I think it’s better since it’s a friend of a friend. You can always send a follow up text and be like “you know I was talking to (friend) about it, and I just wanted to clarify that I meant my rate was $20 per hour per kid, so $200 total” or whatever it is! It’s a little awkward but there’s a huge difference between $60 and $180! Plus I feel like 3 under 4 is a lot of responsibility! If that’s to much you can negotiate, like the third kid is free 😂😂

If it makes you feel better, as a teen I was told to charge $3/hour for two toddler boys. I went to college and everyone told me they charged $20, and I am still convinced I would be a multi millionaire had I just charged properly. 

If this isn’t something you do normally, and it’s a fun favor for a friend, go with $20 and ask her to buy you a drink when you next hang. If it’s not fun, you have more flex, but it seems like this is enough of a one-off to just take the win of being a good pal. 

For me, the confrontation of having to ask for more isn't worth the extra $20 per hour. I think maybe you could ask for $25 or something — just saying you've seen others' rates — but trying to ask for $60/hour feels like an ask with diminishing returns. 

The rate typically isn’t per child, but your hourly should be more if there is more than one kid. So it wouldn’t be $60 an hour, but I think $30 is fair. Are you just sitting on the couch while they’re asleep, or are you like taking them to the playground then feeding them dinner, bathtime, then putting them all to bed? Maybe think about the job as a whole and come back to her with a weekend rate. 1/2

I trust Lynne here, as a mom, to be able to answer best in terms of RATE. But I can sympathize with the awkwardness of having the convo. Maybe it's "Hi __! So excited for babysitting on Friday (or whenever). Just wanted to circle back as I was rereading our messages and wanted to make sure we were on the same page. Would you be comfortable with ____ [amt of $] for the three kids for the whole evening?" 

Yeah you should definitely say something, that's three little ones!! That's a lot to deal with. I'm sure she will understand, and if she doesn't, then send those brats off to Switzerland! 

(I pray you get the reference... Parent Trap!)

A friend of a friend asked me if I would watch her 3 nephews under the age of 4 for her wedding weekend. At first I was like yeah sure no problem, I work with kids, they love me it’ll be easy extra cash no problem. So Im in contact with the mom and she’s asking what my rate is & at this point in just like idk what to say I haven’t babysat since I was like 13 so I asked my cousin who hires babysitters and just say whatever she said she pays, which is 20 an hour. 

But last night I was talking to my girlfriends and they’re like that’s 20 an hour per kid right? And I’m like 🤔 I was assuming just per hour. But they’re telling me like what a service I’m providing (watching the three kids, three separate times, for multiple hours at a time and basically giving my whole weekend) and now I’m wondering if I’m getting ripped off lol I don’t have kids, I don’t normally babysit like this isn’t a normal gig for me, and now I’m sitting on their couch wondering if I should ask her if she meant per kid or per hour. 

i feel awkward discussing money but it’s also not like I’m friends with this family and now idk what to do. Do I say something or just take whatever I get? Help plz 🥹 

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