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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

New Years Eve Babysitting charges.

86 replies

ljcooper3 · 11/12/2006 18:12

Just wondered what you have previously paid or charged and what you would be happy to pay or happy to charge.

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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uwila · 13/12/2006 09:03

Babysitting is not generally rated on a per child basis. The babysitter comes to your home, and they work for you like a temporary employee for the night. You pay them per hour, and they do as you instruct.

This thread is about what is and isn't a reasonable rate to pay for babysitting on New Years eve. I am entitled to share my views, and they do not warrant you telling me to stay in on New Years Eve (hence implying that I should leave the conversation). I think jacking up your prices on New Years Eve is a dirty trick, and if my usual babysitter did that, I would remember it throughout the year whenever I needed a babysitter and be inclined to hire someone else.

I see these threads on Mumsnet every year. But I don't know anyone in RL who pays these rates or charges them. Perhaps that is because I don't know anyone who lives in Mayfair? These are not normal prices that normal people can afford.

smeeinit · 13/12/2006 09:45

uwilla these ARE normal prices that normal people pay in the real world if they CHOOSE to go out on news years eve,whether you think its right or not doesnt change the fact that it happens, thats life!
people/buisness' put their prices up all through the year for SPECIAL occasions....valentines,easter,xmas lunch,nye. thats the way it is!
and babysitting is a service that is charged by the child also and not just by the hour, i would not sit for someone with 4 children and expect to be paid the same as for one child.unless they wanted me to sit on my arse all night doing nothing?!

uwila · 13/12/2006 10:17

Not in my neck of the woods (West Londonish -- a bit west of West London really). I don't know anyone who would pay £35 per hour for babysitting. Nobody. This is not for normal people.

If we are talking £10 per hour then okay. A bit steep for me, but I can see that some people would pay it.

I've never had anyone ask me how many children I have when I ask them what they charge.

£6 or £7 per hour for a babysitter is what normal people pay.

smeeinit · 13/12/2006 10:44

i wasnt suggesting that i would charge £35 per hour, im saying that when I sit for more tahn one child then i charge more. 4 children are not the smae work as one.
i dont know what your sitter does but when i sit for people they get damm good value for money..............a 35 yr old fully qualified in childcare with almost 20 yrs experience,i take games and puzzles with me to entertain the kiddies,usually a choclate treat, when in bed i check them every 20mins and i dont expect parents to provide food for me when im there....i take my own!

i charge £5 per hour for one or two child and £7.50 3+ children.

if i did by some miracle decide to abandon my own children on nye to care for someone elses then i would certainly not do it for less than £15 per hour!
you get what you pay for!
i also would not suggest taht the people who do pay ridiculous amounts of money for sitters on nye are abnormal! its personal choice!

smeeinit · 13/12/2006 10:45

god i cant spell today................im blaming the keyboard!!!

Original poster

ljcooper3 · 13/12/2006 13:03

The nanny I was refering to doesnt work in Mayfair but in Wandsworth (SW London). I understand what you are saying Uwila regarding most people wouldnt pay or cant afford these prices but on this evening of the year I know a few families that pay this sort of money and they are.

I think sometimes parents forget that babysitters are doing the family a 'favour' in a sort of way, as they get an evening to themselves/with family/friends etc and of course it is a favour to the babysitter as they earn some cash so it does work both ways.

Everyone else (taxi drivers, restaurants etc) whack their prices up NYE so I can see why babysitters do too.

OP posts:

noddyholder · 13/12/2006 13:05

Dp is working NYE so I may babysit if I can earn that sort of cash

StrawberrySnowflakes · 13/12/2006 13:57

so it seems its acceptable for everyone else to ask for more money on NYe but the not the people looking after someone elses precious children while they go out and have fun?..why is it always different for a child care provider?

uwila · 13/12/2006 14:02

"so it seems its acceptable for everyone else to ask for more money on NYe..."

No it isn't. They piss me off too.

StrawberrySnowflakes · 13/12/2006 14:05

ill leave this

WhenSantaWentQuietlyMad · 13/12/2006 17:34

Blimey Uwila you can be aggressive at times. Having re-read my post after your angry outburst I found no reference telling you to stay in!

All I was saying is that it is supply and demand, which explains why all businesses make extra money at New Year. Which usually compensates the staff enough for having to give up their own celebration that night.

Of course you have the right to an opinion, but so have I and there it was. Anyway, this really is not an important enough issue to have a row over is it?

LauraM20 · 13/12/2006 19:22

I babysat on New Year last year from 7-1 and i got paid £100.

uwila · 14/12/2006 08:14

I'm not having a row. Simply expressing my views. Your post, however, seems to have a bit of inappropriate drama. "Agressive"? "Angry outburst"? Oh, come on, a bit OTT don't you think?

lottiesmummy · 14/12/2006 11:02

people should pay more as the sitter is giving up their new year so others can go out, personally new year isnt all that to me i'd rather stay in, the nightmare of getting home isnt something i want to go thru again, I will be available if people need a sitter but only for a decent price!!

and as for other people not gettin paid more for working nye ? u telling me a plumber or electrician wont charge you double? makes £10 babysitting seem cheap compared to £100 for a plumber lol

LittleMissPopular · 29/12/2006 23:54

omg uwilah, your taking the piss aint you........£6 or £7 on normal night in west london........who do you employ then?? 10yr olds??

i live in herts and get £8 per hour on normal night ffs

i wouldnt even consider new years eve but i have friends who easily get £30 per hour plus and thats outside of london

If you cant afford it then dont go out , simple

NurseyJo · 30/12/2006 00:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LittleMissPopular · 30/12/2006 00:18

I totally agree Jo..... for goodness sake uwilah , its your CHILD, a human being you are leaving......are they really worth as little as £6 per hour???

To be honest i wouldnt even consider working for someone like yourself. i have fantastic employers thank god!

Donkeyswife · 31/12/2006 00:20

As a new mummy and never having employed a baby sitter in my life (but been an unpaid one lots of times to nieces/nephew and friends' babies), I would only imagine that you'd have to pay double at least as well as a taxi home and some plonk might be nice for the nice baby sitter who's given her new year up for your wee ones.

It seems really mean spirited not to pay someone double on new years eve. If I were working on nye I'd expect to be paid double, wouldn't you? So I reckon about £15 - £20 per hour.

Skribble · 31/12/2006 00:23

Damm I am in the wrong job I should be doing baby sitting. I am getting double time and it is still a lot less then £20 ph and we have loads of peoples children to look out for . Anyone want a SNNB trained babysitter with recent firstaid training??? .

cat64 · 31/12/2006 01:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Wilbur · 31/12/2006 10:13

I'm just about to start a thread on this but thought I would place a message here too. If there are any sitters out there who live near Battersea and would like to earn £12 per hour tonight for a babysit, please let me know! I would love to go out tonight but all my regular sitter are quite understandably busy elsewhere either sitting or partying.

uwila · 31/12/2006 10:35

Hey, Letitshnow, are you around? Happy Birthday!!

And, Littlemisspopular, such a nasty post doesn't deserve a response. Implying I don't love my children as much as people who can afford to spend more money on babysitting really is out of line.

LittleMissPopular · 31/12/2006 12:55

you are the one out of line uwilah.... or whatever your name is, i cant really be bothered to check spelling for people like yourself

you cant afford decent rates??? so you wear second hand clothes do you? i doubt it ha ha

at the end of the day i am sure you think nothing of buying a pair of shoes or top so if those mean more to you than your children then tut tut is all i can say.

your children should come first but obviously they dont , end of!

gooseegg · 31/12/2006 15:20

My dd is getting £50 for babysitting for two children from two different families this evening - a fixed rate.
The parents have also offered to pay for a cab, but it may be hard to get one tonight, so she will probably stay over.
She normally charges £4 per hour.
Hi Uwila - hope you and your gorgeous children are well

colditz · 31/12/2006 15:26

LittleMissPopular, your attitude to Uwila is way out of line. It's very rude of you to suggest she doesn't prioritise her children just because she objects to paying £20 an hour for their care!

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