Inquiry on what to charge?

[Lee-Bee]

Don't care for friends children. It leaves room for things to go wrong. It is hard enough to be a caregiver for strangers when you have to discuss difficult topics like suspected developmental delays, behavior issues, parents running late, sending kids home when sick etc. Would you be comfortable telling your friend that you have strong suspicions their child is showing signs of autism? Or that their child has a notable speech delay?

Unless you are willing to terminate your friendship when things get tricky (which they are bound too when caring for an infant/toddler) then you are best to not take this on.

It is really hard on a child, family and friendship to take on this type of 'client' and then realize it isn't manageable and bailing.

Now, if you really need a price then at a minimum I would say that the pay should be at least $50 a day. That would work out to $700 a month. It is off hour care, including weekends and it is 14 days a month. Keep in mind the average full time child is in care for 20 days a month. The weekends add up to almost a full week of care so it is actually 3 weeks of care per month. I personally would charge A LOT more than the $700. I'd be charging a huge premium for giving up my weekends and for working until 11pm.

If you do this I STRONGLY advise a very detailed, thorough contract so there is NO room for misunderstanding.