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

We had a very over qualified nanny come and baby sit for us and when we came back she advised she actually was going to charge us £1 an hour less as DS was put to sleep by me and didn’t wake at all while we were out so that’s her policy. So maybe add extra on but take away if you don’t have as much to do IYSWIM

@Alwaysforgetthecrackers Ignore the rude idiots. They haven't a clue.
Let them pay the cat sitter £7.50 to feed and sit for their little darlings .......

This.
I used to expect to have to do bedtimes, esp for £15/hr; if they're already in bed - great!
Those kids sound like hard work - I'd say No next time.

If you've 30 years experience and a teacher.... surely 3 children is a doddle.... compared to a class of 32 🤪

Personally I’m more than happy to pay extra for someone who’s first aid trained and dbs checked!

I think the only easiest way to deal with this is you now prioritise repeat clients where you know what you’re getting.

If you accept a new client, you accept the first engagement is an unknown quantity and how it goes will determine whether you sit for them in future.

And, going forward, you can refuse this particular family in favour of other bookings.

Actually KS2 classes can have as many as 36 children in! Teachers and all school support staff should be valued by society far more than they are currently and paid accordingly. They shouldn't feel the need to do second jobs! So many pupils and parents are quick to criticise schools, but then struggle to cope with Summer holidays. Try educating entitled kids of entitled parents on top of managing their often poor behaviour and tolerating their lack of manners and abuse.

Nearly 50% above minimum wage for basic childcare is definitely enough.
If they're asleep that's a bonus.
Playing a few board games and getting snacks is hardly work is it, especially when you don't even seem to be giving enthusiasm with the price.

The agency we book with has these as minimum requirements.

@wfhwfh Yes I think you’re right

@LoveHearts69 @Goldbar Yes same for our Dd

@SummerSnowstorm Im definitely very enthusiastic in my job and do a great job…I guess in this instance I just complained about it afterwards

@Jo8chocolate Exactly

I think she is being cheeky to come home earlier and expect a reduction on top of having to clean up after the children. She knew her children wouldn’t go down, that’s why she gave details of food and cleaning, You had booked the evening for her and even if she came back after an hour, itshould of been the same price. To top that you have your transport home so there was no extra time or cost for them.
I have experience of her ilk, that’s how they have more money than others.
I would seriously avoid working for her, unless you need the money. You could say you have been booked by someone else to avoid her and if accidentally another of her friends books you after you had refused her, just say you had a cancellation. Really don’t work for her.

Just don't babysit for her again.
She may offer more if she can't find anyone else!

£15 p/hr sounds like a lot if your charges are mainly in bed asleep.
But actually, who am I to know?
We only sit - occasionally - for our DGC and, although naturally not paid, are left lovely food and drinks and instructions on how to work the TV.
Mostly, they are great at going to bed.
I would have thought the op will want to find herself busy when asked to sit for this family

I think a basic rate for one child asleep. Extra for more than one child. This is babysitting.

Playing with children, bathing, making meals , putting to bed etc is childcare and should be charged at a higher rate and increased with the number of children.

I think the OP should charge more for her previous experience. Should a child of mine wake during the night, be ill or have an accident then I would value the OPs experience more than that of a teenager.

OP, yanbu.
I babysat as a teen and had different jobs.
The easy sit on my arse and 90% of the time just checked on the children.
There were those hard work jobs, children up, house a mess, children difficult, request to wash up. Same money. Never babysat twice.

I wouldn't have done a second night for people like that.
Children being up is one thing, treating you like a cleaning nanny, not a chance.

I agree that if I was hiring a teen and paying them £20 for the evening then it would be incredibly cheeky to expect them to do more than sit and watch TV and eat snacks (provided by me). But we'd never do this in any case.

@Sheeplesss Yes I think is what it was, I could almost sense I was thought of as less, especially being older and babysitting, unfortunately I need the money at the moment and that’s life

@Toptops Yes I think I may pass next time 🙈

@Lifelover16 Yes, we pay a little more to have an older lady with qualifications/experience etc, happy to pay a bit more, but we can rarely do it, couple of nights a year maybe 😅

Average childminder rate is c.£5 per hour and that usually includes food and activities. Average nanny salary is apparently £14 per hour. An NQ teacher makes £16 per hour, probably less given they work so much overtime. So £15 for babysitting sleeping children sounds high but obviously you can charge what you like on whatever model you like if people are willing to engage you on that basis and you’re not obligated to work for anyone you don’t want to.

I used to babysit four boys from age 3 to 8 for £5 per hour when I was 14 including giving them tea, bathing them all and putting them to bed and thought it was a good gig at the time!