Babysitter Question

Amy Schramm

We have a great babysitter who comes every Friday night so DH and I can have a "date night." ?Her job is pretty easy, she shows up after DS is asleep and he has yet to wake up on her so she literally just sits on the couch reading for 4 hours or so. ?We pay her well ($18/hour) and pay for her cab fare home. ?

This weekend, I was running late so DS's toys were still strewn about the living room and I asked her if she could just pick them up and put them in his "toy room" (basically a small room where we store all his toys and strollers). ?She went above and beyond on that, practically rearranging the whole room and totally did an amazing job organizing everything.

My question is since she did such a great job with picking up the toys, could I ask her to clean his toys? ?I don't want to insult her but I think she'd do a great job with it and I'd imagine she might even be bored sitting in my house for several hours (she doesn't even watch tv). ?Thoughts??

LenoreS

I think that would be just fine. Then can you send her to my house?  HAHA! 

MiracleFox

When I used to babysit/nanny anytime they asked me to do extras they ALWAYS paid me. ?Her job is to be there for the baby so anything she does other than that (even if it is sitting on the couch) she should get paid for it. ?Just like any other job. ?Also, besides paying her, make sure that she knows how much you appreciate it - there was nothing worse than spending 4 hours cleaning or?organizing?and the parents barely notice. ?She'll do a better job if she knows how much it means to you. ?I used to LOOK for special projects - Once, I totally emptied the kitchen cupboards and organized everything, they didn't ASK me to do it so i refused any extra money. ?This was after they had paid me to do other projects. ?I didn't mind because I knew they would appreciate it.

You don't have to pay her a LOT extra, just enough so that she knows it means a lot to you and doesn't feel taken?advantage?of. ?Maybe $10 or $15 more... ?

Sorry... That was a lot longer than I planned:) ?I've had people NOT?acknowledge?it though and it makes you feel really bad.

?

mega6_vancouver

You may not have to pay her monetary wise though too.  I was a nanny and i would be asked to finish the laundry or clean toys or the highchairs etc.  But my payment was presents for xmas, birthday and other holidays.  Sometimes the gift was just 10 bucks to starbucks with a card that the kids helped decorate and i loved that.  When i gave my notice to leave they made a vase with their handprints on it and that is my absolute favorite.  There are other ways to pay too!!