Do you provide food for your babysitter? How about money for coffee (for walks)

[Maria2007]

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to post.

We have a 6 & a half month old, & we recently employed a babysitter who works 3 times a week (4 hours each time). We do this so that I can work on my PhD part time. I have a couple of questions, & I wonder if more experienced mums can give me some input:

1. Each time she comes, she takes DS out for a walk, which usually lasts about an hour or 1 1/2 hour (& that's where he takes his morning nap). The first time she came, I offered 3-4£ so that she could stop for a coffee & muffin, as I realize that just walking in the middle of winter is not the most pleasant thing. Since then, I've been offering this extra money (usually 3£) for her coffee- this has happened 3/4 times, since we just started the walks, she was just spending time at home with me & DS so far... but then I'm now realizing that that's A LOT of extra money, given that I pay her 10£ per hour. What is the right thing to do, do you think? I want to be generous & keep her happy, but then again I don't want to be doing something that's too expensive for us (things are tight as they are)

2. Should I be offering food when she's here, at home? I've offered muffins or things like that when I have them (I do a lot of cooking on an everyday basis) but should this be something more regular?

3. Also: I pay 10£ per hour. Do you think it's a fair amount? (we're in central London). Should I be paying the same amount when it's evening babysitting? (we're going out for the first time tonight with DP, we haven't before since DS was born...so I have no idea if the cost should be the same or a bit less or more?)

4. Finally. When it's evening babysitting, I'm assuming I'll have to provide an evening meal, or at least a good snack. I've already offered this for tonight (first time evening babysitting, as I said). Is this right?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Cat64,
nobody said that the OP should cook for the nanny. Just 'provide food'.which is the normal practice. And the OP is happy to do.

£10 ph is not A LOT in Central London! It s the normal.

'a nanny wouldn't like to be fed in the evening'. Maybe i was the only pig then? When i was nannying and babysitting i wanted to be fed and all the families provided food and snacks whether day or evening.
You have to remember that most likely your nanny is not coming from her home. Especially when the evening babysitting is during the week.then she is probably coming straight after her other job, no time to go home and eat. But really two slices of bread with slice of ham or cheese, or bowl of pasta wont make the employers poor...

Anyway i dont understand all this bussiness about food tbh. Maybe because i am known to offer food to anyone who comes in my house and i feed the postman too . Maybe is a cultural thing...

Tiramissu, I have to say I agree, I cook all the time anyway, so it's really not an issue!! I think it's nice & hospitable to provide a meal for evening babysitting. Obviously something from what I've already made for us, not something cooked from scratch before she comes...