Question about sitter, pay & vacation

[Jen]

Jess goes to a sitter 4 days a week. The sitter has a 16 month son. I feel that she's getting an opportunity to stay at home with her child, but she also had the additional responsibility and obligation to care of my DD. I'm struggling on the pay. How much should we pay her? Also, what is the normal protocol regarding vacations. I told her I'd give her 2 weeks paid, but now that I'm planning my own vacations, I'm wondering if I have to pay her for the 2 weeks that I'm on vacation.

Her hours are 9-4. I drop off & pick up.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

[Tia38]

not sure -- we go to a daycare (center) so things are different overall than a sitter.

but i wanted to say that we pay even when the daycare is closed (holidays). they do give us 1 week vacation (as in we don't go for a week and don't pay for a week) once a year after we've been there for 6+ months.

most other daycares we looked at had you pay for their holidays and had no concept of vacation (not paying if you were out).

i think an important question is how hard would it be to replace the sitter?

-tia

[CarrieW]

I have a SAHM that babysits for Kailey. Her kids are all in school now. I pay her $3 an hour only when Kailey is there. If I am slow at the salon and pick her up early I don't pay. I am very lucky though. This mom does it mainly because she is bored. She doesn't really need the money.

[jmjrl]

I don't think there is really a normal protocol for babysitters as they are all different. Regarding the pay, does she have a set rate that she charges? It really depends on your location (east coast I hear is generally higher), the context, & # hours. I would assume $100+/wk for your situation...not sure though.
Vacations - my sitter had in writing how those worked & in our situation there is no charge for holiday missed leaves. If she is sick, then that $ is refunded, but it he is sick, I believe we still have to pay. So perhaps it depends on when your vacations take place?
I would ask her what her expectations are

[teachergirl]

Hi,

I use an at-home day care. I pay $75 a week, which is very reasonable. I do not pay for her vacations, but I do pay for holidays and anytime Alex is sick and doesn't go.

[sw2000]

I sat for my niece 7 years ago....8-4 in my house..(4 days) They paid me 150.00/week (suburbs of Chicago). I think childcare around here is a little expensive. So, today it would be around 200+. BUT everyone is different, so ask what her expectations are. I hope this info helps.

Oh....discounted daycare at my school is 289.00/week. (5 days).

[Jen]

I live in the suburbs of Chicago. I'm really starting to think that I'm overpaying her. I pay her $300/week for a 4 day week.

We've decided that we will pay her for my vacations, but not for hers.

If I am overpaying, is there any way to go back and change what I told her I'd pay her? I set the pay, thinking that it was in line. (with no reasoning behind that, it just sounded right) Now I'm kicking myself.