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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

How much should I pay my 24/7 childminder?

45 replies

Mazzledazzle · 04/05/2013 12:31

My childminder charges £3.75 ph pc (so I pay £7.50 oh for 2 DC).

DH and I are going away for 5 days Mon - Fri, leaving our 2 DC with family, but due to an emergency this is no longer an option.

Luckily my fabulous childminder has agreed to let our DC stay with her and her DH for 5 nights, which works out at 105 hours!

I hate talking about money - I usually pay her in advance for the month and round it up to the nearest tenner.

How do I bring up the subject of payment? And how much should I expect to pay her?

Tia

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Original poster

Mazzledazzle · 04/05/2013 12:32

£7.50 PH for 2 DC! Stupid phone...

OP posts:

notapoloshirtperson · 04/05/2013 13:21

Are you willing to pay her normal rates??
You don't say how old your children are. If they are not sleeping through then you need to pay her the normal rate for the 105 hours.
If they are good sleepers, you could suggest paying normal rates between 7 am and bedtime, 8pm? Then around 50 ish pounds for a sleep in fee? Obviously you need to discuss food, too. Is it normally included in her fees?

nannynick · 04/05/2013 13:22

A nanny in this situation could easily cost you £600.

I think you need to be paying the usual childminding fee for the core hours, so for example 7am-7pm. Then ask your childminder about an overnight rate.

Your childminder is running a business, it is up to them to decide how much the service they are providing costs. So you need to ask them what the fees will be for that week.

Original poster

Mazzledazzle · 04/05/2013 13:34

My kids are 2 and 4 and sleep through from 7pm - 7am. Usually I provide food. I've offered her my car for the week, as it's much larger than hers.

Would the maximum be just the usual hourly rate? Is it ever the norm to pay more than the usual hourly rate for out of hours care?

I'm so grateful that she's agreed to take them. She feels more like a family friend than a childminder, but this is her business and I don't want to take advantage...I'm in no position to haggle and will have to pay what she wants. I have not budgeted for this at all, as my sis was supposed to do it for free.

Cringing at the thought of asking how much money she wants! I never get a bill or receipt - I work it out myself, pay in advance and hand over the money in an envelope. What should I say?

OP posts:

nannynick · 04/05/2013 13:56

Nice to offer your car but she is probably not insured to drive it and her business insurer may not transfer the insurance to another vehicle without there being some costs involved. So she may well not take you up on that offer.

Out of hours care could be more than usual but it's not like you are wanting to drop the children round at 5am... so it's different.

Is she doing this as a friend, or as a childcare provider? Mixing business and pleasure creates problems like this - can work well, just means you need to talk to each other so you both know what the situation is. You don't want to take advantage which is great. As a friend she is probably well aware that you had not budgeted for the cost, so you may well get mates-rates for some of the time... such as the overnight element.

You never get a bill or receipt - that does not sound great. Your childminder needs to be accounting for payments for their accounts. Presumably you have a contract that sets out the fees for your usual usage of their service.

Tell her you have no idea how to work out what the cost would be, so could she prepare you an invoice for that week of childcare.

BackforGood · 04/05/2013 14:03

You are just going to have to ask her.
IMVHO I would be surprised, if she's offered to have them if she's going to start charging a premium for out of hours care - I wouldn't be surprised if she will say something less for the nights, as she won't actually be having to "do" anything then.
Just ask!

Cloverer · 04/05/2013 14:04

I'd say something like £7.50 for normal business hours (8am-6pm), 1.5x for unsociable hours 7am-8am and 6pm-11pm, and then £30 sleepover. So a total of £172.50 per 24 hours.

HSMMaCM · 04/05/2013 15:04

My overnight rate works out roughly the same per hour as my daytime rate.

letseatgrandma · 04/05/2013 15:12

I'd offer her at least £7 x 105 then. Maybe round up to £800?

Tbh, our holidays don't usually cost that much to go on-I'd probably cancel or take the kids with me.

ReetPetit · 04/05/2013 16:52

i would expect to pay by the hour per child tbh, normal hourly rate x 105...

seems a hell of an expense though - personally i'd probably not bother with the holiday at all, as letseatgrandma said! could kids not come with you?

Original poster

Mazzledazzle · 04/05/2013 17:50

Nannynik when I say she's a friend, I never see her socially but have gotten to know her well. She never bills me, as I pay before the bill would usually be issued and she gives a receipt if I ask, but I don't. I have a contract but it only specifies the hourly rate between 8-5 and my contracted hours. I'll double check with my insurance company re the car.

Reetpetit I've priced taking the kids and it's more than the childminder's bill will be and as it's my sister's emergency and not mine, my travel insurance company won't cover cancellation.

I think I'm going to text her and ask (the cowards way out, I know) and keep my fingers crossed it's not more than the £800 letseatgrandma suggested! At least I won't be puting her on the spot and she'll have time to work out a bill. Wish me luck!

Btw my DH doesn't see why we can't just leave the kids with a selection of random people (some they've barely met) for a night each

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/05/2013 10:31

the 105 hours, does that include her normal time of having them (8-5) or the extra time ie evenings and nights - ie she is having them an extra 15hrs a day/night 5pm - 8am

the cm will state her fee - many will charge till midnight and then do a sleepover fee esp if they sleep all night (including myself) but if they are bad sleepers/babies need feeding then i charge per hour

asking via text/email is prob a good idea as she can work out what she wants rather then being put on the spot

Deearnamaternitynurse · 05/05/2013 17:57

Personally i would suggest normal rate for normal hours and then possibly a sleepover rate, if the children i look after are sleeping through I charge £75 per night and this has never been questioned

Original poster

Mazzledazzle · 08/05/2013 17:22

Update for anyone that's interested...

I text and she said the whole week was a freebie as it's a favour. I could have cried.

By the way Blondeshavemorefun the 105 hours includes the hours she usually has them - so by doing it for free, she's actually losing money!

Obviously I'm going to give her something though, probably a voucher. Thanks for all the advice guys.

OP posts:

MrsHiddleston · 08/05/2013 17:25

Are you sure she doesn't mean the nights are free... I think you should still pay her for the usual childminding hours. She shouldn't lose money.

ReetPetit · 08/05/2013 17:45

No way! I would want clarification on that and tbh as a parent i would be uncomfortable with someone looking after my kids 24/7 for a week for free. You should at least pay her normal day rate and something for the night times. I think this could ruin your working relationship. If i were in your shoes i would say thankyou for your kind offer but we will pay you. Its the decent and right thing to do imo.

Cloverer · 08/05/2013 17:52

I would at least pay her the normal hours, plus £100 as a thankyou (and wine, chocs and flowers!).

pooka · 08/05/2013 17:58

Absolutely pay the standard hours! And add on extra as thank you for the massive favour she's doing for you.

Wishihadabs · 08/05/2013 18:04

Our nanny/house keeper has done this (but in my house). We pay her till midnight then £20 sleepover fee. Works out about £150 per 24 hours (they are at school in the day though).

Wishihadabs · 08/05/2013 18:06

if she doesn't want payment I would split the difference give her something like £300 unless you realy can't afford it !

MustTidyUpMustTidyUp · 08/05/2013 18:10

What they said ^ you really should pay her.

lucamom · 08/05/2013 18:12

Sorry if I've missed it up thread, but why aren't the kids going on the holiday with you? X

Floggingmolly · 08/05/2013 18:17

Why should she take a loss on this? You should pay her at least the normal rate...

minderjinx · 08/05/2013 18:32

You can't seriously mean not to pay her. You can hardly say you can't afford it if you can afford to go on holiday.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/05/2013 18:42

as others have said

doing it for free

you Must pay her for her usual hours, sure she meant maybe the evenings are free

but even 15hrs of free childcare a day is very generous, let alone for 5 days

i really think you need to pay her something for the extra hours

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