How much to charge for overnight

[Anonymous]

Hi. I am planning to babysit over a weekend for a family I sit for regularly. They will be out of town for two nights, from 10am on Friday until 6pm on Sunday. They have one 2 year old little boy. I usually charge them $17 per hour. I had mentioned to them a while back that I usually give families a "deal" for overnights because $17 an hour would be quite a lot for a whole weekend but I've never watched one toddler for two nights and not sure what I actually meant by a deal. It's been a while.

Anyway, what do you guys think I should charge them? or, what would you charge them?

[Anonymous]

Does he sleep thru the night?


Here is what I charge, which may differ from others but I do a lot of over nights for my current family as well as some families I babysit for.

I charge my regular rate ($18/hour) for all awake hours, this includes if the child wakes up in the night. Once the child(ren) are asleep my rate stops but I get a $75/night.

So basically my regular rate for all awake hours with kids plus a flat rate.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP.
Regular hours while the child is awake, flat rate when he sleeps ($50-100 per night).

Note that if he naps, it's still considered "awake" time, which I know some people are going to bring up.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the two PP's

[Anonymous]

Try to be fair for all so they come to you next time as well. They obviously know it'll be pricey because you charge $17/hr on a normal day. Definitely go the flat rate route.

[Anonymous]

This is ridiculous, OP. Your time is no less valuable because
Kid is asleep. If the house catches on fire, do you try to save kid, or can you just walk out and save yourself. I paid hourly fee for alk hours. Of course, I am not the cheap DCUM parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous, OP. Your time is no less valuable because
Kid is asleep. If the house catches on fire, do you try to save kid, or can you just walk out and save yourself. I paid hourly fee for alk hours. Of course, I am not the cheap DCUM parent.

Well said, thank you.
I agree that some nannies have it backwards. Unless they're doing some specific charity work, people generally think you have low self-esteem, or you have some other problem, when you constantly go around cutting your rates for your well to do (at least better than you) employers. Save your charity for folks who really need it.

[Anonymous]

Does he sleep thru the night?


Here is what I charge, which may differ from others but I do a lot of over nights for my current family as well as some families I babysit for.

I charge my regular rate ($18/hour) for all awake hours, this includes if the child wakes up in the night. Once the child(ren) are asleep my rate stops but I get a $75/night.

So basically my regular rate for all awake hours with kids plus a flat rate.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous, OP. Your time is no less valuable because
Kid is asleep. If the house catches on fire, do you try to save kid, or can you just walk out and save yourself. I paid hourly fee for alk hours. Of course, I am not the cheap DCUM parent.

Well said, thank you.
I agree that some nannies have it backwards. Unless they're doing some specific charity work, people generally think you have low self-esteem, or you have some other problem, when you constantly go around cutting your rates for your well to do (at least better than you) employers. Save your charity for folks who really need it.

I'm an MB. Seems like the first posters all were basically in the same ballpark re their approach to costs, hourly rates, awake time versus overnights, and they all sound like professional nannies.

I would hire them if need be, and pay them what they request - just as I do with our nanny.

If you charge me $18/hr for every hour in a 24 hour period then you're never getting hired. It's as simple as that.

I'm not made of money, nor am I cheap, and my nanny is, by far, my biggest expense after our mortgage. I do not consider it a "charity" event if someone accepts somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-400/day to watch my child, in my house for a 24 hour period.

Your relentless harping on "cheap parents" is inappropriate and just reflects poorly on you and your profession.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys! I think I've decided to do $15 per hour with a flat rate of $50 per night. It's cutting my rate $2 per hour but I feel like the total will be easier for the parents to accept.

I'm going to make sure they leave me with emergency contact info but is there any other info I should ask for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks guys! I think I've decided to do $15 per hour with a flat rate of $50 per night. It's cutting my rate $2 per hour but I feel like the total will be easier for the parents to accept.

I'm going to make sure they leave me with emergency contact info but is there any other info I should ask for?

If you think that's a fair rate and are happy with it, I think that's a very smart decision OP. By doing it that way, they're more likely to hire you for a similar setup in the future.
Some of this might be overkill, but think it over and decide what you want to ask for:
contact information
-for the parents, especially where they will be staying
-any neighbors you can call on in case of an emergency
-family nearby in case of emergency
-pediatrician
-poison control

I'd personally put all of those numbers on the fridge or a kitchen cabinet so they're easy to find.

I don't know the terminology, but a form they sign saying that you can take him to the hospital for treatment if something should happen and he gets sick or hurt.

-know where the medicine is, and the dosage he receives

and it would be great if they left you with some cash or a credit card. That's all I can think of for now.

[Anonymous]

22:34 I am not a nanny, FYI. Yes, you are cheap if you expect a nanny tocharge a flat fee to stay overnight with your kids. If you have to call a plumber after hours do you try to cheat him? No. You pay his night rate, don't you. Eighteen dollars/hr is $37,440 per annum for a 40 hr week before taxes. Yes, I would pay this and OT, if applicable, if for no other reason than it is the MORAL thing to do. Cheating and using people is not how I live my life nor is it something I want to instill in my children. You, obviously, do not share my belief.

[Anonymous]

It isn't common to pay full rate for occasional overnight care if the nanny is able to sleep during the hours, 10:25. You can certainly do what you want, but your hysteria is misplaced.

More information is available here: http://www.4nannytaxes.com/index.cfm/faq/nannyhousekeeper-faq-list/overtime-calculation/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't common to pay full rate for occasional overnight care if the nanny is able to sleep during the hours, 10:25. You can certainly do what you want, but your hysteria is misplaced.

More information is available here: http://www.4nannytaxes.com/index.cfm/faq/nannyhousekeeper-faq-list/overtime-calculation/

+1 Getting angry and crying 'cheap' over this is ridiculous.