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

Boring yes, but always willing to help those in need of educating.

Very telling you got my post deleted, yet replied to choice section about ur problem being boring
… just tell you clients your rates for sleeping vs awake.
Take your job seriously and communicate with clients
“sleeping child rate vs awake rates”
take you whole thread down if you can’t handle solutions that are in conflict with your beliefs about awake children.

@Qanat53 Educating how?

Such a sad post

@Qanat53 Ok 😂

Communicating with your clients.
You won’t solve your pay issues on MN.

@DemBonesDemBones Im
guessing it depends on area. I’d say the rates I’ve seen where I am are from £12 (young, unqualified) to £20 or so-(agencies who then take their cut)
I feel in the area I’m in and how expensive everything is where I am, it’s a fair price…it’s never been queried before this time.

@medik7 It feels like you’re just deliberately not understanding the situation now and on the wind up. No one can be this stupid.

I find your whole post and approach very strange.

If you're all that experienced, surely you know that as children are unpredictable, babysitting might just involve a lot of hands-one work, or might involve watching tv and just being a monitoring presence. It comes with the territory.

If you don't want to risk having to deal with 3 children who are awake and potentially boisterous, don't take on the job, end of story!

So you object to actually providing the childcare you are being well paid for YABU

Nice! Thanks.

For £15 I don’t think you can complain, although it sounds like that’s the going rate? It’s half that around here (northern England).

I think I’d set expectations about what you will and won’t do. I don’t think you can say you expect to do nothing for that rate. Certainly my 10yo wouldn’t be in bed til 9, but she wouldn’t be any trouble.

@Xmasbaby11 Yeah, it’s a very expensive area

Absolutely can charge more next time- they want a Nanny to entertain them not a baby sitter who - no disrespect , probably hasn’t got the relevant qualifications such as paediatric first aid and pay a babysitters fee, they want someone to entertain then
you get a nanny who will charge you accordingly and that’s way more that £15ph

Sorry but I think £15 an hour is well remunerated - above the minimum wage and more than a TA/ cafe worker but you are using hosts food / electricity etc. IF the children are asleep that’s a bonus - but as someone who has both been and used babysitters I used to always go prepared with some games/ colouring packs etc ; and used to employ fun youngsters happy to watch tv or play board games with mine. Mostly babysitting was at weekends or holidays so it’s a novelty for the children and natural they want to stay up ( often to meet you incase they have a restless night) You’re incredibly fortunate if your experience has been children asleep already!!! If you don’t want to entertain 3 boisterous kids don’t agree to sit them , but truthfully if you’re expecting children to be asleep before you arrive I’d view that as pretty cheeky!!!

If my kids were young and asleep I’d be happy with a teenager and pay a lot less. I’m guessing the parents who want you over a teenager want someone decent who can interact and discipline their kids if needed. However it’s way too way what was expected of you!

around here it’s £5ph teen, up to £10 for experienced adult. I would make sure a sitter was comfortable with my expectations before taking them on. It sounds like it’s on you to check with parents before, in your case.

That's not a baby sitting job its a nanny and nannies cost a lot more.

Is it?

Nannytax suggests £17 gross an hour for a nanny in central London and the £15/hr the OP is charging is almost certainly cash in hand so isn't that different

https://www.nannytax.co.uk/nanny-salary-index

There are a lot of argumentative people on here. I am northern Engand and it costs £7.50 to get someone to come and feed the cat (everything provided) UNQUALIFIED. If they have cat first aid it's £10. Teen baby sitting is £10/hour and adult is more.
Get real people - OP is is a tourist area and is charging a realistic amount.
Grow up. You are not paying her to sit and drink tea, you are paying to keep your children safe. You pay a 12 year old and you risk them not knowing what to do when your baby is ill / throws up/ fits - make your choice.....

Maybe multi-tier rates:

Safeguarding sleeping children

Playtime/bedtime

Meal/playtime/bedtime

X number of children x hour with min number of hours paid

@TriciaA1991 I don't think many people have said she is overcharging?

I think around 13-6/hr is a reasonable rate for someone who is qualified. But I wouldn't be happy, having paid someone 15/hr if they complained that they had to interact with my kids because I think that is kinda implied by babysitting