Anonymous
Post 06/20/2013 09:10     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:
nannydebsays wrote:I wonder if the sitters who meet the parents/kids for the first time on the night of the job have put personal safeguards in place, like telling someone where they are going, who they are working for, and arranging to text or call a friend with an "all is well" safe word within 1 hour of the job start time.

There are sick people out there, and I can't imagine wandering into a strange house without some sort of plan like the one above!

Exactly! It's shocking how careless some MBs and nannies are. Sittercity and care.com are not your neighborhood list serve. I could *never* leave my child with a person I had never meet before.

Did OP ever report back?
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 17:46     Subject: Re:Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
I babysat once (and never again) for a family with two girls, 6 and 9. Should have been an easy night except the parents didn't bother to tell me that their 6 year old had some emotional regulation issues and so when bedtime rolled around she spent THREE HOURS throwing a toddleresque tantrum (lying on the floor screaming and kicking, then lying in her bed screaming "Iiiiii waaaaaaaannnnntttt mmyyyyyyy mommmmmmmmmm" for ages) that could not be stopped.

Obviously I mentioned this when they got home and they were polite enough to give me a large tip so I didn't have to ask for a higher hourly rate, but that is the kind of scenario in which yes, behavior affects rates. Normal kid stuff? No. Actual special needs, whether labelled and identified or not? Yes.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 17:42     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:You really charge more based on the children's behavior? You've got some balls.


You bet that I charge more to deal with a child that has special needs or has other issues that might not affect normal things like feeding and hygiene but make me change the ways how to deal with them compared to the average child. When I have to tell them to do something (not just ask if they can), tell them multiple times, deal with a defiant personality, possible deal with anger issues and where I might have to tell them to stay in their room to cool off (and hope they don't get violent), then yes, I charge more than for a child that does what they are told when asked the first time and will not have the possibility of a violent outburst.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 17:40     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
nannydebsays wrote:I wonder if the sitters who meet the parents/kids for the first time on the night of the job have put personal safeguards in place, like telling someone where they are going, who they are working for, and arranging to text or call a friend with an "all is well" safe word within 1 hour of the job start time.

There are sick people out there, and I can't imagine wandering into a strange house without some sort of plan like the one above!

Exactly! It's shocking how careless some MBs and nannies are. Sittercity and care.com are not your neighborhood list serve. I could *never* leave my child with a person I had never meet before.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 15:42     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
nannydebsays wrote:I wonder if the sitters who meet the parents/kids for the first time on the night of the job have put personal safeguards in place, like telling someone where they are going, who they are working for, and arranging to text or call a friend with an "all is well" safe word within 1 hour of the job start time.

There are sick people out there, and I can't imagine wandering into a strange house without some sort of plan like the one above!


+1 Please be smart ladies! Going to sit for a neighborhood family who is a friend of a friend and meeting them the first time the day of the gig is totally different than finding a stranger online, talking on the phone or sending a few emails, then going into their home late at night. There are sick people out there and babysitters and nannies are not somehow immune!
nannydebsays
Post 06/17/2013 15:36     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
I wonder if the sitters who meet the parents/kids for the first time on the night of the job have put personal safeguards in place, like telling someone where they are going, who they are working for, and arranging to text or call a friend with an "all is well" safe word within 1 hour of the job start time.

There are sick people out there, and I can't imagine wandering into a strange house without some sort of plan like the one above!
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 13:23     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:The "girl" already "told" op that her rates "start" at $15/hr. If op doesn't want the (high) probability that it will be higher, simply move-on. Or is this girl your last hope, OP? Good luck in finding another girl who will guarantee you a rate over the phone without meeting you or your kids.


A few times, I have met families the first time did the care gig (met through Care and Sittercity). We always discussed pay beforehand and it would be unusual no to.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 13:20     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:This is for a babysitter, not a nanny. I still think it is odd for a babysitter to meet the kids first, judge how she thinks they are going to be, and calculate a price based on that. I stopped babysitting about 2 years ago, and I never would have thought to do that.


Agree. I feel like it would be a weird thing to ask a babysitter to do. Come out just to meet the kids before doing a 3 hour babysitting job? I tend to have college kids babysit on Friday or Saturday evenings. Once they graduate they move on. Also, depending on how much studying they have to do or if they want a night out themselves, the same sitter isn't always available. It's not at all unusual for my kids not to meet a sitter ahead of time
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 12:59     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
This is for a babysitter, not a nanny. I still think it is odd for a babysitter to meet the kids first, judge how she thinks they are going to be, and calculate a price based on that. I stopped babysitting about 2 years ago, and I never would have thought to do that.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 12:50     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow, can't even read through these ridiculous responses! Anyway, I usually state that my rates start at $x as well. What that means is that it depends on the time frame, duties involved, behavior of the children, pet behavior and household organization. I do need to meet with a family and assess the situation before I can give a figure that I feel comfortable with. If her rates start at $15, she may charge you $17 with both children, I don't know. What I do know is that after she meets you and the children and discusses the responsibilities with you, she will give you her rate for your family. That rate will be consistent and not change night to night. I don't think it hurts to meet a few people and find the best that fits with your family based on personality, qualifications, and rate. In my opinion you should always have multiple interviews for any childcare position. You may also find a couple candidates you like, which can be very beneficial to your family. Best of luck OP!


You really charge more based on the children's behavior? You've got some balls.

More of you nannies should have some balls like her and charge according to the level of expertise the job demands. That's why newborn caregivers get paid more.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 12:42     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:Wow, can't even read through these ridiculous responses! Anyway, I usually state that my rates start at $x as well. What that means is that it depends on the time frame, duties involved, behavior of the children, pet behavior and household organization. I do need to meet with a family and assess the situation before I can give a figure that I feel comfortable with. If her rates start at $15, she may charge you $17 with both children, I don't know. What I do know is that after she meets you and the children and discusses the responsibilities with you, she will give you her rate for your family. That rate will be consistent and not change night to night. I don't think it hurts to meet a few people and find the best that fits with your family based on personality, qualifications, and rate. In my opinion you should always have multiple interviews for any childcare position. You may also find a couple candidates you like, which can be very beneficial to your family. Best of luck OP!


You really charge more based on the children's behavior? You've got some balls.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 12:40     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:Lol maybe things have changed, but when I babysat 10 years ago i did say my rate over the phone and I rarely met the kids first. This is for babysitting, not nannying.


Exactly. Nannying is typically a FT job. Babysitting is quite different.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 08:41     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Anonymous wrote:The "girl" already "told" op that her rates "start" at $15/hr. If op doesn't want the (high) probability that it will be higher, simply move-on. Or is this girl your last hope, OP? Good luck in finding another girl who will guarantee you a rate over the phone without meeting you or your kids.


Hopefully people are a bit more informed than they were years ago.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 07:56     Subject: Is this an odd way for a sitter to state their rates?
Lol maybe things have changed, but when I babysat 10 years ago i did say my rate over the phone and I rarely met the kids first. This is for babysitting, not nannying.