how much to pay?

[sleeplessinderbyshire]

I'm pregnant with #2. We are 3hrs away from both sets of grandparents. I do not want them appearing to stay to anticipate labour (really hate the idea of either set seing me in labour) so when I do go into labour if it's day time DD will go to nursery (or neighbour if weekend) and GP' will be summoned to come and get her. Last time was 6hr from 1st contraction to delivery (inc 2hr second stage and forceps) so I suspect I may well need to go straight in this time round. Our favourite babysitter who is a nursery nurse at DD's nursery has said that she'd be happy to be "on call" overnight for 2 weeks before due date if I go into labour overnight. Clearly if we ring her and she has to come over we'd pay her a decent usual hourly rate but is it reasonable to pay a token "retainer" type amount for the "on call" nights where she will be at home in bed but with mobile switched on just in case or should I be paying her ful whack? If I need to pay full amount I think this solution will be unaffordable. If a retainer is a reasonable concept (which I think from talking to her it will be) how much should I offer her?

I don't think she would expect a retainer for that time period. A lovely bonus on top of your pay rate I am sure will be much appreciated.

I suppose if she is "on call" and she cant accept any other babysitting work because of it an "on-call" rate would be fair - I work for NHS and on call rate when it existed was pretty pants really so I wouldnt expect to pay a huge amount!!

How about 20% of what you would pay her normally at full whack and see what that works out to - round up or down accordingly offer her it and see whats she says,

I did this for my boss, in the end she was overdue and induced so I didn't get called in the middle of thei night...she paid ne £100 for being on call but I didn't expect it at all

I don't think she'd expect to be paid for being 'on call' - it's what you do to help people out, isn't it. Most people in life would just say they are available when they are, they really wouldn't expect to be paid for that.

I don't know how much you should pay (NHS is 9% I think) but if you want her:
a) not to travel far from your house and
b) to be available within ?30 minutes at any point during specified hours and
c) not to drink alcohol at all (if she needs to drive)

for a 12 hour period each day for 12 weeks

etc.

Then a) you need to pay and b) you need to be very clear about what you are paying for (i.e. make it clear that you are paying her to be available/fulfil all the above criteria etc.)

2 weeks. sorry!