How would you present this and what would you pay?

A little back story..

I just took a new job that, "on occasion", requires me to travel into the city. Right now, my family is my day care. On two days, they come to my house to get my boys. On the other 3 days, I drive them to nursery school so my family doesn't start watching them until after their program is done later in the morning.

The "occasions" have become rather frequent, 1-2 x per week. However, this will not always be the case. The work ebbs and flows. I hate asking my mom or whoever is watching the boys that day to come so early so I can catch the train. I have the very big luxury of not paying for child care so this, to me, is abusive. None of them would ever accept money from me if I offered but I can't expect them to come super early like that and then keep them all day until we get home. It's too much. My mom lives about a half an hour away so it's really a burden on her for her to have to be at my house by 7:30.

I want to ask in my local moms group if anyone knows of anybody who could essentially be on call to come to my house in the mornings to watch my boys for about an hour and half until my regular child care can come. Here are my issues:
1. It's inconsistent. I can offer no regularity and I will only be able to offer a day's notice.
2. How much would you pay? I have to make it worth it but it's only for an hour or an hour and a half.

Any suggestions? Input? Guidance? I'll take anything LOL

How would you present this and what would you pay?

I would post it on care.com for $15-20 an hour. I’m sure you’ll get responses. It’s a pretty common need.

Re: How would you present this and what would you pay?

Re: How would you present this and what would you pay?

It’s a tough one. You aren’t going to catch SAHMs/young housekeepers because they have their own kids to get off. Best bet is to catch an older babysitter who has to report to work later. You may be able to get a local college or HS student who has to go to school later. Advertise directly at the school or school employment site. Care.com is ok too.

Best thing is to offer a lot of $. I would offer $5 an hour over going part time rate (in my area that’s $20/hr). Especially if you aren’t going to be dependable hours! You have to make it worth getting up early for! You may be able to get someone for less (but not keep them).

I work odd, early hours and have a HARD time finding someone to come early. I definitely overpay and our babysitter realizes, is dependable and happy!

Re: How would you present this and what would you pay?

It may be difficult but someone may bite if you offer a lot.... I Tried to find someone with a flexible schedule but it was really hard. I needed someone to put my son on the bus some mornings and since my DH's work schedule rotates it wasn't steady days and it was varying amount of days per week. It wasn't worth it for most people to just come over for an hour for only some days. (Thankfully my boss let me adjust my work schedule so that I could put him on the bus some mornings.)

How would you present this and what would you pay?

Try local mom groups on facebook of your local school(s) including preschool. . My neighbor has this situation and uses a school aid . The aid gets her kids on the bus then heads over for school herself. Pays her $40/day for about 1.5 hours and uses her two times a week

Message edited 3/5/2019 3:27:44 PM.