Charge more for children who don’t go to bed?

[Alwaysforgetthecrackers]

I do babysitting/childcare over the summer in a busy, tourist area.
The majority of the time I’ve always had 1-2 children and when I arrive, they’re in bed sleeping and stay asleep for the evening, parents give me the remote, kindly say I can help myself to food and all is great.
I recently sat for someone who had three very active boys, they were still up when I arrived, wanted constant snacks mum asked me to make and tidy things away. They all had different bedtimes, mum wanted me to play games with them, put them to bed etc, little one fought with me on this and eldests bedtime was literally just before they returned home, so I spent the rest of the evening getting him snacks, tidying after him, playing games.
I’m ok doing this…it did make me wonder though, should this be the same charges as basically sitting with the child already in bed?
Also, nice as this mum was, she initially queried the price being a bit expensive, whereas all
others have been very appreciative

Sounds like these kids were on holiday? I would charge more for that as their bed times and behaviour are bound not to be the same as if you were babysitting kids on a school night or a normal weekend.

This.

I do feel for the OP. Three feral little beasts racing about doing whatever they like is a long way from the 'prepped for bed and quietly reading' ideal scenario. The mum was either taking the piss or is one of the useless parents that seem legion these days, who have no idea of rules, boundaries and discipline, they just want Isaac, Algie and little Achilles to 'express their unquenchable childish joy' (which means being horrible little gits, to the rest of us.)

I'd knock it on the head and do bar work instead, OP. At least then you can call the police if things turn savage.

(Edited for typos.)

Wow, not sure where you will find all these people to pay 25 an hour for babysitting!

I don't think you should change the charge after you show up to babysit. So if you give the parents one quote, and then when you arrive the kids are awake, I don't think it's appropriate to change your quote "on the spot." The parents have already planned around your prior price quote. It would be a "bait and switch" on your part. From that viewpoint, I agree that the "job" is you show up and take care of the kids, whether the kids are awake or asleep. You know in advance that the kids might be awake so change the cost after the fact seems wrong.

However, if you babysit for a family (like this one) and the children require more care than usual, and you get the impression that this will be habitual because it's part of how the parents roll, then I think it's fine if you charge them more NEXT TIME, based on your experience from this time. You are a free agent, not their slave, so you can charge whatever price makes it worthwhile to babysit for that family. If you charge this family more, because you know (from experience) that it will be more work, then they may decline to use your services. This frees you up for clients you prefer. It's fair and everyone gets the thing they want most: they get a babysitter other than you if they don't like your price, you get a client other than them if they feel your price is too high. Everyone wins.

You also learned by experience that these particular parents will decrease the pay if they show up early. If you don't approve of this because you declined other work based on the TOTAL pay you were expecting, then the simple way to deal with it is to specify at time of your hiring that the fee is for the four hour slot you have scheduled to serve them, and you will expect that pay whether they choose to use the entire slot or not. This should protect you from people who book you for 3 to 11 pm and show up at 7 pm and leave you frustrated that you would otherwise have taken another booking instead that went from 5 pm to midnight. if the parents "short" you again, you may have to put it in writing and have a contract the parents sign first. Or just drop them as clients.

Last but not least, evening babysitting earns more because it's at the end of the day when you are tired and would otherwise be performing your own self-care and leisure. When my kid was hired for "second shift" which was 3 to 11 pm, he was offered a higher rate than "first shift" (the daytime shift) because it is simply more difficult to find people who want to give up their evening to work. This is called, "What the market will bear."

They sound like CFs. I'd definitely state in future that you need to be paid for the hours booked, not necessarily hours worked. I don't think you can charge more for them not being in bed, but I would be reluctant to babysit 3 boys who don't sound very well-behaved in those circumstances.

Charge what you think you're worth. Although to me £15 an hour seems a lot if the children are in bed and your role is to just be there if needed. £15 is probably not enough if children are awake and challenging and several of them.

Completely agree with this. I no child i ever baby sat for was still up.

Of course you would get some interaction, I can't sleep, my bedtime drink tastes funny - that sort of thing, but I would definitely expect them to have been put to bed.

You need a more detailed tariff OP.

@@CellophaneFlower What? What are you talking about?
This is an area with multi million euro properties, they come to stay at theirs or friends or rented holiday homes or 5 star hotels. Generally live in London and their children attend top fee paying schools. My friends and I pay more or less the same to our own babysitters and appreciate their worth, we don’t try to haggle for the sake of a few euros per hour and then put everything on the babysitter. Nobody funds me for rest of the year, I work all year round.
I don’t advertise my services, it’s all been word of mouth and 90% of the families are very respectful and don’t query price or expect food making and cleaning up

What a weird attempt at an attack on anther poster.

I was replying to the poster who mentioned working 4 months a year. I have no idea of your work schedule.

Exactly.

Definitely raise your rates. They are asking you to do intense parenting-style childcare vs merely making sure sleeping children are safe.

Your rate is quite reasonable as it is. I would double it for wakeful children.

Ultimately it’s your business so you charge what you want. I personally would charge more for what you’re describing. Parents are paying for a service to benefit them, no one is forcing them to go out. Either they pay your charge or they don’t.
i also think £15 an hour is a reasonable sum, given you’re in a position of trust, the hours are unsociable and I’m assuming you have costs to pay? Insurance etc.

You charge £15 to babysit and don’t think you should have to interact with children for that? No you shouldn’t be charging more.

I pay that for a pet drop-in, so certainly there are people willing to pay that for their kids' care and safety.

Do not under any circumstances accept less if the parents come home early, OP. How are you supposed to weigh the value of a job if they can change it at a whim?

2 babysitters would be overkill! I've nannied for twins before... it's a challenge but perfectly doable.

In this situation I'd probably attempt to get baby down first, then could focus on 2yo.

I think when she originally queried the amount it got my back up a bit and felt a bit disrespectful and at the time I assumed that was one baby, likely in bed, not 3 boisterous boys and all it entailed. I don’t understand saying my fee was expensive and asking it I could do for X amount, especially as they are so clearly v v wealthy, it just felt disrespectful. I did say at the time that unfortunately I couldn’t go lower as it’s August and there are so many requests, which is true. Where I am, people pay some companies €25 per hour. After I’d said I’m sorry I couldn’t lower due to it being August etc, but I could send her details of other babysitters/companies who charge a little less, she went back on it a bit and said her friend had recommended so she wanted to stick with me..:why ask in the first place?!

@LiquoriceAllsorts2 I never said I don’t think I should have to interact with the kids, I love kids, I wouldn’t do what I do otherwise, I’m just comparing the two situations and wondering if looking at all the details, they should merit equal pay.

I think if you expect the children to be in bed asleep while you're there, it's irrelevant that you have teaching experience. You can hardly put your skills to good use when they're sound asleep

Absolutely don't think she had any right to query your rate. I missed your post, but I think there was something about her coming home early and not paying for the hours she booked you for? If that's correct, that's also not on.

@CellophaneFlower It was until 11pm, but they returned around 10.15 and paid for the exact time I’d been there, but until 11. They booked two nights, the second night they were out until the time stated and paid well though

Great, but would it really seem reasonable for you to return home to a demand for extra money because your daughter got back up for some reason? Or would you just think "I'm paying you to care for whatever need my child has whilst I'm away"?

I appreciate the difference between your personal circumstance and that you encountered was that the other kids hadn't been put to bed yet, but you really need to be stipulating that as a requirement if you don't want to deal with awake children unless necessary.

The difference about a pet walking service is that it is an hours work so you pay more, the day rate would be less. I doubt many would pay 25 an hour for childcare, when the going rate is 15 an hour...

What do you mean they paid for the exact time you had been there but until 11? Did they pay until 10:15 or until 11? And why didn’t you just clarify the booking was until 11 and also it’s hourly and you can’t be paid for 15 mins?
And what do you mean they “paid well” the following night? Did they pay over?

Unbelievable. Some people are such misers. She probably spent the equivalent of your hourly pay on a glass of wine, but questions you? For three kids I'd at least double the rate.

That's definitely tight then 😂 Regardless that she should have paid for however long she booked you for, does she expect you charge by the minute?! Did you query this, sorry if you've mentioned. You really should have, although I myself always find this type of thing awkward. That's why I would have sent over a text stating clearly how I charged and the fee that would be due and obviously any fees for extended hours/extra charge for after a certain time. Makes it harder for them to take the piss.

If you're not advertising and it's by word of mouth, I'd probably price as a 'job' rather than just stick to a set price per hour. So get as much info as poss about how many children/what is expected, then charge a rate which is worth it to you.