Over night stay

[Playingforkeeps]

Hello! I've been contacted by a new family asking if I would provide over night care for their two children. from 6pm until 4am.

The children will probably be in bed for around 7pm and should sleep through (according to mum). Anyway she's asked me how much I charge and normally it would be £10 per hr so £100 for the night.

I'm not sure if that's too much though?

I would normally charge a sleep in rate but as I'm not technically staying over (dad will be home at 4am, presumably from work?!). I'm sure I'll be able to have a little snooze on the sofa but I'll still be driving home at 4am.

I was thinking maybe £80 instead. 6:00pm to 10pm normal rate then £40 for the last 6 hrs. Do you think that's fair?

TIA

That’s below minimum wage isn’t it? I’d be charging your full rate if you’re not actually in bed sleeping. I’ve had a few overnight nannies but they’ve been asleep during the night in the house just on call in case the children wake. If you’re just sitting/laying downstairs on the sofa it’s going to be a long 10 hours for you.

Driving home at 4am after being awake for 10 hours, probably a lot longer as what are you doing in the daytime before... that could be quite dangerous if it's not something you are used to doing.

Could they put you up overnight - have your own bed, so could sleep a bit better than napping on the sofa.

Cost wise I would charge the same rate throughout the period I was responsible for the children, so 6pm-4am, regardless of me sleeping or not.
If the children are school aged and are known to be good sleepers when parents are not at home, then I may reduce the cost for midnight-6am period (in this case midnight-4am period) but it may only reduce the cost by 15%ish for those particular hours.

4am? Wow. I wouldn’t want to cat nap then drive home

I would expect to be paid till 7am and drive home

I would charge £100 and would hope to be given a bed and dad just takes over when he gets home. You can then get up and leave for 7am.

Sorry for the late reply everyone!

I decided to charge £80 but wish I had charged £100 now!

I've had to park 4 streets away because theirs no parking outside their home so I'm dreading walking back to my car at 4am. I was a few minutes late because of having to walk so far and she messaged me to say she'd forgotten to tell me there was an empty car park for her house just down the road

The house is also a mess - I'm honestly not trying to be judgmental but it's the type of home where it just looks dirty and you don't want to sit anywhere.

I'm hoping the hours just go fast!

That sounds really miserable! I hope it passes quickly and that the children are nice.

How was last night /this morning

Hope safe walking back to car at 4am

You def did yourself cheap

£10 fine if asleep /bed overnight

But not keeping self awake and back home at 4am

Bet you are tired today

Children were lovely and very well behaved. Went to sleep on time and didn't mess around.

I just sat in the living room with the dog and watched films. Couldn't really sleep (nothing to do with them, just can't relax unless in my own home).

I ran up to my car ha ha!

Very tired today, slept from 5am until 12 so I'm just going to have a lazy day today I think.

Dad was very nice, came home on time and paid me before I left.

In all fairness, they kept to their word and paid me at the agreed rate so I wouldn't mind babysitting for them again (even in the messy house 😆)