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Original poster

Mumsnet Consensus: What would be fair?

46 replies

Twiglett · 15/05/2006 10:50

If I took someone's 5 year old for a day .. ie school holidays and they go to work so have him 8.30 till 6 and I wanted that person to babysit for me (both kids asleep) from 8pm till 11pm what would be a fair ratio?

ie 1 day of childminding = how many evenings of babysitting?

OP posts:
alexsmum · 15/05/2006 10:52

absolutely fair.evening babysitting is generally a piece of piss anyway cos kids are usually in bed.
i would go for more than one evening!!!Grin

nellie245 · 15/05/2006 10:52

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carla · 15/05/2006 10:52

1:1 imho. Probably not what you wanted to hear, though, twigg.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 15/05/2006 10:53

1:1

CountessDracula · 15/05/2006 10:54

2 evenings of 5 hours each

pucca · 15/05/2006 10:54

2 evenings imo, Smile

zippitippitoes · 15/05/2006 10:54

I think 1/2 really assuming you have a nice comfortaBLE HOUSE WITH sKY AND A BIG tv

heavenis · 15/05/2006 10:57

You look after the 5yrs old awake for 9.5hrs and you want to go out for 3 hrs. So if you want it hour for hour then it would be 3 evenings.

Original poster
Twiglett · 15/05/2006 10:58

comfortable house, sky, music, wine and home-baked cakes and biscuits

I don't really feel 1:1 is fair .. even on time alone she'll get 9.5 hours of babysitting and I'd get 3 hours

my gut is telling me an hour for an hour .. so 1:3 but so far no-one else has thought that .. maybe 1:2

(btw have had this child lots and only had 1 babysit back so far)

OP posts:
nellie245 · 15/05/2006 10:58

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nellie245 · 15/05/2006 11:00

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heavenis · 15/05/2006 11:02

You should have a least three evening for every one day you have 5 yr old

carla · 15/05/2006 11:04

nellie, that was my rationale.

nellie245 · 15/05/2006 11:05

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Tommy · 15/05/2006 11:05

I would say 3:1 as well - hour for hour but have you discussed it with other parent? I would say don't discuss it but just keep asking until she has fulfilled her quota and don't offer to have hers again until she has!
Don't know if that make sense though....
BTW, I have a friend who will oook after anyone's children duruing the day but doesn't like going out baby sitting in the evening. Maybe your friend is like that too? perhaps you could palm your children off with her one day and you have a day to go shopping or whatever you want?

CountessDracula · 15/05/2006 11:06

have a token system

1 token per hour, then you can use them whenever to get babysitting

Original poster
Twiglett · 15/05/2006 11:07

but its time to themself .. and I only live down the road (you can see my house from theirs)

I have to entertain and feed a child for a whole day (ok DS does most of entertaining but I have to be teacher, mediator, disciplinarian, chef etc) and they have to sit on their bums watching tv or reading as they would in their own house

why are evening hours more precious .. I would've thought daytime sitting was far more valuable

interesting ...

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 15/05/2006 11:08

or are there any other people you can join up with to make a baby sitting circle? then you don't have to sit for each other necessarily

Original poster
Twiglett · 15/05/2006 11:12

I'm torn because I dislike evening babysitting but don't mind daytime so much

OP posts:
nellie245 · 15/05/2006 11:14

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izzybiz · 15/05/2006 11:15

who babysits theirs while they are sitting yours?
thats the problem with evening babysitting, wont their child will need to be in bed wont it?

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 15/05/2006 11:16

Don't do it then. Sorry but if someone wanted me to give us 3 precious evening because they had my NT kid all day then I'd either pay them instead or pay someone else instead. Evenings are far more precious.

izzybiz · 15/05/2006 11:16

have just read how i worded that, sorry!
i think you know what i meant Blush

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 15/05/2006 11:18

Evenings for me are the only time I can switch off in the entire day. Far more precious. If I only have NT children here then they are easy because they play together (obviously I wouldn't have them if I had ASD children here). Having an extra child is a piece of piss if I am looking after my own anyway. Evenings eat up into free time, so far more precious.

iota · 15/05/2006 11:18

Have to say that I don't mind having kids over for the day - have to put up with my own 2 anyway, but I would really not want to baby-sit in someone elses house in the evening.

I like to relax at home with dh and a nice dinner and wine, not grab a hasty meal and rush out to sit alone in someone elses home.

which is of course no help to you to decide what's a fair ratio of favours Smile