What Should a New Year’s Eve Sitter Cost?
New Year̵7;s Eve is one of the most popular nights of the year for hiring child care. Many parents want to go out and celebrate without the kids in tow. But paying for a sitter on this holiday can get pricey.
One Facebook fan asked on Care.com̵7;s Facebook Page about the usual rate to hire a babysitter on New Year̵7;s Eve. Parents and caregivers responded with their thoughts on what parents should expect to pay for child care on the biggest party night of the year.
Here are some of their thoughts:
- ̶0;At minimum, time and a half is fair. It̵7;s a major holiday you are asking your nanny to give up, in addition to it being a late night.̶1;
~ Liz F.
- ̶0;I think double the usual rate is pretty fair if someone is willing to give up their holiday so you can go out.̶1;
~ Sara W.
- ̶0;I would ask at least time and a half.̶1;
~ Lindsey R.
- ̶0;It̵7;s a holiday, and time and a half is standard for other jobs. Why not one this important?̶1;
~ Latasha D.
- ̶0;It all depends on the sitter. I really enjoy spending New Year̵7;s with my family and usually refuse to babysit that night, so I would have to insist on at least double pay to get me interested.̶1;
~ Ashley D.
- ̶0;I usually charge time and a half. Last year I got $30 an hour for the 2-year-old I watched.̶1;
~ Michael S.
- ̶0;I had not even thought about that till now. I charge $15 an hour, so I think I would charge $20, and if the person gives me a tip that would be great too.̶1;
~ Kimmy T.
- ̶0;I̵7;ve seen someone post a job from 6:00 pm-1:00 am for $40.00, because the baby will be asleep the whole time.̶1;
~ Janet G.
- ̶0;It̵7;s a holiday, so holiday rates apply at time and a half. I̵7;ve offered sitting services to a group of friends that wanted to go out, and all had children. They chose the house/family that would host the sleepover for the kids, and I charged a flat rate until 1 am, that all the parents shared. (They also gave me a nice tip on top of that rate). I watched 5 children, from 6 pm-1 am, for $225.00 (three families, so each family paid $75.00 for 7 hours of child care). The children̵7;s ages were 1-7. All were asleep by 9 pm.̶1;
~ Cheryl V.
- ̶0;I have always charged my regular rate and every year whoever I nanny for gives me a bonus.̶1;
~ Dixie S.
- ̶0;I charge the same. To me, it̵7;s a normal day like any other day.̶1;
~ Maria R.
- ̶0;Not only are you paying for child care until late hours, but you̵7;re also asking your babysitter to give up New Year̵7;s plans. Most won̵7;t unless it̵7;s justified (double rate). Just my perspective.̶1;
~ Leah P.
- ̶0;As a nanny I get time and a half for any overtime or holiday hours I work. It was my employer̵7;s idea, and it makes sense, as for any hourly position it would normally occur. It̵7;s been like that for every hourly position I̵7;ve held.̶1;
~ Nicole K.
- ̶0;I think it depends on the kids̵7; ages and when they go to bed. If they̵7;re only awake for two hours of the gig, sure you̵7;re missing your holiday, but it̵7;s easy money. If I were charging $15 an hour for two kids on a normal day, I might ask for $20 an hour for New Year’s Eve if they̵7;re sleeping most of the time. It̵7;s a little bonus, but it doesn̵7;t break the bank for the people who hired me.̶1;
~ Amanda R.
- ̶0;The family paying would not expect their employers to not pay holiday rates. So it seems that whether it̵7;s a nanny job or an executive job, a job is a job and should be recognized as such and respected no matter what. You are caring for the most important people in the parents̵7; lives ̵2; their children. I love my job, and I don̵7;t go to work thinking I can sleep or be a couch potato at work. It is a real job. I am ever so grateful I have the job I have. The family I work for respects me as a person.̶1;
~ Amy B.
- ̶0;New Year̵7;s Eve is traditionally a holiday when a higher rate is paid. It can be $5/hour above the norm and up to 3 times the norm. Or for a regular client family, a sitter or nanny may charge the regular rate. My local babysitting agency has a normal rate of $16/hour for babysitters, $20/hour for Preferred Providers. On New Year̵7;s Eve, all their providers make $25/hour.̶1;
~ Janice S.
Check out more advice and thoughts from families, nannies and other caregivers.
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