Seems High to Me...

Well, I guess the real question is, what's it worth to you to have a reliable, responsible babysitter overnight on the biggest party night of the year? If you can find someone like that for half the price, do it. If not, then apparently this price is what the market will bear for this service. When it comes down to it, she named her price for what it would take for her to give up her New Year's Eve. You can either like it, or not, but she's under no obligation to provide a great bargain. Most people who work holidays get double-time pay, after all.

If I didn't have family in town I'd totally take her up on it! She's going to get up and take care of them in the morning. Priceless!!! I'd feel more comfortable with having her stay the night at my house vs. my kids spending the night out elsewhere, and I'd totally write into the deal that she gets up and takes them OUT for a long breakfast. For $275 she should say yes to that!

She is still giving up her Holiday...

....every other profession gets 'Holiday Pay', why not her?

IMO: The fact that you are only calculating and wanting to pay her for the time they are 'awake' is ridiculous...she is still expected to 'watch' them while they are sleeping...why would you not compensate her for ALL of her time? I think you are the one that is looking at this the wrong way, not her.

Well.. the sleep doesn't usually enter into it. Babysitters are "on" all night... for potty breaks, diaper changes, snacks, nightmares, illness, delaying tactics, stolen covers. It's being the responsible adult. She can't leave to go somewhere, can't go to bed wen she wants. It's not like you can just guaranteee NOTHING will happen to disturb her sleep AND she has to get up again at 6am (if that's when the kids get up), so she can't get up when she wants either.

It's sooooooo easy for us to get "used" to our kids' schedules that sometimes it can be hard to remember that not everyone else lives according to a child's clock. Heck. Most of US struggle with it (look at all the posts about night time problems, early risers, etc.) in the beginning. By ages 3 and 6 this is OLD HAT to you... but for an all night sitter... this is completely disrupting her normal schedule & life.

16 hours at $15 per hour = $240

THEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT:

YOU'RE ASKING HER TO GIVE UP HER NEW YEARS EVE.

Sounds like she's giving you a screaming deal. For not only watching 2 children all night until their parents have slept in (and are presumably sober), but giving up her own NYE? And she's only asking for an extra $35???

AND if she's saying "noon/early afternoon" she's NOT EVEN CHARGING EXTRA.

Well, let's see. 6pm to 10am. That's 16hrs of being responsible for your kids (regardless of whether they're asleep or not, she's still responsible, it should count towards "time worked"). So that's 16 x $15, which would be $240. Then consider that this is not just *any night*, it's New Years Eve. Most people who work would get double pay, right? So that's now $480. So if you look at it that way, $275 is kind of a bargain. $8.60 per hour per child that you don't have to worry about. You can enjoy the evening and next morning knowing your kids are with someone you trust. That's kinda priceless, isn't it?

Honestly, if it were me, I'd stay home and spend the evening with my kids as a family (like we do every year) and use the $275 to splurge on a fabulous meal for the whole family or something. But if you want to party on NYE, getting a babysitter (and paying out the nose for the privilege of actually finding someone who's available) is part of the deal. You're lucky she's even available - we totally gave up trying to find NYE babysitters YEARS ago (thus the family evening together). She can charge whatever she wants, it's up to you to accept or decline.

She's offering to have them for 16 hours, and she charges $15/hr. so that works out to be $240...add on $35 for holiday pay, you get a deal if its at her place. I think (considering her rates) what she's asking is reasonable. You can't NOT count the hours your kids are asleep. She's still the responsible adult in charge of them during the time you're away. She's giving up her holiday to watch your kids regardless if she would go out or not. You don't have to use her, I know I couldn't afford/justify that, but I think she's being fair.

It IS New Years Eve.

Do I think it's high? Yes. but she is taking care of them OVERNIGHT...not just for a few hours.

Yeah - they'll be sleeping...but this is someone you trust. someone your children know and trust...so you need to weigh that against the cost.

She's not just offering for New Years Eve NIGHT - she's offering into the afternoon the following day so you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to come get the kids after a night of partying....

You are assuming they are going to sleep. They could be up all night. She has no way of knowing how they will behave and how many hours she will be "on". So you want to hire her for 16 hours....so basically she is asking for an extra $35 presumably for holiday pay.

I wouldn't pay $15/hour for a babysitter but that is what you agreed to in the past and you seemed comfortable with it from the get go, so I think she is being pretty fair with her rate. It isn't like she changed it drastically.

Yikes! I'm in the wrong business. I've never earned more than $15 an hour – I think I need to become a babysitter!

However, she is entitled to set her rates however high she likes. She may be balancing what she'd rather be doing against what it's worth to her to babysit. I'd add some other sitters to my list if I were you. Good luck!

I think that is a little high, but I also think that you are complaining way too much about how much time your kids will be awake. So if your kids go to sleep, should she go out and party, while they sleep? To me, that is what you are saying, the kids are asleep, so they do not need supervised. That is wrong. Whether the kids are asleep or not, there needs to be a responsible adult there, AWARE, and ready to help them if they wake up, or if there is an emergency in the night. She needs paid to do that. She is requesting a higher amount, but if you don't like it, find someone else.

Well she IS responsible for them whether they or sleeping or not.
You always have the option to say no and get someone else!
I think I should start babysitting again...

this is like asking your mortgage company if you can only pay 2 weeks mortgage out of the month because you will be away on vacation for 2 weeks. She is still ON DUTY and the responsible party when your kids are sleeping. She can charge whatever she wants, you can decide if its worth it or not. Good luck.

You nailed it...she's a professional woman!! Good for her for commanding top dollar

That is for 16 hours on New Year's Eve when everything is more expensive. You don't have to hire her, you can stay home like I always did when my daughter was that age. Yes, you need to pay even if they are good or sleeping.

Do I think that is high...yes. Would I pay heck no.

However, like with anything it is a holiday, special occasion and she can charge more for her time. Not saying it's right but that is how things seem to go these days.

... If I lived closer, my response would be:

'I'll do it for $150!!!'

Lol. Uh, ya... That seems way too high in my opinion. When I was a nanny, I worked way more often than she does and only made $6.50 an hour. I think she's charging too much in general, and definitely too much for an overnight stay.

HHmmm when I did alot of babysitting I got paid whether the kids were sleeping or not. I am there, with them, doing you a service. That's like not paying the daycare for nap time or something.

you said 6pm to about 10am right? $15 X 16h is $240

I can see both sides on this one. That price is way out of my budget but it is pretty consistent with her hourly rate plus it is a major holiday.

Not only are you paying her to watch your children, but you're also paying her to miss her OWN NYE plans - regardless of her age. If you want a good, reliable sitter then pony up the dough.

just wanted to mention that I personally would ask point blank if anyone else will be in her house if my kids were sleeping there.

I'm guessing if she is that great she has other families that would be willing to pay for that evening, so she can charge what she wants and if you won't pay it someone else will. and if no one else pays it them woo wee she gets to go out on her own and have a great time.

your arguement about no counting the hours they are asleep is faulty. i believe others have pointed that out as well. an it's just as much the amount of time she would be with them while they are sleepign.

personally, getting drunk on new years never appealled to me so i wouldn't pay, we prefer to hang with family and a few close friends with kids. and go home at 12:30

Honestly, no, this doesn't seem high to me. After all, you are asking her to give up a holiday eve to watch your kids...even if they will be sleeping for much of the time. If you trust her and your kids know her, I would take her up on the offer.

Not for NYE. That is when sitters can charge big bucks. It is easy to say that they would only be awake for a few hours. But having watched my niece and nephew for several overnights I can tell you that it is sometimes not that easy. Your child could miss you, be up with nightmares, etc. You could make the same argument about paying a sitter full rate during nap times. $15 can be high depending on where u live but I know those that pay more. We had a sitter that charged that much but we would use her only in a pinch.

Its high because its a holiday. I don't think you or anyone should assume she wouldn't have plans, and I don't think the cost should be lower if she didn't have plans.

My husband is a music teacher by day, musician by night. He has NEVER played during a holiday. One of his bands were requested for bringing in the New Year this New Years Eve. At first I was NOT for it at all. THEN, when I found out that he'd be getting paid a lot more than other gigs, I said okay. He's getting paid more because its a holiday.

I DO think it is a lot of money, but... not in the unreasonable range at all.

First, $15/hour is pretty typical in the Pacific Northwest coastal areas for a babysitter. And for the really, really experienced nannies it's more like $18-20/hour. (Laura from Mukilteo, I hate to break it to you but you were way underpaid for this area. I've not met any babysitter with decent experience/credentials who would accept $9/hour. If you're still nannying, you need a raise.)

Second, $275 for an overnight would seem a little bit excessive (by about $75) if it was any night but NYE. Being NYE, it seems reasonable.

So, she will be with them for roughly 15 hours total? That's $225. So another $50 for a holiday surcharge seems reasonable to me. And she even offered to take them earlier?

She's definitely NOT charging too much. You suggested your kids would only be up until 8:30 or 9 and reasoned that she should only be paid full price for their waking hours. Yet, you don't have a problem with paying her full price for the full 4 hours when you normally go out and the kids are only up for 2.5 to 3 of the 4 hours then. Why is this different? In fact, expecting her to be on call the entire night in the event your kids need something - get scared, get sick, have to use the bathroom, need some water, ALL THE THINGS YOU WOULD NORMALLY TAKE CARE OF FOR THEM - favors paying MORE not less. Plus, now she has to make breakfast for them and clean up the kitchen afterwards. Do you expect her to bathe them in the morning? And she has to get up with your kids at 6 AM instead of sleeping in that day.

Im in the camp of thinking it's too much and im used to paying through the nose for childcare. Shes charging more than her usual rate so maybe ask her if it's a nye's premium. Ive never heard of that for a sitter but maybe it's typical. For reference, when we hired our nanny 7 years ago, she wanted full rate if she stayed over. I said no, half rate for the hours the kids would be sleeping. Definitely some pay while theyre sleeping is warranted. We rarely do overnights but thats the deal we have. As others said, she can charge what she wants so it's up to you and what other options you have. Id suggest the $240 and figure the full pay for sleeping hours is offset by not paying a nye premium.

I love my sitter and would pay that for her to stay the night........ she is awesome with my kids and I would rather them be at my home. But that is just me.

It does not sound like you have known her too long ? maybe I am wrong, but not sure I would feel comfortable having my kids at her house.......It just should be at my home.......seems more logical

It's up to you, if you can't afford her price, get someone else. Personally she sounds great to me.

Blessings....

I think you two need to come somewhere in the middle. 105 is way to cheap and 275 is too much. I work as a private nurses aide. I charge half of my regular rate for 8 hours of an over night shift. And thats only if I am able to sleep during the night. If I am up most of the night taking care of my person then I get my full rate.
I do think she is closer to the right price than you. She should get at least 200.

I don't think she is too high. I think she needs to be paid for the entire time - even if sleeping hours are at minimum 1/2 the hourly. This is a holiday and quite frankly whether or not she 'parties' is not a factor. You are asking her to work for you and your family and that is valued time :). And personally, if you have the extra room in your house, I would have her stay the night at your house, not the other way around.

It would be worth it to me if I planned on going out and leaving my child with someone overnight.

It's a supply and demand issue. You want her to supply her time on an evening during which she highly values it. It will have a higher price if you want her to give up her New Year's Eve when she's 21.

In many hourly jobs around here, holiday pay is double-overtime. NYE generally isn't considered holiday pay, but if it is to her, then it is to her.

Try to negotiate if you want, but keep in mind that she will be giving up her NYE as a 21 year old to watch your two young kids.

And, BTW, I would definitely NOT want them to stay at her place that night - at her age (despite her maturity) I couldn't be sure she wouldn't try to have a small gathering after the kids go to bed. How scary that would be for them if they woke up in a strange place filled with people they don't know.

She really is giving up her new years eve. Single people do go out too :) It does seem a little high, but you know her better than us. If she really is very dependable and going to give your children a fun new years eve party, then it could be worth it. 6 am is an early wake up also in our house!

Maybe you could ask her what it entails? She may be supplying fun noise makers, crafts...food?

I may be a biased opinion. As i get older (34...lol), i hate going out on NYE. We have stayed home the last few years. Only a couple of close people are invited. It is more for our kids. We toast, they have sparkling cider, we play games, watch the ball go down and run outside at midnight banging pots and pans and shooting off confetti :) Too tired from Christmas i guess!

WOW. Here a part time sitter for 2 kids gets $5-8 dollars an hour max, and about $60 for an over night. I think you are paying way to much.

She is charging what *she* wants for a higher-demand evening rate. While I don't think I would charge that much, it's up to her how much she asks and it's up to you to decide she's charging too much and look elsewhere.

As to whether she's a youngster wanting to party or an oldster whom you suppose would stay home is entirely irrelevant. She's looking at this as a business opportunity, and you do have the choice to pay her price, try to negotiate, or get on a babysitters website and look elsewhere.

Just my personal experience: as much as I love kids, I H.A.T.E. doing overnights. I never sleep well and hate having to get up when the kids do, even at o-dark-thirty in the morning. Whether or not the kids are awake, I'm still taking care of them because I am sleeping with one ear open. Consequently, my sleep is wrecked after one night. Maybe the higher price is what will make it 'worth it' for her?

Do you like being fleeced by someone you trust? Where are you going that you cannot take the children. We always went to house parties where there was a kid room. The children fell asleep before 11 pm no matter how much they wanted to stay up.
Raising children is a series of compromises and changes in life style. When they are older you can still go to places that ban kids.

Most sitters charge more for holiday weekends. and new years is a holiday. if you were working wouldn't you be getting time and a half or double time? This is her job. It's what she does. I am a nanny. I know most of the nanny's that I am in contact with charge a couple hundred bucks for over night on new years. It has to be worth her while. My mom did home daycare from the time I was 4 years old. When I was a teenager (we are talking 30+ years ago) she charged $100 for new years eve. they could be dropped off at 7 and picked up by 10 the next morning. That was a lot of money then. But it was worth it to parents to be able to go out , party and have a good time.

Sounds right to me. It is an overnight job on New Years Eve. You should
be glad you found someone for overnight on New Years Eve.

WOAH!!! You pay her $15 an hour to babysit!? THAT'S high to me...I was a full time nanny for 3 years, same family, GREAT family, and got $9 an hour. I would not pay $275 for them to be watched one night either...especially since they will be sleeping the whole time. I say that you write her back and let her know that you would be happy to pay the $105 and if that doesn't work for her then she needs to let you know so you can find someone else. Wish I lived in Oregon, I would sweep you off your feet so I could babysit for you at $15 an hour!

She should be compensated for the entire time she is with your kids. Even if most of it isn't active time. She will be on your time and not hers so she is 'at work' even if sleeping. The fact that she doesn't usually go out and is more mature and professional type makes her that much more valuable.

While she is entitled to charging whatever she wants.. I think it's way too much... in this economy, New Year's or not.... Things are to be negotiated.. I still think an hour is hour whether asleep or not.. BUT... still... it's pricey.. if you do it, it has to be because whatever you are doing New Year's Eve is sooooooooooooo worth it..

wow, she's nuts
and $15 an hour is high too
can't you find a high school student?

So, she has a day job, correct? And, she is a babysitter, not a nanny, then? She won't be taking your kids to school, doing homework with them, teaching them anything, taking them to activities, doctor's appointments, doing light housework, etc. She is essentially getting paid to play with & make sure your kids are safe, and in this instance, just be present while they sleep.

So, my answer is, yes, it seems too high.

Those are her holiday hours where she could be going to a New Years party or sleeping in late in the morning, watching movies or something else. Daycare people can double for holiday pay too. Even still... I think that is WAAY too high and I wouldn't do it. Or.. she is charging a ridiculous amount knowing that you will say no because she doesn't really want to do it.

She is charging way too much overnight. Find someone else.

She is too high. Have someone in your family take the kids for the night, a perfect time for them to have some bonding time with a cousin or grandparent, or even a little best friends who's parents are not doing anything for the holiday. You can take the friends kids over night for Valentines maybe.

I always get frustrated with these questions because I was apparently raised w/a completely different thought process - if someone was looking for a babysitter the parent would say, "I will pay you X amount to watch my kids for X amount of time." Then I'd decide if I wanted the job or not - if I wanted money, I'd take it......many times I'd get one or two dollars per kid per hour but I was in highschool (prior to getting a regular part time afterschool job) - if I wanted money, I babysat - on their terms........

Yep. It is high. Your options? Ask teacher aides at the school. Ask at church. But, your kidS may get sick at night or pee the bed. WhAt if she says no kids can't help you. Its night hours and they pay didn't cover that? Also, I prefer themm to stay at the sitters place as I would not want someone rambling around in my home...

It is reasonable, considering it is overnight AND New Year's Eve,