Should I offer a reduced rate for siblings?

[SydwithaY]

Hi, just wonder what other childminders do. I'm newly registered so very wet behind the ears still, I'm afraid. I charge £4.50 per hour per child and have been asked to take on two sisters. Do I charge £4.50 for each or is that too steep? Do I reduce by half or just completely make up a sum??! Any advice welcome, thanks.

I charge the same. Siblings are more risky than singles, because they may both leave at once. You are still offering the same care for the same hours, so you should charge the same amount.

sibling discount is quite common round our way - usually £1 off per hour for the youngest if both need all day. once in school its the flat rate for all.

Don't make up something. I don't see why you can't charge the same for each child tbh. They are taking up 2 places and you could get 2 children from 2 families and get 2 full rates.

Will you give one child less care, or less food?!
No, so they pay the same in my setting.

sometimes siblings are harder to deal with because of the possibility of bickering (depending of course on the age).

Gosh, I am very impressed with this forum, what speedy and sensible answers you've all given me.
Thanks for all of that, it really does help when there are logical explanations I can give to the parents to justify my prices. Thanks everyone.

not a cm but i would charge the same as others have said they are taking up two places

i dont understand why some cm's give a discount for siblings

I charge the same. Usually harder work plus if the family have to leave, all that income goes in one go so more risk!

I charge the same. its a place that another child can fill isnt it, I am running a business not a charity..

I have a childminder and for my 3yr old she charge 3.50 ph and my 22 month old son shes 3.00 ph

charge the same, keep it simple as if one leaves for playgroup what you going to charge then!! it just gets difficult, 2 children £9 per hour, just because they are from the same family doesn't mean you couldn't fill the spaces with other children.Start off as you mean to go on.

NO!!!
in my experience siblings are harder to mind as they tend to squabble and even fight more than two un-related mindees also if you lose one child you lose 'em all, in my opinion there is no real advantage to minding siblings.