How much should I charge to watch 2 children (ages 3 & 5) overnight?

Question

I have 2 children of my own, one who is grown & one who is not living with me. So I know how to care for children, but I've not babysat since I used to babysit my sister & that was about 25 years ago. I have a new friend who is wanting a night away & asked me to watch her 3 year old boy & 5 year old girl overnight. I have no idea what I should charge. What would be a good amount to charge to watch the 2 children, of that young age, for a whole night? Thanks!

Answer 1

a set price for a certain amount of time. you can either charge by the hour, or say $50 bucks for the night. if this was an employment situtation, that should change. you could set a price for a certain amount of time( ex: 8 hours for $60, and every hour after is $5 per child.) you could call a couple daycares around you to see what they charge per day (8 hour shift) per child. that will give you an idea. don't charge as much, but close. also, you can look at it 2 ways. it will be easier overnight, because they are sleeping. they are old enough to sleep through the night. you also will only be providing one meal, either dinner or breakfast, depending on what time they drop them and pick them up.i would definitley set this from the beginning though. "new" friends can start to take advantage quick-i have been through that 2x before i learned my lesson.- me personally, overnight for an outing, probably 7 bucks an hour=about 50-60 dollars.that is only $3.50 per kid. if they were working that would be different. set your rules with them from the beginning otherwise excuses will start. can i pay you when i get paid?? hey we just woke up, im sorry, well grab breakfast and be there in an hour-you still have them at 11am. hey so & so wants to "spend the night", do you care? anotherwards they found someone free for one but not the other.dont do any favors with this it will bit you in your ***, i have been there more times thatn i can count.

keep an open negotiating mind-if they bulge their eyes at your fee, say ok- you bathe them, have them in pjs, and feed them dinner or their snack, be back by whatever time, and then charge mabey $30-if you want the cash, negotiate but don't do it for free- it will only be harder to charge them the next time they ask you-and it will become a cycle.

Answer 2

That depends on your friendship, and the financial situation of the person you are sitting.

I've done this before, and all I asked was that she took me out for breakfast.  

I would charge about 15-20 dollars if I was charging.  (It also depends how many hours BEFORE bedtime I had them.  But chances are, they sleep through the night anyway.

Answer 3

OMG!! Greedy azz people. $15 an hour? $85 for each kid? You ain't no daycare. And that is greedy. Not to you, but to who posted it. Can't call her your friend if you're doing it like that. You might need her for something else one day. You scratch my back , I'll scratch yours. Are you hard up for some money? I could see if you really needed it. I personally would not charge my friend. My cousin charges me a 6 pack of Corona's. That's not bad. I might do something like that. Maybe bring them some dinner, 'cause I don't feel like cooking. Or you owe me lunch or something like that. Maybe if you need gas, $20 or something like that. But if that's your friend and she just wants to get away, don't charge her nothing. You said you have grown kids, but I'm sure you remember what it was like to want to get away every now and then. Now if she asks all the time that would be different. But one night, or one weekend. That's not bad. One night, they'll be sleep for the most part. And with kids that age, you can pretty much put in their favorite cartoon and they're good. That would be selfish to charge. Reminds me of a girl I know. Bytch is always asking for something but would charge me for something when I don't ever ask her azz for nothing. That's not right

Answer 4

it is your friend - just let your friend give you whtever she can afford.

Answer 5

for one night..$85 is what i get charged at my daycare for my two kids ages 3 and 4.. $85 each...thats average..overnight maybe an extra $10ea

Answer 6

i would say 50.00 since they're gonna be sleepin' and they probably won't give you much trouble depending on how they are!!!

Answer 7

15 bucks an hour

Answer 8

Honestly, I would be embarrassed asking for money. If you are that worried about it, just ask for the money they cost you for food, etc. Other then that, I wouldn't ask anything.

Answer 9

usually when a friend is asking you as a favor to watch them overnight, you dont ask them any money. seriously, if a friend asked me to watch their kids one night i would gladly do it. its not like they are hiring you as a babysitter, they are asking you for a favor. I wouldn't take any money..

Answer 10

honestly do it as a favor. for anyone else charge 10 each. don't do more than that unless it is for a long time. but just do it as a favor. think of activities to do but just let their mom have a night off. you will need  a favor in the long run.