2 months after having my child I will be watching my best friends 4 month old for 12 to 14 hr. a week.....?

Question

I am wondering what a good hourly rate is to ask for. My suggestion to them was to find out the lowest part time weekly infant rate in the area, then cut it in half and pay me slightly less than the final number, but they want to do hourly just in case there is a day that she has to work late or her husband has to work late.

I asked this before and got 2 answers that gave me suggestions for hourly rates between 2 to 12 dollars an hour, and 3 more answers telling me not to watch the child because mine will be so young. Asking again to hopefully get some more input along the money lines. Watching my friends child enables me to not have to go out and get another part time job thereby taking time away from my newborn, I get to make money and stay at home at the same time, if I wasn't doing it this way i would be going back to work 6 weeks after his birth instead of being able to wait an extra two weeks.

What do you guys think is a reasonable rate to ask for infant daycare part time.

Answer 1

I think $10 a day will be fare. now if the can pay $12 or $14 a day that's great.
They have to give you everything of course (milk, diapers, wipes) because you wont be able to leave and buy stuff.

I have a one year old and I have to go back to work a month after he was born; it's terrible cause you want to stay home with your baby, so an aunt takes care of him and I pay her $10 a day and I supply everything my baby will need.
She is ok with it, and I can perfectly afford it. I worked 8-5.

If I don't take the baby for one day I don't pay her for that day of course, and If she can't take care of him I don't pay for that day either.

Answer 2

I don't think your baby's age will prevent you from being able to care for your friend's child. What about people who have multiples, or older children? It will be difficult, however, but if you're determined to do it, you can make it work. I don't know where you live, but full-time daycare in my area costs about $100 a week. Most don't charge by the hour, unless you are late picking up your child. Perhaps they would be willing to pay $50 for up to 14 hours. That works out to be less than $5 an hour, and is far more than most mother's get for babysitting at home. (I get about $2 an hour.) You could settle an hourly rate for extra hours above the normal 14. I would also suggest that you write out a contract of expectations, i.e., who provides suupplies (diapers, wipes) and snacks/meals--it'll be here before you know it. Also, will they pay you if you cancel for your child being sick? Will they pay you if THEY cancel? Good luck.

Answer 3

From what I seem to hear from other moms in my area (I don't use daycare myself so I can't speak from personal experience), its about $20 per day for the cheapest full time daycare. So that would work out to $100 for 40 hours or $2.50 per hour. So if you were going to do half that or less you'd be looking at $1-$1.25 per hour. At 14 hours per week that's only $14-$17.50 per week. Personally I wouldn't think it was worth the work for so little money and I probably wouldn't do it if were only for the money, but for my best friend I might (but again, its such a paltry amount that I'd probably just do it for free and let them pay me back later by watching my kid).

If you really need the money, and you'll be providing a service superior to that of a daycare then you may feel justified in charging more than a daycare.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

Since it is your best friend I would suggest 5.00 an hour, that's if they will provide milk and baby food. If you are supplying them I would say 7-8 dollars. Hope this helps.