ve started.

I used to get £7 an hour for regular weekly babysitting until 2/3am and I paid for my own taxis. You can't expect them to pay for your travel!

God yes I'd definitely pay both ways for you

Baby sitter always gets themselves to me but I always get them home. So I would maybe ask if they'll pay one way

We either walk our babysitter home or put her in an Uber, so we can watch the car and text her when the journey ends to make sure she's ok. We make sure the driver knows we are monitoring the drive and loudly tell her that we'll call the police if anything looks suss.

I think it depends. I have 2 babysitters, one is an adult who drives and charges £10 an hour for babysitting, the other is a 17 year old who doesn’t drive and charges £6 an hour. I always book a taxi and round up the 17 yr olds pay to £8 an hour to cover her taxi home. I also book the taxi before going out so she knows when to expect us. Given the weather a taxi home is a must if you don’t drive or want to drive.

No way. I couldn't afford babysitter fee, evening out plus another taxi fare.