Hello Mama's!
I am currently babysitting for a friend of mine and I would like to know if what I'm charging her is too much or too little.
I am only doing 1 day a week from 9am-3pm.
They are 3 & 15 months. The 3 year old is potty trained but has had poopy accidents and of course the baby is in diapers.
I asked her not to bring any food or milk, I am supplying that.
At the moment it is her 2 children and recently her 2 oldest 9 & 6 (both with ADD, not that it matters but it was a lot because they did not listen to me at all plus I have my 3 at home as well.
I charge her $25 per kid so $50 for 6 hrs. I DO NOT take care of the older two only on holidays.
Is this rate reasonable or am I being naive in taking care of her 2 kids at such a low cost?
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Thank you so much for the input ladies! I want to help out my friend but I don't want to be walked all over because it is not easy finding care & trusting someone with your children. Ok, see if this is an indication that she wants me to watch her kids for cheaper. She cancelled the day before and says to me Oh! good I don't have to pay you. Yesterday she mentions I finally qualified for WIC, comments like this are telling me I CANNOT afford daycare so why is she even wanting it? I do not know how much she makes but do know she works from home and goes into the office one day a week, if she is not able to pay should I kindly tell her it's not working out? I only watch the smaller children 1 day a week and I did tell her that I would charge $20 per child for taking all four, she looked down and wouldn't even look at me and said NO I will have to make arrangements for the older two, I think I will get my Mom to help me out, which in conversation she has mentioned her Mom is not able to watch them, she is fatigued and has numerous medical issues. I appreciate your time for reading!
I think that is very reasonable. Most in home day cares charge 120 a week for one child. I know mine is in one. Then she charges me 12 a day for my older child if they have the day off of school. So I think what you are doing is a good deal for her...
For that same time period for two children, I would pay $60 total. The older kids who are self sufficient shouldn't be charged as high. They can do things and not need one on one attention like the babies.
You are being very generous to your friend. The children are young and need a lot of care at this age. She is blessed to have you. It sounds like the older two are very high maintenance and would require all of your patience. Stick to your price. If you lower your price and have a hard time with their lack of obedience, you will start resenting them and feeling used.
Nope, not too much, sounds about right......we pay sitter $10 for 2 kids so for 4 it would be more......
Wow. That is pretty pricey. Most sitters charge $100 a week, which would be $20 per day. Since the older kids can do a lot for themselves and can help you, you should only be charging about $10 each for the day. The 15 mo old should be the most expensive since he requires the most work.
I'm confused, are you charging $25 an hour or $25 a day?
I know a lot of it depends on where you live but I would think in a relatively big city like San Antonio, you should be charging $15 an hour minimum for the two kids and then an additional $10 an hour for the extra 2 kids.
The higher price is what you pay to get more one on one attention for your kids in someone's home. Although, since you have your own 3 kids at home too, it doesn't sound like her kids can really get that much attention.
Regardless, if she thinks she can't afford you, she might save money and have a lower caregiver to baby ratio at a day care.
You're a very good friend for taking all that on! Sometimes I feel I can barely keep up with just my own two ;)
Babysitters in the area charge anywhere from $5-7/hr for the first kid, then about $2/hr for each additional kid. So the cheapest I would charge would be $12/hr for all 4 kids. So I wouldn't pay more than $72/day for a babysitter for 4 kids. Usually, parents provide the food, though. If your friend gets WIC, maybe she can start helping out with bringing some food for the kids. Alot of "holiday" camps here charge $20 - $30 per kid per day for 6 hours of camp time - which usually includes lots of fun activities and organized play. So I think you are charging about right for the 2 younger ones, considering you are providing food, it's a deal. I don't think she is going to find a commercial daycare that is that cheap. Maybe ask her how much more she could pay you for you watching all 4 kids, however, if they are alot to handle on top of watching the younger ones, maybe they are better off at the grandma's, even if not the best care giver, or maybe she can set up play dates with some of her kids friends those days.
$ 25 dollars a day for 6 hrs is only about $ 4.15 cents an hour for TWO kids.. I would say your friend is very lucky to have you.
& none the less you also provide food.. which can be expensive since kids each a lot of fruit.
If your friend is working - she should expect to pay - as much as a regular child care center would provide, or just less as it works for both parties.. you get paid and she pays less.. but for the most part regular child care usually includes the parent provides lunch.
so I'm not saying you should stop watching your friends kids..but perhaps have a moment where you two can talk about .ouch. boundaries.
I have watched my friend's children in my home & although it was more convienent to do all the same food.. my friend was thoughtful to provide some of the food for all the kids the day her children were there.. or enough to share. as kids all the same age like to have the same thing.
it's not to much to ask.. and the older children would likely need a snack afterschool and it should be packed in advance of the date.
One wouldn't think the food issue would be a big deal - but it can be expensive.
Lastly.. only watch the kids as much as you feel able and don't be afraid to say when it has become to much... before it becomes.. too much..
hope this helps.
-marg.
Well, I do think it's a lot to pay for 4. It's not a lot to EARN for 4. I have been a provider for 24 years and I don't think people with 3 and 4 children should be using paid services. If family can't help, they need to save their vacations for the holidays. It's not right for people to believe others should provide all kinds of freebies for them procreating like rabbits. I have 4 daughters and I provide care for others. I could never afford childcare for 4. Most people are doing good to pay for one.
So while it's not insulting or anything for you to expect to get paid a decent wage, it's not likely she can afford to pay you that much. Does she even earn 90 per day or much more than that?
Whew 90 a day? Seems like a lot to me but that's cuz I have one child lol not four. It probably isn't alot compared to other centers or anything... have you checked others prices? But you got to do more than feed em, like activities (reading, coloring, whatever) I'm just sayin cuz my last babysitter wouldn't do anything but make sure she didn't hurt herself and gave her food for a while but then I provided it cuz she couldn't get it or whatever... but I got a new babysitter because she had kids she could play with and she would color with them and do little things like making bats for halloween. I'm sure you do anyways I was just sayin. Friends are iffy to do business with... my babysitter now (she's my cousin actually) has people who are a month overdue.
I am in Austin so rates may be different from S.A. My daughter goes to a daycare/learning center every day. They will be closed a week during the holidays so some of the teachers offer Parents Day Out on those days. The fee for 9-4 is $40/day for one child or $70/day for two children and we must provide the food. This is of course a convenience so there is probably a bit of an up-charge but if I do the math for the daily rate I pay for the school normally it is about $30/day per kid. This is the 3-4 year old rate. Younger ones are more expensive. I think your rates are reasonable! As for my son, he is 10 and goes to a City Park after school program. On the days there is no school, they charge $30 for the day.
As a full time babysitter for a friend of mine, I charge $100 a week for five 8-hour days, for a 6 month old boy. I provide the baby food but she provides the formula and diapers; in addition she provided all the equipment I needed (pack and play, baby swing, jumper, etc) since as an older woman I don't have all that equipment anymore. I think your price is beyond reasonable and I think it's your friend that's being unreasonable. I know of people who charge a great deal more than I do for even less services, and require the parent to provide all food and all diapers, but the mother of the baby I watch is a dear friend.
No, I don't think that is asking too much, especially since you are providing milk and food and changing diapers. I watch two kids and their mom pays me $6/hr - but that is regardless of if I have one or both (I usually only have one) - and they are both potty trained (even the two yr old), and VERY well behaved. It's actually easier for me sometimes because all the kids entertain each other and none of them are getting into trouble or treating each other badly. I think what you are charging is reasonable given all the circumstances.
That price is about right. My son's daycare will allow me to pay by the day if I'd like. Sometimes I work from home a lot and keep son with me to save. The daily charge is $30 and I drop him off at 7:30 pick him up around 5:30. He's in diapers.
My daughter pays $35 a day for each child (2). That's is in Austin. But that is the going rate and some places are even higher than that. The children are 1 yr and 3 years. No you are not charging too much!! Your "friend" wants something for nothing That is cheap compared to what she would have to pay.
I don't think she is going to find anyone else to take 4 kids for $11.25 and hour especially if you are providing food and milk. I don't know what to charge, but I feel what you are charging is very reasonable. My advice is to not watch kids who belong to friends of yours... It does not make for good friendships because of expectations on both sides.
My motto... never lend money or do business with a friend! GL!
That does sound like alot. But it also depends on where you live and how much the going rate is for your area. She can easily take her other kids to the Boys and Girls Club for a much cheaper rate.
I have three kids. I used to spend upwards of $650 a month for just one of them. I decided to quit work and be a stay at home mom. I was paying to put my kids in daycare.
I do understand that daycare workers have to get paid somehow... and you have buy their food.
Ask her what she can pay and work with her on that.
No, that is not too much. I would tell her to look else where and I am sure she will coming back to you. I pay my neighbor $5 per hour per kid -she is a licensed daycare provider- but it shouldnt be that much of a difference.
