Nanny here and playdates are part of the job.

Nanny here and no I do not expect to be tipped or payed for a play date. That's part of my job and fun for the kids.

When I met the nanny I probably would have said “oh, I had no idea Larlo had an afternoon babysitter. Thank you so much for hosting Larlo2. Can I pay you extra?”

But not just handed a tip like it was a delivery guy.

Anonymous wrote:My child went to a playdate for about 2.5 hrs and when I picked her up it turns out it was a babysitter (a regular after-school one, not a 1-time thing). Should I tip her if it happens again? Or assume the parents have worked that out? This was an impromptu play date where the kid invited my child during recess so not parent initiated.

I would not tip in that situation - and when my kids have a playdate I never expect to tip anyone.

Having said that - you should know what the care arrangement is. And if DC's friends' parents want to hire a babysitter you should know that and ensure the individual is being appropriately paid for any care/supervision.

No, the host family should do that and may have made arrangements already.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never tipped any sitter or nanny, ever. Please don't start this! Tipping culture is already way out of control.

I pay them a fair rate and (if a long-term nanny) provide bonus/severance/days off.

This is a family who DOESN'T HAVE the nanny - parent arrived at the playdate house to find a nanny, not a parent, so since their child was in nanny's care for the afternoon, which is above and beyond the nanny's normal routine, this parent wondered if they should have tipped or otherwise compensated.

Who cares if they found a nanny, the parents invited the child over. It's up to the nannys employer to compensate her if they don't have an arrangement where other kids can come over.

Anonymous wrote:I have never tipped any sitter or nanny, ever. Please don't start this! Tipping culture is already way out of control.

I pay them a fair rate and (if a long-term nanny) provide bonus/severance/days off.

This is a family who DOESN'T HAVE the nanny - parent arrived at the playdate house to find a nanny, not a parent, so since their child was in nanny's care for the afternoon, which is above and beyond the nanny's normal routine, this parent wondered if they should have tipped or otherwise compensated.

I have a similar situation. A nanny takes my child and her own once a week. I don't initiate it, I've never paid her. I'm not sure if I should do more either. She's doing it to occupy one child while she's managing the family's other child.

Mostly I try to be sensitive to her schedule, I pick up early, and one time she needed help, I stayed and helped watch the other kid for an hour.

I have never tipped any sitter or nanny, ever. Please don't start this! Tipping culture is already way out of control.

I pay them a fair rate and (if a long-term nanny) provide bonus/severance/days off.

Anonymous wrote:No but it would be nice for you to reciprocate. ( former Nanny who hosted playdates and had my charges go on play dates)

Of course I would tip someone who agreed to be responsible for my child. Not nice to take advantage of someone’s kindness.

no - playdates (like other kid activities) are a general expectation and given your kids ages it likely decreased her workload.

i think extra compensation is required when its more of a favor type situation - like "our nanny is out sick today, would it be possible for your nanny to pick up larlo and watch him this afternoon too?". In these situations I've always asked our nanny if she'd like to do it or not (and she's said no sometimes) and if the other family doesn't pay her a little extra, I make sure to pay her extra

No but it would be nice for you to reciprocate. ( former Nanny who hosted playdates and had my charges go on play dates)

No, no need for you to do so

Tip?? I have never heard of this.

My child went to a playdate for about 2.5 hrs and when I picked her up it turns out it was a babysitter (a regular after-school one, not a 1-time thing). Should I tip her if it happens again? Or assume the parents have worked that out? This was an impromptu play date where the kid invited my child during recess so not parent initiated.