How much $ to watch a toddler for one full week

[Mickeys.friend]

I will have him for 6 to 7 days when the caregivers go out of town. I am guessing I will then provide breakfast and dinner as well. I have no clue what to charge. I was supposed to only be helping them out for three weeks, but it has turned out to be more then that. I really have fallen in love with him and we can use the extra money so it's OK. He has a very sad history and I have become his MaMa.

I just want to say God Bless you for doing what you do. I am also "MaMa" to someone elses child. It's been seven years now, and she started staying with us during the week when she was just under two years old. Her mom is long gone(lives across the country and has no contact) as are her grandparents, etc...She lives with her dad...who struggled for a while with abruptly becoming a single dad to a baby girl. My husband and I have gone round and round literally for years about what to charge him. From the beginning she slept over several nights a week and at this point she has her own bed and dresser here in our daughter's (they are the same age) room. When we've made an agreement about money...dad sticks to it for a while than fades out...but because he knows how I feel about her...he knows I will never force the issue because she will be the one hurt in the end....I know you have a different situation, but it sounds amazingly similar to how my situation started out years ago....I have now made up my mind that being a "parent" and providing a family life and family experiences to this child is more important than money. Truthfully, I never wanted to make money off the situation, but I felt that my family should not struggle either for providing for her....especially when she has a capable father. I just wanted some "support"..We are far from rich and have had our struggles financially, including a "surprise" baby of our own! But I know that years from now this child will be ready to spread her wings because of what we provide...I know that God had a hand in "bringing" this child to us years ago...and that's what I tell myself during the hard times...So, again, God Bless you and I pray that everything works out for your family and the toddler that obviously needs you and has stolen your heart.

 

[Judique]

I know that a lot of people pay close to a couple thousand a month for day care in the DC area. I have a friend who made $175 a week 18 years ago taking care of a baby in MD. I can only imagine what the going rate is now for an infant. I know teenagers get at least $10/hour to babysit. Last time I paid a teenage babysitter was in the '90's and it was around $5/hour then for two elementary age kids. Average cost doesn't mean much because it really is dependent on where you live and what the median salary is.

I could be that friend! That's what daycare in a center was here in Maryland 18 years ago (my youngest is 18).

 

[DawnM]

I think anyone from high cost of living areas and even not as high cost of living areas can come in and say that they can find daycares that charge $200/day or whatever.....the fact is, if the parents don't have it, they will seek other care for their children.

It doesn't sound like this family has the resources to pay high costs. Why they aren't taking the child with them baffles me, but we just don't do things like that while I know others do.

Dawn

 

[LisaNJ25]

I am supposed to have him from 7am to 5pm. Most of the time the grandma brings him and shows up whenever. Can be between 9 and 10. Kinda a pain cause I never know. They pick him up between 4:30 and 6, again I never know till that night. He comes to my home and I provide lunch, two snacks plus drink. We try to eat healthy so for lunch he has a main item, fruit and veggie. His snacks are normally a fruit, veggie or raisins. etc.

I will have him for 6 to 7 days when the caregivers go out of town. I am guessing I will then provide breakfast and dinner as well. I have no clue what to charge. I was supposed to only be helping them out for three weeks, but it has turned out to be more then that. I really have fallen in love with him and we can use the extra money so it's OK. He has a very sad history and I have become his MaMa.

I hear you.. I watch a almost 2 1/2 yo 5 days a week. I get $125 a week. I have him 45 hours a week (yeah I know how low an hour that comes out to ) I have had him since he was 2 months old and he is like my 5th child.

Unfortunately I am in a town where parent cannot afford to pay $200-300 a week. Let alone $10-$15 an hour. If you can really use the money I think you need to base it on what you know the parents can afford.

I am looking into becoming licensed over the next year so I can take in more kids and increase my income.

 

[NotUrsula]

And for those paying $100/day for daycare... That's $500/week, and $26,000 per year!! That can't be an average price.

It's a LITTLE high, but there are quite a few families in my DD's daycare that pay that because they have multiple children in care. It's not at all out of line for 2 kids in a center in a large metro area.

When my DS13 was an infant we paid $178/wk for his care at a large accredited center that is open 6 am to 6 pm. Ten years later we paid the same center $285/week for our DD. She's 3 now; the rate is down to $205/week. (Infant care at that center just recently crested $300/week. That covers care in a large divided room with 12 infants in two segregated areas, with 4 experienced caregivers on duty at all times, and extra helpers on call in the building if needed.)

If it were me and I absolutely had to pay someone to take my 3 yo 24/7 for a week while the adults were out of town, I would expect to pay at least $500 for that service, and probably closer to $1000. You're talking about taking care of a young child for about 120 waking hours; at $500 flat, that's less than $4.17/hr. Doing it for under $200 means working for not much more than pennies.

 

[My3kiddos]

hmmm...if you're getting $30 per day to watch him during the daytime, if he's going to be with you around the clock for a week, i would charge AT LEASE double-$60 per day, and specify that they need to bring you an adequate supply of diapers for the entire week (or provide extra $ to buy them) because they can really eat into your pay!
the medical release form will also be a must, and an appropriate car seat.
bless you for being a constant presence in this little guy's life-it sounds like he really needs that.

I agree with this. I would say if your daily rate is $30 per day I would ask for anywhere between $60-$100. It really just all depends where you live when it comes to prices. I noticed alot of people here have said that $150 a week is too cheap, but where I live daycare is $100-$120 a week and alot of inhome are the same price. Most evening sitters I know charge $8-$10 an hour some as low as $5 per hour.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I think the fact is that they are not going to be willing to pay what you deserve to care for this child 24/7 for a week. It is going to be more of I want to do this for the child. Being responsible for a child 24/7 is a huge responsibility. I agree you need his insurance card, consent to seek medical care for emergency and non emergency care.(think ear infection). Know his doctor's and dentist numbers and have his grandmother have a form on file that they will let you take him in for care. Be clear with his grandmother/aunt on rules and plans; can you take him swimming, park etc.

I would draw up an agreement and waiver papers for them as well.

It sounds like you are an angle in this child's life....

 

[averysmom]

Based on your day rate of 30.00, I'd say no less than 75.00 day (so 525.00 for the week).

 

[Robinrs]

Going rate around here is $100 - $125 per day.

I had to check where you lived and was SHOCKED!!! I'm glad I don't have anymore toddlers!!!

 

[seven dwarfs]

I just want to say God Bless you for doing what you do. I am also "MaMa" to someone elses child. It's been seven years now, and she started staying with us during the week when she was just under two years old. Her mom is long gone(lives across the country and has no contact) as are her grandparents, etc...She lives with her dad...who struggled for a while with abruptly becoming a single dad to a baby girl. My husband and I have gone round and round literally for years about what to charge him. From the beginning she slept over several nights a week and at this point she has her own bed and dresser here in our daughter's (they are the same age) room. When we've made an agreement about money...dad sticks to it for a while than fades out...but because he knows how I feel about her...he knows I will never force the issue because she will be the one hurt in the end....I know you have a different situation, but it sounds amazingly similar to how my situation started out years ago....I have now made up my mind that being a "parent" and providing a family life and family experiences to this child is more important than money. Truthfully, I never wanted to make money off the situation, but I felt that my family should not struggle either for providing for her....especially when she has a capable father. I just wanted some "support"..We are far from rich and have had our struggles financially, including a "surprise" baby of our own! But I know that years from now this child will be ready to spread her wings because of what we provide...I know that God had a hand in "bringing" this child to us years ago...and that's what I tell myself during the hard times...So, again, God Bless you and I pray that everything works out for your family and the toddler that obviously needs you and has stolen your heart.

Thanks! Nice to see there are others in the same situation as me. He really has it bad. His grandmother loves him the best she knows how but she is 68 and in bad health and his care is lacking. I wish my heart wasn't so big. I feel as if I am to vested and have a feeling I may get hurt. But it is what it is. I just want to do for him what I can. But I don't want to keep him for free and that would cause issues too. I want to draw a line.

I keep telling myself God brought him to us for a reason. And yes, our situations sound a lot alike! Ugh. So much for three weeks.

 

[SoonerSarah]

My hubby has a cousin that has a nanny, she doesn't normally live in the house, but she does stay when needed and has her own quarters. They live in Atlanta and both kids are in elementary school now. She does picking up/dropping off, some activities, homework. No housekeeping or anything like that (the housekeeper does that...). She is paid more than $50,000 a year.

To the OP--if you need any help with a consent form, if you go to a large church that does trips with kids, you should be able to get one from there and just type it up and change things to fit your situation before. Also, we have never had to have ours notarized, and we have had to use them.

 

[rock*mom]

I am an educator in the Atlanta area and I charge 150 weekly for my summer camp and occasionally I have been asked by parents to watch their children for them when they were going out of town and had no one to watch them. Keeping children daily is something totally different then keeping overnight let alone weekly, it is going to require alot of work-simply because they child is not yours and you don't know how he behaves at home and you must factor in the homesick element which can make for some restless nights for all involved. With all that said I would charge atleast $400.00 for the week (this ofcourse would cover the cost of anything needed by the child and also allows you to make the situation profitable for you).
God sent him your way because you possess the talent every great childcare provider/educator has don't under value your talent. What every your desicion I want you know YOU ROCK

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I just called a friend of mine who has a daughter enrolled in a well-respected daycare program. She said they charge $180/week. Her daughter is there from 6 AM until 3PM M-F. Breakfast and lunch is provided by the daycare. We're located about 30 minutes from Chicago.

If the OP lives anywhere near me, then she is SEVERELY underpaid. My child is three, and we were paying $905 a month for PART TIME! (MWF) That does not include lunch, but does include 2 snacks a day- which are pitiful for the most part- no fresh fruit or veggies or anything like that. I'm not even sure what the going rates for infants are around here.


OP, I think you are doing a wonderful thing. Really, I do. But are you sure you're not being taken advantage of? Why do the aunt and grandmother need to go away and why can't they take the baby? I think that would actually influence how much I would charge.

 

[lblume91]

As a licensed in home child care provider, I am feeling really underpaid right now!! As others have stated, child care rates vary greatly based on location. I am in a small rural town in southern Indiana. 20 minutes from here in the closest "bigger" city, rates are anywhere from 50-100% higher. I charge $80/week for full time (M-F, approx 10 hours a day) & $20/day for part time (anything less than 5 days/week). My contract states any overnight care can be arranged at a rate of $50/night. That would be in addition to fee for care provided during the day.

 

[seven dwarfs]

If the OP lives anywhere near me, then she is SEVERELY underpaid. My child is three, and we were paying $905 a month for PART TIME! (MWF) That does not include lunch, but does include 2 snacks a day- which are pitiful for the most part- no fresh fruit or veggies or anything like that. I'm not even sure what the going rates for infants are around here.


OP, I think you are doing a wonderful thing. Really, I do. But are you sure you're not being taken advantage of? Why do the aunt and grandmother need to go away and why can't they take the baby? I think that would actually influence how much I would charge.

I guess I am way past the point of if I am being taken advantage of. Pretty sure they won't pay more then what they are, and I am not willing to lose him right now with his life issues. His life is safe with me and I am able to work with him, he's pretty behind development wise, as I have a special needs son.

I wish I could share more information, but I worry about being to specific since it would be posting about other people. They are going away for a wedding. They said 6 to 7 days. Not sure why they are not taking him. I am going to assume he would be to much during the wedding. Not sure about other time of the trip. I have a big issue with putting my nose where it doesn't belong so trying to just do what is best for the baby. I want to make some money as we do need it. And if I did it for free, then that would be a door I am not willing to open. It is so hard everyday when I put him in his car seat to go to grandams. His Aunt seems wonderful but she is married and both her and hubby don't want kids/never had kids. Bless her heart she is stuck in the middle of it all and is clueless.

 

[seven dwarfs]

As a licensed in home child care provider, I am feeling really underpaid right now!! As others have stated, child care rates vary greatly based on location. I am in a small rural town in southern Indiana. 20 minutes from here in the closest "bigger" city, rates are anywhere from 50-100% higher. I charge $80/week for full time (M-F, approx 10 hours a day) & $20/day for part time (anything less than 5 days/week). My contract states any overnight care can be arranged at a rate of $50/night. That would be in addition to fee for care provided during the day.

Wow! Thats the cheapest I have ever heard. Guess this makes my $30/day look real good. Is this the norm for your area?? How is your cost of living compared to other areas? I guess that makes a differnce too.

 

[cdrn1]

I really have fallen in love with him and we can use the extra money so it's OK. He has a very sad history and I have become his MaMa.

He is a very lucky little guy! Kudos to you.