Two questions, one post: Regarding overnight pay and downtime for only child
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Anonymous
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Question 1
I sit as needed for an 8 year old girl. Pay rate is $20/hr that the parent suggested (if asked, I would have charged $13. I have never been offered this much hourly, and as I am in Houston, this is very high for the area). I was asked to do an overnighter which would be about 58 hours total, about 20 sleeping I estimate. Parent asked me to suggest an overnight rate for total time. What would you suggest? I was thinking $10/hr for awake timings, and $100 total for the two nights sleeping? Question 2 I have had mostly evening care dates with this family, and most recently a full day. As she is an only child, she likes VERY much for me to be involved with her. Honestly, halfway through the day I was tired from hours of playing different games, etc. I got to the point where I suggested a show and she didn't want to watch tv, but I wanted 30 min of down time. Even then, she repeatedly asked what we were going to do next. During my overnighter, is it fine for me to just go head and implement some down time and say it is 'resting time?' Or if any other suggestions, that would be great. Thanks! |
Anonymous
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It is fine to tell her she needs to do some quiet time, whether that is her reading by herself, or working on a craft etc. As she is 8 yrs old, she really doesn't need someone to be doing things with her constantly. Why don't you find out if you can set up some playdates during that time (having a friend over at least one of the 2 days if not both), so that she can play with someone else for a while? A single child should be able to entertain themselves by that point, but it can also be lonely without a built-in playmate. I think doing a playdate or 2, and at least one outing a day to a park or something would be great. Then add in some creative play or crafts, let her read (or you could offer to do a bit of group reading, taking turns) and then if she is allowed any media (find out what the parents rules are with that), throw that in around your other plans. Honestly, when I was that age I was doing more stuff on my own at home than with my parents and while I did have an older sister, we didn't always play together. If someone wanted me to be "full on" for the whole day, they would need to pay me a lot more than $10/hr that is for sure!
I would say that your suggestion on pay sounds fair if it is something that you are willing to accept. You could probably go a bit higher with the daytime rates, and do the $13/hr as that is still significantly less than your normal hourly rate and is obviously a rate that you would feel comfortable with and not regret the chance to earn more for this 2.5 days of work. But that is totally up to you what you want to go with. I wouldn't suggest going any lower though. I probably would go with $12-13/hr day rates if doing just $50/night for the nighttime sleeping flat rate. Or if doing the $10-11/h, then $75/night instead. |
Anonymous
| Why are you thinking of halving your regular hourly rate? I'm sure the parents aren't expecting that... |
nannydebsays
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If the parents aren't asking you to cut your $20/hour normal rate, don't do it. You could offer to cut your sleeping rate by 50%, to $10/hour, but for pete's sake, don't tell them you aren't worth what they want to pay you!
I think $910 - $960 is a completely fair wage for 58 hours with a high needs kid. As far as the child wanting constant interaction, I would guess the parents are fully aware of her needs, and that's behind the high babysitting rate they pay. For the 58 hour gig, see if you can set up a play date each day, and you can feel free to set a timer for a few 20 - 30 minute times of "solo play" so you can recharge a bit. Be sure to bring a book or a craft for yourself, so the child sees that you are busy doing something and want her to be busy as well. |
Anonymous
| Don't charge less than you're worth!! When I do overnights I charge my normal hourly rate until 11 pm then start hourly again when child wakes up. I do a flat fee of $50 for the overnight hours. |
Anonymous
| In addition to what others have said, I would engage her in activities that are more interesting to you-- cook meals together, teach her to crochet, play a card game, go on a bike ride, etc. Things you would do at home. At 8, and an only to boot, she is likely ready and used to doing more "adult" things. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
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An 8 yr old is really too old for "resting time." By the time both my daughters were 3 they didn't nap at all during the day, so if you tried to tell them at 8 it was resting time they'd say, "Maybe babysitting isn't for you if you need to go take a rest." They wouldn't even initially understand that you mean for THEM to rest.
Instead, it'd make a lot more sense for you to schedule a play date from like, 2-5pm, so the kid can play with her friend and you can just watch them. As in, they go play in the back yard and you sit on the patio with a drink. Or they run off to play in the girl's room, and you collapse on the sofa for a half hour. Stay awake though. |
Anonymous
We had quiet hour after lunch every day until I was 12. I don't think 8 is too old for some downtime. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thanks pps.
On the rate- I am thinking of a rate because the parent told me to give a rate for the total duration, so my impression s that they expect to pay less than $20/hr which is totally fine with me as I feel I am overpaid anyway. I think I will go ahead and ask if $12/hr for awake hours and $100 for both sleeping nights will be financially comfortable for them. I don't think the parents will be okay with a play date, just because the child regularly sees her friends at the friends' homes, not hers. As far as the games, she WANTS to play them...we literally played UNO 14 times, plus 3-4 other games multiple times. I bought a few more games because frankly, I was sick of playing the same games over, even though she wasn't. I'm going to bring my Kindle and suggest a 'reading time' for an hour each day. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| OP they aren't expecting to pay less than your regular hourly rate for awake times. Please don't sell yourself short by offering to cut your rate!! You're harming yourself and other nannies as a whole. Keep your $20/he awake rate and offer to do the overnights for $0-$50 instead. Please please think this through. |
Anonymous
I appreciate the advice, but I don't think I am harming other nannies. As I mentioned, I reside in Houston, where $20/hr is definitely above a typical ate for the area. |
Anonymous
Who the bleep are you and why do you keep commenting that a family won't be expecting the nanny to charge her regular hourly rate for daytime (awake) hours? Why WOULDN'T she be charging her normal rate? That is her rate. The parents have already agreed to it and pay it. What, is someone supposed to work for half of their rate just because the parents want to go out of town without bringing their kids along for 2+ days? |
Anonymous
| Sorry, PP here. I was on my phone and mistook that as having not halving. There was someone else in another thread that was saying that stuff. |
Anonymous
WTF is your problem? I asked why the OP wants to charge HALF of her normal rate. I said she is UNDERSELLING herself and HARMING herself and other nannies. You and I completely agree on this point. Where we differ is our opinion of your reading comprehension ability. |