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

@Scottishskifun yes, unsociable hours are paid extra in many many professions

It's up to the babysitter to decide their rates, though, not the parent.

I work unsociable hours and go home in the dark to I don't get paid extra for it
Welcome to the real world

I said nursery is GENERALLY not optional.

Babysitting to allow parents a night out IS.

There is the issue of unsocial hours to factor in also. Public transport may not be available for the babysitter late at night, and there is the safety of the babysitter to consider also.

There's more to this than we think.

If the babysitter wants to charge extra for unsociable hours, they're free to do so.

Most people aren't going to decide to pay someone more than they've been quoted for a job, though.

I agree 100%, OP.

It's the difference between babysitting and childminding, in my opinion. If children are already in bed when you get there, that's a whole different scenario to looking after them while they're awake and then supervising bedtime. I think parents should either put them to bed before going out, if they're young, or they should be able to go to bed without adult input.

Had this up to here when I had young children! I was in a babysitting circle (wouldn't do it again) and ended up doing all the tough stuff, including lifting a child out of bed and pottying/toiletting it), playing for ours with children whose parents allowed them to stay up as long as they wanted. I wouldn't have left a babysitter with mine unless they were happily in bed already!

All a babysitter should expect to do is sit on the sofa, watch TV and check on the children regularly. Anything else is childminding.

Well op is considering asking for more so good on her

Absolutely, she's free to charge whatever she wants.

But you have to make that decision before you take the job, not halfway through.

I suppose it’s the fact that she initially queried the price and asked for a lower amount too. Also she gave set times of leaving and returning home, but they ended up coming home earlier than they said, so they paid less. August is the busiest month (I told her this) so I could’ve had a job instead where I was paid much more for 7-12.30 for example with sleeping kids. It was my fault for accepting the job really, but they were a friend of really lovely parents I sit for every year when they come on holiday and they said they recommended me, which was really nice.
Bearing in mind, these are very wealthy people.

Also she gave set times of leaving and returning home, but they ended up coming home earlier than they said, so they paid less

But then it's up to you to say "You booked me from X to X which is a flat rate of Y - that doesn't change because you chose to come home earlier."

It sounds like you need better T&C's, really.

They also aren't in many many professions including the offshore industry, marine sector, bars and restaurants, theatres which don't......it's just a fact of the job that you expect to work outside the 9-5 times. Babysitting is pretty much the same if you don't want to work in the evenings then don't offer evening Babysitting!

Not really because what if they're asleep when the parents leave and wake up later?

It would be better to have additional charges for extra services.

So the basic babysitting - sitting there.
1 or 2 children included and an £x extra per additional child

• £X for bathtime, £X for bedtime, £x for tidying, making food etc.

So you basically offer different packages.

I was quoted £13-15 ph in London for day time nanny last summer so your price is in line (don’t know where you are located). Perhaps for 2+ kids you could charge a little more.

They should have paid the same whether or not they returned early, because you had made yourself available for that time.

They sound like a difficult family to babysit for and, if you have lots of customers, probably best to avoid in future.

On a lighter note, I've often thought that a spot of babysitting/childcare on the "morning after" a heavy night out would be money well spent when on holiday! Sleep off the hangover in peace. 😉

also if they come home earlier they don't get a reduction but if they come home later then they pay extra in half hour increments.
have all your terms set out very clearly in writing in advance and make sure they understand what they are buying.

and don't negotiate.
your prices are your prices.

@CoffeeCantata Yes, same 🙈 two didn’t want to go to bed, teeth, games, constant snacks, arguing, free range on iPads and Netflix, mess to tidy, card games where everyone argued. They were lovely boys, but it is a large difference to normal babysitting, in terms of tasks undertaken and amount of kids etc, just to put them side by side as jobs, it seems strange to be paid the same for each job?
Definitely not saying I want to sit on my arse doing nothing, but…surely these two jobs require different pay, even if it was less for the first one..

And no, they def don’t pay for a taxi home 😅I wouldn’t expect that though, I just drive there and back

@Scottishskifun OR work evening babysitting and charge an anti social premium!

Parents can then take it or leave it

Childminding is when the child is looked after in somebody else's house. It's perhaps a blessing you gave up babysitting if you referred to other people's children as "it".

I think it should be irrelevant if they end up coming back earlier - the arrangement between you should be what it was originally based on, with extra charges if they are late.

All of which the babysitter has (a) chosen to do and (b) set their own price.

You literally cannot complain about a situation of your own making.

I don't think you can set charges based on the children being in bed or not, because it's quite a moveable feast- sometimes they may be asleep, sometimes up and about depending on how the day has gone. I do however think that you could charge extra for more children, eg £2.50 extra an hour for each child.

Don't care if you're a teacher. You're being hired as a babysitter not a teacher. You're paid £15 per hour to mind them.

If they are asleep, lucky you. If not, you take the rough with the smooth.

Totally cheeky to suggest a different rate.

You are the Ryanair of babysitters.

As I said, that's the joys of babysitting !

It all depends on the age of the children / number of children and time of the babysitting.

If you are booked for say 8pm I would hope young children are in bed - however if the children don't already know you and they waken during the evening then it is possible the child won't settle back down.

If you are booked for 6pm I would expect to do tea/bath/bedtime story etc.

My dd babysits sometimes, she charges more before 7pm and after 1am, and more if there is more than 2 children.
She also has a min booking of 4 hours, plus £5 petrol.

I babysat all through my Uni years, and it was wonderful if the children were asleep and stayed asleep, but I knew not to count on it.