Christmas bonus for babysitter/ out of home daycare.

[theshirls]

Hello. I'm trying to figure out what I give as a christmas bonus for my babysitter. She has runs a day care out of her home, but she only watches 3 kids including mine regularly. My husband is a marine and I'm a nurse. She watches my daughter as needed via my husband and my work schedules change alot. She also changes the pay accordingly to the hours needed and whether it's late or weekend. She really is a lifesaver. She has watched my daughter for two years now. The first year I was in nursing school and she charged $140 a week to watch my daughter during my classes. I didn't work so we didn't have the means to give her a bonus. Now I work pms so it's "short days" because I drop dd off at 2 and dh picks her up at 5 so she changes the rate accordingly. If dh in the field or weekends its more so she has been charging anywhere from $80(normal week of 4 short days)-$250(5 days of dh in field picking dd up late) a week depending on the hours/times. with recently mainly $80. So we are going on leave for christmas for 2 weeks. Since it's as needed she's never charged us for when we don't bring dd. But I was thinking maybe a christmas bonus of $200 since that's a little more than what we would have paid if dd was to have been there. Does that sound good or am I totally off base with this? I want to show appreciation for how helpful she is for our family.

[daytripper75]

Sounds good to me! I usually give a weeks worth of pay and a small personal gift.

[justKate]

Hmm, I've been wondering the same thing. DD goes to a center where there are two primary baby teachers and two others that are often with her. What would be appropriate?

I think what you've suggested for your gal sounds really nice, especially since she's so flexible with you.

[Ellien C]

I think a week's pay if you can swing it is generally accepted. So I'd think anywhere from $80 - $200 would be good. You can go toward the higher end since you couldn't do it last year. On the other hand, do remember that you are setting precedent and if you plan to use her in the future, you might start lower ($100) just to be sure you can do it next year.

[madskye]

I think that's a lot, because to me, she owns her own business and she is your equal. It will be interesting hearing what other mom's who do in home care say, but to me it is different than tipping an employee at a center, who I know is underpaid. The one time I used an in-home person the relationship was more like using a friend, so a cash gift would have just felt weird. I brought over muffins one morning for her family from the fancy bakery in town and a Christmas card.

Also, the distinction to me is between her being well-paid all the time (I was paying about twice to use her than I paid at the center), so I didn't really feel like more $$$ at the holidays was necessary.

[raelynn30]

i am a licensed in home childcare provider. i am extremely professional with my business, and although i am "friendly" with my families, i would not consider us "friends". i maintain a business relationship with my families, no different then an owner of a larger center.

normally, you tip your provider the equivelent of one week's pay. in your case, i dont think i would give her 200, only because if you cant do it again next year, it may put you in an uncomfortable place. in all the years i have done childcare, i have only had one family tip me one weeks pay. i never expect it, and any monetary gifts i do receive are usually put back into the business to purchase new toys or curriculum materials anyway.

the most memorable gifts have been homemade, either baked goods, or something the child has made. even a simple thank you note always means more to me then anything. one child made me a crown this year for my birthday, and i wore it all day!!!!!!!

i have also had families not acknowlege me at all on the holidays. not a card, no thank you, nothing. this was very hurtful, because i always went out of my way to do everything i could for them, was always available, and loved her son like my own.

so have your child make something special, add a personal note from yourself, and if you give money, give what you are comfortable with. this will mean more to her than anything, i promise you!!!

[GoestoShow]

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Edited by GoestoShow - 1/3/11 at 12:10pm

[mamatoablessing]

Originally Posted by raelynn30

i am a licensed in home childcare provider. i am extremely professional with my business, and although i am "friendly" with my families, i would not consider us "friends". i maintain a business relationship with my families, no different then an owner of a larger center.

normally, you tip your provider the equivelent of one week's pay. in your case, i dont think i would give her 200, only because if you cant do it again next year, it may put you in an uncomfortable place. in all the years i have done childcare, i have only had one family tip me one weeks pay. i never expect it, and any monetary gifts i do receive are usually put back into the business to purchase new toys or curriculum materials anyway.

the most memorable gifts have been homemade, either baked goods, or something the child has made. even a simple thank you note always means more to me then anything. one child made me a crown this year for my birthday, and i wore it all day!!!!!!!

i have also had families not acknowlege me at all on the holidays. not a card, no thank you, nothing. this was very hurtful, because i always went out of my way to do everything i could for them, was always available, and loved her son like my own.

so have your child make something special, add a personal note from yourself, and if you give money, give what you are comfortable with. this will mean more to her than anything, i promise you!!!

I had no idea that was standard but that's what I'm doing this year. My nanny is taking a week off, unpaid (because we already took our vacation this year and paid her for it) to go on a Christmas Holiday. I'm going to surprise her and pay her anway, as a Christmas bonus.

[Aubergine68]

I'm a home daycare provider and I've never received anything even close to a week's pay as a holiday gift. I tend to get gift cards for a dinner out, or to a bookstore, absolute maximum $50 value.

[mamatoablessing]

Originally Posted by GoestoShow

Wait....that's the standard holiday gift for family daycare providers?? We could never afford that!!! We already pay more than $1000/month to our provider. There's just no way we could come up with another $250 for the holidays. Is that really the standard??? Is that what people really do?? Because we're trying to come up with a little appreciative token and we've never had to before so figuring what is good for a DCP is new territory for us, but we can't even afford presents for our families this year, though we'll manage it. There's just no way we could offer a tip of that sort!

I mean, I was thinking we'd bake them some cookies and maybe a pie and give them one of the nice portraits we had done of our son for the wall of pictures they have of their daycare kids....

OP, in your case, I think the particular bonus is a nice gesture especially if you can afford it and because she's been so flexible with both her rate of pay and her time.

I think this is a wonderful idea. I'm sure your DCP would be thrilled with such a thoughtful gift. I don't think cash is always the answer, honestly. Homemade gifts and other tangible presents are perfectly acceptable. We happen to be doing cash this year simply because we can and I know my nanny really needs the money.

[JollyGG]

That is what I do for my sitter.

Where I live almost all the childcare places charge for holidays and charge if you are there or not. Many also charge for their vacations as well.

Mine doesn't do any of that. She only charges me when my kids are there. My FIL takes the week between Christmas and New Years off every year and asks for the kids for the week. So I never have to pay her for that week. I normally pay her $110 a week in childcare. Last year I paid her a bonus of $150. I figure the majority of the money is already in my budget as I would normally owe for that week of care, plus I would have to find care for my older child who would be on Christmas break from school.

I figure who can't use some extra cash around the holidays. And by going on vacation she's not making as much money. At a time of year where all of our budgets are a little tight.

Plus I want her to know that I appreciate how wonderfully she cares for my DD. She loves my daughter and misses her when she's not there.

[raelynn30]

i have read in many places that, yes, one weeks pay is the standard holiday bonus for daycare providers, whether in a home or center.

but like i said in my previous reply, i have only received a gift that large once, and i never "expect" it.

i would much rather have families acknowlege me with ahomemadegift by the child, or at least a gift they put some thought into. a simple thank you for what i do means more to me than money.

one family gave me a basket one year of craft supplies from the $$ store. not very expensive, but they knew i go through paint and paper and such like CRAZY. there was even stuff in there like paper towel rolls, tissue boxes, and other "recycled" art supplies. that has been my favorite gift so far!!!!

[HollyBearsMom]

We give ours one weeks pay net of taxes. Plus something personal and/or homemade.

[nextcommercial]

Originally Posted by Aubergine68

I'm a home daycare provider and I've never received anything even close to a week's pay as a holiday gift. I tend to get gift cards for a dinner out, or to a bookstore, absolute maximum $50 value.

ME either. I've been doing daycare for 25 years. I'm sure it's customary in some places, but I don't know a single provider who's been given a full week's tip. (and I know hundreds of providers)

I usually get gift cards to local restaurants, or a small handmade gift. I am always extremely happy with that. I would never expect a full week's pay.

I also LOVE (and actually fully expect) a family christmas photo. If you are sending those out this year, your provider would probably love that. I keep those things forever.

I prefer NOT to recieve candy or other high calorie type gifts. It's hard enough around Christmas to fight the urge to eat all the junk without getting it as a gift.

Edited to add: Every single year, I get a REALLLLY nice handmade box, bag or some other container from one family. It always has a picture of their kids and a gift card inside, AND a wonderful note saying how much they appreciate what I do for them. I keep those out on my desk all year long. Last year they used an old metal bandaid box and decorated it.

[RockStarMom]

That is very reasonable I think. I'm a nanny and it is so very much appreciated when my employers show their appreciation with a big bonus when they can afford it.

[alacrity]

I provide care in my home and never get paid on the days the children are not here. When holidays (or vacations for the families I sit for) come around I am unpaid. I would love a bonus!!!

You sound like a great family to work for.