Watching a friends child--Opinions please

[sap1227]

A friend of mine has asked me if I would watch her baby when she goes back to work and I have agreed. She said she would of course pay me, but we have not gotten around to how much. I want it to be a good deal for both of us.

What is your opinion on a fair amount to charge per day?

The little girl will be 6 months old when I start watching her. I will watch her 2 or 3 days a week (her mom is going to watch her 2 days a week and her DH is a Police Officer, so he will watch her sometimes). This will NOT be under the table, so I will be claiming the income (and paying the taxes). We live in the Orlando area, most decent daycares are $170 per week for an infant.

Thanks!!

 

[Microcell]

$100 for the three days?

 

[debster812]

How many hours per day will you have the baby?

Will you be supplying food/drink or will they be bringing it along?

How about diapers and wipes?

There are lots of things to figure, but the week of day care for a child of that age at $170 for a week, works out to be about $4.25/hr for 8 hours a day.

 

[southernclass]

We paid 250.00 per week for one child and 425.00 for two. It was a private day care so the price may be a little higher than the norm but I think it depends on what you have to provide. Since it is an infant the mother will certainly provide the food so 170 a week for only three days seems a bit much. I would ask for 40 a day, but that is just me.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My mom does the same thing. She watches 2 kids (at one time it use to be 1 kid) for 2-3 times a week. I am not sure how much she gets and she doesn't come on the community boards much but you can pm her and ask her how much she charges. Her DIS name is jiminyc_fan.

 

[sap1227]

Thanks for all the input so far.

My friend will be provide the diapers, wipes and formula for the baby (I am not worried about baby food and cereal--I will have both of those things for my own baby).

I was not thinking of asking her for $170 a week, I was just trying to give an idea of the cost of childcare around here. I know the cost can vary greatly depending on what area of the country you live in.

Thanks PoohFriend, I will PM your mom.

 

[whirlsy]

I charge 25.00 a day~ no longer than 8 hrs. If the parents come early to pick them up its my gain. They also have to give me their schedule by Sunday if they dont and there are changes during the week they still have to pay the flat rate.

 

[Beth76]

I wouldn't take less than $150 per week, for a 3 day week (assuming for 8-10 hours). I would also charge extra for any amount of time that is over the agreed upon time (ie, if the child is supposed to be picked up by 5pm, charge additional for any time after 5). IMO, infant/child care should NOT be cheap. $150 is VERY cheap for infants, in my area anyway. Here, it's actually very difficult to find part-time infant care from a center. I would also write up a contract.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wow! $170 sounds pretty cheap to me. My son is now 11 years old. So 10 years ago I was paying $200 a week at a day care center. Infants are more $$$ than older kids. Require more work.

 

[tinaluis]

We paid $30 a day for two kids, three days a week, for a total of $90, but neither was an infant. IMO $150 is a bit high. I'd suggest discussing it with your friend with a ballpark figure in mind to see if you're both on the same page.

 

[preb]

I also had a friend watch my daughter when I returned to work 3 days a week. The hours were 10 am to 6 pm and I paid her $35.00 per day. I provided diapers, wipes and formula/food.

One thing to keep in mind is we had several situations where one of her kids was sick and I had to decide if I was comfortable taking my daughter over. We both had to be pretty flexible with our schedules!

 

[coliebird]

When I first went back to work my daughter was 3 months, she stayed at my husband's cousins house and we shared a babysitter. I paid her $225 a week for 5 days/8 hours a day. She was there for 4 months when I put her in a center where I paid $250 a week.

 

[Minnesota!]

Well, the math of it is this: $170 a week for 5 days = $34 a day. $34 x 3 days -= $102. How about $110? I think that $170 sounds a bit high. Especially for home daycare!!!

At least in these parts

 

[Blueeyes101817]

in my area, its almost 200 a week for infants

 

[Epcotgal8]

sap1227, I honestly don't want to put a damper on this for you since it will be good for the baby to have someone responsible watching him/her, and reassuring for the mom to know that the baby is in good hands. And obviously if she has asked you so it will be (most of the time) fun for you and you'll be making some extra Disney dollars! So, please don't be angry about what I am about to say. I've done it more than once and actually never long term but the best advice that I can give you is to set ground rules up front - even though she's your friend. Even though they don't mean to sometimes it's your friends who know you so well that will take advantage of your kindness. If a child has to be picked up from school at 2:45 you can bet the parent knows that they HAVE to be there or they will catch it from the school. But if they are leaving their child at a friend's they sometimes think, "Well it won't matter if I'm 20 minutes late" and then it becomes 30....... I had one of my best friends and her dh who were encountering financial troubles and so they needed to save money on daycare and I agreed to keep their 2 daughters for free until they got things worked out (it was all because of overspending not like they both didn't work) She phoned one day and said that she would be about 30 minutes late due to work. I said "Sure, no problem." She showed up 2 hours later in a a leotard/gym clothes to get the girls (after I had fed them supper of course)
and said giggling, "I had such a stressful day I had to go for a workout." I didn't, but I kind of wanted to punch her at that moment. I had been in my house and taking care of my 4 year old, my 2 year old, my 5 month old, HER 5 year old, and her 7 month infant all day long and I haven't had time to shower or take a you know whatty and she "had to have a workout?" I quickly realized that if she could afford her health club membership then she could afford daycare. Another time I watched a 2 year old who was the son of a friend and whose grandpa normally watched but they were going to England for two weeks. I don't know if he did it before he left the house and friend just figured I'd take care of it or if he did it on the 5 minute ride to my house but EVERY day he showed up with a Pull up full of you know whatty. I was pregnant, it was at 7 in the morning, he was 2 and eating table food, I don't need to explain further. I didn't have morning sickness except for those two weeks. He'd get angry if he didn't get his way and just literally spun in circles. I've never seen a child do that before. His mom said he did it all the time. And then was the time I kept my neighbor's son at 4 weeks old (this was also when I was pregnant, can you tell I have 3 kids and spent the better half of the 90's pregnant, pre natal, or postnatal) and he had "colic" and screamed all the time for her but did pretty well for me but she'd bring him over when he was sick with stomach "stuff", fever, respiratory ailments, and that really ticked me off since for one thing he needed to go to the dr. and also I had my 3 year old then and was pregnant and I didn't want to catch his sickness. I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you and I hope your friend is more considerate. But please agree to some rules ( you don't have to call them that just talk to her honestly) whatever YOURS might be. And just make sure that she knows to have a backup plan if YOU or someone in your family is sick or there is a reason that you won't be available. Off my soapbox now. I hope that it works out for all of you!

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Pin Wizard
Wow! $170 sounds pretty cheap to me. My son is now 11 years old. So 10 years ago I was paying $200 a week at a day care center. Infants are more $$$ than older kids. Require more work.

Thats really cheap! Its about 250- a week here for up to 8 hours a day 8am-4pm..after that add on 50.00 a week for early drop off or late pick up.

 

[powellrj]

maybe you could check around and see what people are paying where you live. I know when my youngest was 5 weeks old she went to the sitter 3 days a week and I paid $75 for those 3 days. My DD is 8 now, and we only need afterschool and summer care.

 

[Auggietina]

So the $50 a week I was paying my sister in law for childcare when dd was an infant is a steal!!!

I had no idea how much daycare costs, I was blessed and my sil watched her for me.

Wow. I think I need to go call her and thank her.

dd is now 7

 

[Christine]

I agree with Epcotgal in that you should be *very* specific up front about your rules. But you know your friend best. I know that if I were sitting for my best friend she would never, in a million years, take advantage of me--that's the kind of person she is. But I have other friends who would. So, go with you feelings on that one.

On cost, you've obviously checked around and know the going rate. In my area daycare centers are usually $10-$20 higher than home providers so take that into account. Call a few places and then just do the math and figure out what the daily figure is. As far as both of you "getting a good deal", don't think that way. If I had a choice between a stranger who charged $170 a week and having my best friend, I would offer my best friend $190 a week. Just because *I* would have the comfort of my friend, a familiar person, doing the daycare. No matter what you charge, your friend is already getting a good deal. Not that I think you should price gouge her!!! Just keep that in mind. Based on your area, I think that $110-$120 per week sounds fair for the 3 days.

 

[luv2nascar]

where I'm at $160 wk is for a pretty nice top of the line day care 5 days a week 10 hrs day or less
you have to pay even if the child misses a day etc
for infants you supply diapers, wipes, and formula
once they get on table food they get snacks and lunch included and rates go down to $140 per week
my friend has a wonderful provided her watches her children in her home day care for $100 per week basically same as daycare you provide diapers, wipes, bottles for infants and then home cooked meals and snacks are included for older children
her babysitter will also offer to do lots of extras for her no charge she is a wonderful lady and her husband helps out

I guess it depends on your area. You could call a daycare and ask for prices like you had a child who might go there. They should tell you over the phone. I wouldn't charge more than $25-$30 dollars per day. I'd have them supply wipes, diapers, and formula for now. The idea about the ground rules really sounded reasonable. Get it out of the way now before its an issue.
good luck