How to repay the MIL.....

[bouncysmiley]

So MIL will be taking DD two days a week - I feel we should be compensating her in some way but she is very generous and has refused to take a penny for anything so far (nappies, outfits, bits of kit etc). How can I make sure she's not out of pocket without offending her and how much would be reasonable? Anyone have a similar issue?

Why don't you start a little kitty putting money in every week and save up and treat her to spa vouchers every now and then - or something similar that she likes! She can't really refuse them and you'll feel like you are going some way to repaying her kind help with child care etc obviously not too much but a fiver or tenner a week would give her a nice treat each month or so! (making mental note to get my daughter to read this!)

Buy her a ELC voucher to buy paint/bits with your dd

Little things like that help or if they go to the zoo give her £ to buy lunch etc

I am a cm and look after my niece 3 days a week for free for the last 2yrs little things like lunch out is a big treat for me

Thanks - some great ideas. I'll give her spends for dd and repay her with treats!

Or get her season tickets to childrens places (paying each time costs a fortune), and maybe a National Trust pass?

OMG, could she adopt me? My mum laughed the last time I asked her to have my two for a couple of days during holidays!

I'd second the kitty & season ticket to places really useful

My MIL also has DD twice a week. I just told her from the start that I'd buy all nappies/wipes as I buy in bulk anyway. We also buy her and FIL extra nice Christmas and mother's/father's day presents. We try take them out for lunch too whenever we have the time.

Count your lucky stars. My mum begged me to move 100 miles back home so she could do childcare to "help" me back to work and then once I'd moved made it clear she expected paying at a childminder's rate. I pay her more than £500 a month (they are both in school)!