Questions about watching a child full time for 3 mths

[bellydance2290]

My neighbor has asked me to watch her daughter who just turned 2 for a couple of months while her in home daycare provider is out from back surgery. Our daughters are 6 mths apart in age and get along pretty well (lately not so much, but that is a whole other post). We babysit for each other occasionally on a trade basis (no money involved).
She is going to pay me $700 per month to include food. I thought that would be easier since my daughter has food allergies and I don't want them fighting over food. Does that sound reasonable? She is also giving me their extra car seat so that I am not house bound.
I feel like I should have some sort of liability waiver or something just in case something happens. Is this a good idea? What should it say? Anything else I should think of to bring up with them?

TIA!!

[bellydance2290]

bump
Anyone??

[EricaDoula]

I think it is very reasonable. Maybe just have her sign something between the two of you, saying she will pay you x amount and you will be watching for for x amount of time. Also, be sure you have a copy of the girls health insurance card. And, be sure to write somethiing in the "contract" that she is giving you permission to drive the daughter with the provided car seat!

[just_lily]

It is hard to judge whether or not the fee is reasonable without knowing the area. That could be the going rate in some places, way high in others, and a steal of a deal in still more. Can you find out how much she is currently paying? That would probably be the best way to judge.

I have a licensed home daycare but I am in Canada. I charge $800 a month for full time care, and the only thing the parents need to supply is diapers (and breastmilk/formula if that were to apply, which it doesn't for any of my kids right now). I would give a good friend a deal, so $700 would probably work for me for a temporary situation for a friend.

You could ask her to sign a liability waiver, but I am not sure it would hold up if something were to happen. I have additional liability insurance through the agency I am licensed with to cover up to $2 million in damages if something happens. We are also required to have a rider on our auto insurance to cover daycare kids if we drive with kids (I don't).

But that is licensed care, and I don't think I would go to that extreme to just watch one child for a few months.

What about if she were to cancel on you before the end of the agreed time period, like if her regular provider came back early? Would that matter to you, or would you like to have two weeks notice or something like that? What if they are late on pick ups? Definitely get emergency contact info, and maybe have something that says they give you permission to consent to emergency medical treatment if required and have them sign it.