How much to pay for overnight child care
Overnight babysitting rates: How much should I pay my sitter?
Yes, parenting is beautiful and growth-inspiring and all those lovely things, but it’s also exhausting. So if you can get a night or two away to recharge and remember who you once were, do it. Of course, for many, in order to get a 24-hour-plus break, you need to hire an overnight sitter — and you need to figure out what’s fair in terms of overnight babysitting rates.
While it may be tempting to consider your sitter “off the clock” when they’re sleeping, don’t. They’re still working, even if they’re not playing tag or warming up chicken nuggets.
“Whether it’s day or nighttime, babysitters still have responsibilities when they’re with the children,” says Sam Zariwala, owner of Little Einsteins Babysitting and Nanny Services in Saskatchewan, Canada. “A sitter who’s working with a family overnight still needs to be attentive and responsible when the kids are sleeping, and especially if they wake up at night. ”
“Whether it’s day or nighttime, babysitters still have responsibilities when they’re with the children.”
SAM ZARIWALA, OWNER LITTLE EINSTEINS BABYSITTING AND NANNY SERVICES
Wondering about overnight babysitting rates? Here, experts and parents break it down.
Should you pay an overnight sitter hourly?
Technically speaking, a babysitter should be paid for every hour they’re working — which includes sleeping hours. (Will the “sleeping hours” be as hands-on as midday? No, but if a child wakes up or a situation arises, the sitter is responsible.)
According to Michelle LaRowe, lead educator at NannyTraining.com and author of “Nanny to the Rescue!,” there are two ways parents can determine an overnight babysitting rate:
- Pay the typical hourly rate.
- Determine a flat rate that’s fair when broken down by the hour.
“Parents should pay their babysitter for every hour that they’ve worked,” explains LaRowe. “And if the parents have a set amount for the engagement in mind, they can work backwards to calculate what that hourly rate would be and determine if it is a fair rate.”
That’s the experience Krysten Barone, a veteran babysitter in Clinton, New Jersey, typically has had when working with families overnight. “One of my regular families pays $20 an hour for watching their 2- and 6-year-olds during the day,” she explains. “But when I sit for them overnight, they bump it up to $25 an hour, without paying for sleeping time. In the end, it comes out to about the same.”
“One of my regular families pays $20 an hour for watching their 2- and 6-year-olds during the day. But when I sit for them overnight, they bump it up to $25 an hour.”
— KRYSTEN BARONE, VETERAN BABYSITTER
If you’re not sure what’s going to fly with your sitter, just ask!
“Before leaving our daughter with our sitter for the night, we asked her what she thought was fair,” says Kim Goodall, a mom of two in South Orange, New Jersey. “It ended up being a few hundred dollars for the night, which wound up being higher than her usual hourly rate. Since our daughter was still waking up for feedings at the time, it seemed right.”
What should you pay a babysitter for a full weekend?
According to Zariwala, families should consider paying sitters anywhere from their typical rate to “$1 more per hour” for a full weekend. Also, she says to keep the following extra expenses in mind:
- Activities, like admission to the zoo or movie theater.
- Mileage to and from any activities, including soccer practice as well as just-for-fun outings.
- Groceries, including any snacks or fixings for meals.
Families should consider paying sitters anywhere from their typical rate to “$1 more per hour” for a full weekend.
— SAM ZARIWALA, OWNER, LITTLE EINSTEINS BABYSITTING
AND NANNY SERVICES
For families with older (read: easier in many cases) kids, LaRowe notes that a flat rate for a weekend may be acceptable — but it’s important to hash the details out beforehand.
“If a babysitter is responsible for the children during a weekend, and the children still wake during the night, the babysitter should be paid for every hour, from the time they arrive until they depart,” LaRowe says. “If the children are older and do not typically wake up, some babysitters will agree to a flat fee or a reduced fee that starts from the time the children fall asleep until the time they wake up. Either way, it is important to agree to all hourly rates prior to hiring the babysitter.”
“If a babysitter is responsible for the children during a weekend, and the children still wake during the night, the babysitter should be paid for every hour, from the time they arrive until they depart.”
— MICHELLE LAROWE, LEAD EDUCATOR AND AUTHOR
What factors can affect overnight babysitting rates?
When determining a fair hourly fee for overnight babysitting, consider the following, which may affect the rate:
The age of the children. “With very young children, such as newborns, overnight work can sometimes cost more,” says Zariwala. “In addition to being the only adult in the home, a sitter will be changing diapers, feeding and rocking the baby to sleep.”
“With very young children, such as newborns, overnight work can sometimes cost more.”
— SAM ZARIWALA
The number of children. According to both Zariwala and LaRowe, the more kids a sitter is responsible for, the higher their rate should be. Ultimately, an hourly rate is something that’s decided between you and the sitter, but when trying to calculate a babysitter rate, many parents tack on an additional dollar per hour per child.
The sitter’s experience. “Generally speaking, the more experience a babysitter has, the higher wage rate they may request,” LaRowe says.
Your location. Where you live will also help you to determine what to pay. For an idea of what a sitter in your area may cost, check out our babysitting rates calculator.
How much to charge for overnight babysitting
If you’ve been babysitting for a family for a long time, there’s a good chance they’ve asked, or will ask, about watching the kids overnight. While the opportunity for movie marathons and bedtime snuggles may seem like a no-brainer for you, there is an accompanying elephant in the room: How much to charge for overnight babysitting?
Even though you’re likely to get some downtime after the kids go to bed — not to mention, time to sleep yourself — Michelle LaRowe, lead educator at NannyTraining.com and author of “Nanny to the Rescue!,” says you should still be paid every hour. “Babysitters should be paid the agreed-upon rate for any hours you are responsible for the children in their care,” she explains. “It’s important to remember that even when the children are sleeping, you are responsible for their safety and care.”
Wondering how to set an overnight babysitting rate? Experts and veteran sitters weigh in.
Should I charge hourly for overnight sitting?
When determining how much to charge for an overnight babysitting job, you should figure out an hourly pay rate, which yes, should include the time you spend sleeping. If you’re offered a lump sum, LaRowe recommends dusting off your grade school division skills to figure out what you’re getting paid per hour.
“Parents should pay a babysitter an agreed-upon hourly rate for every hour the sitter is responsible for the children,” LaRowe says. “If they have a set amount in mind, work backwards to calculate your hourly rate.”
“Parents should pay a babysitter an agreed-upon hourly rate for every hour the sitter is responsible for the children.”
— MICHELLE LAROWE, LEAD EDUCATOR AND AUTHOR
And if getting paid while you’re technically asleep feels weird, think about it this way: Regardless of the hour, you’re still on the clock. “If a child wakes up in the middle of the night, you are the only one there and you’re responsible,” says Sam Zariwala, owner of Little Einsteins Babysitting and Nanny Services in Saskatchewan, Canada, who adds that, when watching babies who still wake up throughout the night, sitters should be paid a premium.
“When we left our daughter for the night with our sitter, we worked with her to determine a rate,” says mom of one Liz Harris of New Canaan, Connecticut. “When broken down, it was more than her normal hourly rate,” she explains, “but considering the added responsibilities of dinner, bathtime and bedtime, it seemed fair.”
“If a child wakes up in the middle of the night, you are the only one there, and they’re responsible.”
— SAM ZARIWALA, OWNER, LITTLE EINSTEINS BABYSITTING
AND NANNY SERVICES
What should I charge for a full weekend?
Zariwala notes that, when setting your rate for a full weekend, you should charge either your normal hourly rate or “$1 more per hour.” She also notes keeping the following in mind for reimbursements:
- Activities, like if you pay for admission to a museum or movie tickets.
- Mileage, to and from any activities, whether you’re driving kids to their Saturday morning soccer practice or their favorite park with the cool slide across town.
- Groceries, including any snacks or a frozen pizza.
If a family wants to set a flat rate for the whole weekend, again, LaRowe advises making sure it’s fair when broken down by the hour, especially if the kids are on the younger side. “Babysitters should be paid for every hour from the time they arrive until the time they leave, especially if the children are young and still wake up during the night,” she says. “For families with older kids who generally don’t wake up, sitters can agree to a flat overnight fee or a reduced rate for the hours the kids are sleeping.”
Krysten Barone, a veteran babysitter in Clinton, New Jersey, has always agreed on a flat rate before babysitting overnight or for the weekend. “I’ve always been paid a flat rate that wound up being lower than my normal hourly rate overall,” Barone says of the family she overnight sits for, who have a 2- and 6-year-old. “But when broken down, I’m paid more for the hours I work, without getting paid when the kids are sleeping. ”
Regardless of how you determine a fair rate, LaRowe advises deciding on it prior to taking on the job to avoid a discrepancy. “I work with a number of families, and they all pay differently when it comes to overnight sitting rates,” says Kayla McAfee, a veteran babysitter in Middle Village, New York. “No matter what, though, I always make sure we agree on something fair beforehand, so there aren’t any surprises when I get paid.”
What factors to consider when setting your overnight babysitting rate
When figuring out what to charge for your overnight rate, consider these factors, which can affect your fee:
- Number of children. “Generally speaking, the more children a babysitter is responsible for, the higher the hourly rate will be,” says LaRowe. While a number of factors go into setting your typical babysitting rate, many sitters tack on an extra dollar per child.
- Experience. The more experience you have as a babysitter, the higher wage you can command, according to LaRowe.
“The newborns and infants our nannies and sitters watch generally wake up at least twice a night, with the preschoolers waking up about once.”
— SAM ZARIWALA
- Ages of the children. According to Zariwala, the younger the kids are, the more you can request (as it’s more likely the kids will be up at night). “The newborns and infants our nannies and sitters watch generally wake up at least twice a night, with the preschoolers waking up about once,” Zariwala says, adding that, with the former, there are a number of duties involved, including diapering, feeding and rocking to sleep.
- Location. Where you live will also help you to determine what to pay. For an idea of what sitters in your area (or, if different, the area where the family lives) are charging, check out our babysitting rates calculator.
Labor Code of the Russian Federation Article 96. Work at night \ ConsultantPlus
Labor Code of the Russian Federation Article 96. Work at night
Guide to personnel issues. Issues of application of Art. 96 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation
- Working hours of workers specially hired to work at night
- Categories of workers who can be involved in night work with their consent
- Who is prohibited from engaging in night work?
Night time - time from 22:00 to 06:00. nine0003
The duration of work (shift) at night is reduced by one hour without further working off.
(as amended by Federal Law No. 90-FZ of 30.06.2006)
(see the text in the previous edition) also for workers hired specifically for night work, unless otherwise provided by the collective agreement. nine0003
The duration of night work is equalized with the duration of day work in cases where it is necessary for working conditions, as well as in shift work with a six-day working week with one day off. The list of the specified works can be determined by the collective agreement, the local normative act.
Not allowed to work at night: pregnant women; employees under the age of eighteen, with the exception of persons involved in the creation and (or) performance of works of art, and other categories of employees in accordance with this Code and other federal laws. Women with children under the age of three, disabled people, employees with disabled children, as well as employees caring for sick members of their families in accordance with a medical certificate issued in accordance with the procedure established by federal laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation , mothers and fathers raising children under the age of fourteen without a spouse, as well as guardians of children of the specified age, a parent who has a child under the age of fourteen, if the other parent works on a rotational basis, as well as employees with three or more children under the age of eighteen, in the period until the youngest of the children reaches the age of fourteen, may be involved in night work only with their written consent and provided that such work is not prohibited to them for health reasons in accordance with a medical report . At the same time, these employees must be informed in writing of their right to refuse to work at night. nine0003
(as amended by Federal Laws N 97-FZ of 24.07.2002, N 90-FZ of 30.06.2006, N 372-FZ of 19.11.2021)
(see the text in the previous version)
night time for creative workers of the media, cinematography organizations, television and video crews, theaters, theater and concert organizations, circuses and other persons involved in the creation and (or) performance (exhibition) of works, in accordance with the lists of works, professions, positions of these employees, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, taking into account the opinion of the Russian tripartite commission for the regulation of social and labor relations, may be established by a collective agreement, a local normative act, an employment contract. nine0003
(as amended by Federal Laws No. 90-FZ of 30.06.2006, No. 13-FZ of 28.02.2008)
(see the text in the previous edition)
3 stages and a review of 7 products
Why night care is needed
Scientists have long found out that the processes of regeneration, restoration of the lipid-water balance of the skin are especially active in the interval from 22. 00 to 04.00. So for beauty and health, the skin needs a full-fledged evening care and healthy sleep.
Yes, exactly a dream. If you stay awake at night, instead of stimulating these important processes of melatonin, the skin will receive harmful cortisol. nine0003
Does your skin get enough sleep? Answer our quiz to find out.
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Rules for evening skin care
Every night beauty ritual involves three mandatory steps.
Cleansing
Even if you are very tired, take off your make-up. Do not forget to wash your face after removing make-up - use a gentle cream cleanser to remove any remaining impurities.
Toning
After cleansing, refresh your face with tonic. It will increase the effectiveness of subsequent care.
Nutrition
Night creams solve this problem. As a rule, they are denser in consistency than daytime ones. Manufacturers try to put in them a maximum of active components, because it is night time that is the hottest for the regeneration processes of the skin and the body as a whole. Here are some tips.
- Whether it's a cream or serum, night care should only be applied to clean skin and at least one hour before bedtime. nine0070
- If you are under 25 and your skin is not dry, night cream is optional. You can use a tonic and just “let your skin breathe” while you sleep. Dry skin will need a nourishing cream, irritated skin - soothing. After a 30-night cream, any type of skin needs it, and after another ten years, it’s good to add serum to the evening care.
- Apply a small amount of night cream: excess will cause morning swelling. In any case, after 15 minutes after application, it is useful to blot your face with a napkin. nine0070
- Day cream is not suitable as an alternative to night cream, it has the wrong composition. Yes, moisturizing ingredients are present in day and night products. But, say, SPF, tinting, matting or protective ingredients are not needed at night, and the retinol contained in the night cream, concentrated AHA acids and drainage components (caffeine) are very useful.
Vichy brand experts advise: “It's good if there are exfoliating ingredients in the night cream. At night, the processes of desquamation (exfoliation) are most effective, and the skin needs to be helped in this. nine0003
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7 night skin care products
Kiehl's make-up removal and cleansing oil
Contains evening primrose and lavender oils and squalane. Perfectly copes even with persistent makeup and prepares the skin for the application of other evening care.
Clean Skin Micellar Water, Garnier
Oily Skin Care effectively removes make-up, excess sebum and other impurities.
Hydra Zen Masque Nuit, Lancôme
Hyaluronic acid, natural oils and plant extracts, lipid microcapsules and a detox complex provide the skin with hydration, nourishment and relieve stress.
Night Soothing Care Toleriane Ultra Nuit, La Roche-Posay
Designed for all skin types, contains neurosensin soothing ingredient and detox complex (carnosine + vitamin E).