Hi, we have a new live-in nanny starting soon and agreed on two nights of babysitting (possibly on Friday or a Saturday) as part of the monthly pay. We have not yet signed the contract so details to be agreed. She will know the days several weeks if not months in advance ( concert or a theatre, going out for dinner just for birthdays and an anniversary) and I do not think we will be out more than twice a month ( sometimes not at all). We do want her to have a life as well.
However, now I am thinking I need to agree on any extra babysitting rates if, for example, she is free we can just go to a cinema at the last minute. If it is on the weekend I would not mind paying for the whole time we are away say 8 per hour (what we paid our live out nanny before) as she can be out somewhere, but what about weekdays? Kids will be in bed by 8 and we sometimes even put them to bed and then go locally, do I still need to pay 8 per hour while kids are asleep and she is basically in her house so can just get on with her own things. I don't mind if she goes to bed as she can hear them if they will wake up (they are 3 and 5 years old and do usually sleep solidly and we ourselves go to bed early as need to get to work early morning).
Her hours will be 7 to 6 but older one is in school and younger one will be in the school time nursery 3 days a week. Obviously she will have them full day during term breaks but will get 5 weeks off holidays. We have a cleaner once a week and are in London zone 2. She is not a qualified nanny but has experience with same age kids so no issues there. She is fairly new to London so we said we are happy to take her with us on various sightseeing trips in and out of town that we do often in summer and pay for entrance fees, lunches etc although we won't need her on weekends as would want to be with kids ourselves, so it certainly won't be treated as work for her, more like a goodwill from us to treat her like a family.
Any suggestions? Shall I pay 8 until kids are asleep or less but the whole time until we get back ( usually at 11 at night) or roll on unused nights for up to 1 more month? Just want to be fair on this front (we may not even use the extra nights, just a potential). And what is considered babysitting, after 6 pm? Thanks!