CM CLUB: How much to charge to babysit a toddler and a baby for the evening..need to know pretty quickly!

[StrawberrySnowflakes]

as things are quiet as yet, i replied to a babysitting enquiry on another forum, she lives were i used to live so know area(its posh!)and has i think a 2yr old and a 9 month old..my normal overnight charge here is £6 per hour per child..what should i charge this lady for both per hour/per night?

i charge £5 per hour for 1 or 2 children and £6.50 p/h for 2 or more.
i think £5 p/h is the going rate strawbs.

so £5 per hour for both children?

I pay £5 per hour for babysitting. my dc are 4 and 8. HTH

yep strawbs i would say £5 per hour for both children.

thanks, just had no idea and as children are both very young?..but web seems to think £5-£5.50 is best

We used to have a childminder who would also b-sit. Her childming rate was £5 per hour and bsitting was £6 per hour. She didn't charge more for more children, but I would think a 2 or 3 hour minumum is fair. Otherwise it's harldy worth you effort to travel over.

oops, didnt say anything about how many hours minimum!

You can always pick that requirement up for next time.

Yeah, if i ehar back i will mention minimum..would only be prob 3 hours as not too far away, but tstill!

My friend uses a couple of childminders to sit sometimes. £25 flat fee

ooh, wish id not replied earlier..i could have said that!..jumped in head first again!

well i pay £8 an hour.
but DD2 does often wake (she is 16months old) so am happy to pay this for someone from the nursery who can deal with her. I have had too many nights out ruined having to come home when she wakes and freaks.

Don't underestimate what that is worth to someone if they have young children and are likely to wake.

£4-5 / hr is going rate around here if children are asleep when babysitting starts (and don't wake up!)

With a baby under 1 I'd pay more because you need someone who can cope with a babies needs.

DS is nearly 2 and I would pay £5/hr whilst asleep and £5.50/hr if awake.

If its an overnighter then I'd pay £5/hr flat rate if we are coming back (but pissed so not able to get up to DS) and £5.50/hr if we will be away all night plus an extra £5 for every wake up call between 11pm and 6am, plus a taxi home at 7 or 8am.

amidaiwish do you have someone from your DD nursery who babysits for you as well then? that sounds liek a great idea - DS knows his nursery staff so I'd be less worried about the whole waking up to stranger thing.

well i said £5.25 for both, baby will be already in bed but toddler will be awake until 9-10pm!!!(ususally, mum says)!, think i might have under estimated??

I don't think £5.25 is bad as long as you won't be out past midnight. If its an overnighter or a very late night then I think you could specify that if toddler is awake past 10pm then your rate will rise to £6 for every hour toddler or baby is awake.

Can you send her an email to clarify saying your babystting rate is £5.25 and you assume that mostly what she wants is a 3-4 hr babysitting in the evening. But for further information your overnight rate is £6 due to ages of children and liklehood of being woken up.

thing is tho, i emailed her before i met her to say "oops, i DO actually ask for a minimum of 4 hours and not 'no' minimum like i originally said"[blsuh]..she hasnt come back to me yet so if she does i would worry about scaring her off if i said about charging more???..i know your right, but id still feel..i did wonder when she said her dd(age2) would be up until 9-10pm??!!

well i think £5.25 per hour is a bargin esp if toddler still awake as you have to travel to their house and leave your dd and dh for the evening
hope she gets back to you i think you did right putting a min hours per night

Ta chick, if she does ring back and i do have nightmare with her dd, i will let her know the fee is extra.