Should grandparents be paid for daycare?

my fiancee and her mom struck a deal years ago before I came into the picture. My fiancee would pay all the household bills plus any part of the stuff that her mother needs for everyday living if her mother would live with her to take care of the children while she was at work. They both found this to be beneficial to them both. Her mother wasn't able to continue working like she use to and my fiancee could save from paying almost her whole paycheck for daycare. I do think that grandparents deserve something for babysitting their grandchildren. Offering to fix something that they either don't know how to do or don't have time to do. Some kind of gesture should be made to express how much a person appreciate what gets done for them.

That's a good discussion topic. If they do it often, I say do something to help them out. Buy the gas in their car, or give them a gift certificate to a restaurant. If it is just once in a while, I'd write that off as a regular grandparent thing. But if it is common, it is just common courtesy to show you realize they are taking time out to help you and your kids out.

I guess I feel like that would be up to the individual. Some grandparents feel like babysitting is their right and privelage. Some others might feel it is an inconvenience. My father would love to babysit but at 78 he does not feel capable. My parents would have felt like they should babysit for free because they know that I also do favors for them. I would not abuse the free babysitting service though, and I suppose some people do take advantage.

I think it really depends on the family and what the grandparents want. Some are quite happy watching and spending time with the grandkids and could care less about some money. Then there are others that would love to have a couple extra spending dollars every week. I think parents should speak to the grandparents before hand and both sides should agree upon something before the kids actually start spending time at their house.

Depends, if it's while your working yes definatly. If it's just for the evening then nah, I wouldnt pay my parents and they wouldn't expect to be paid. But if it was in Lieu of a regular fulltime daycare, I would definatly pay.

i paid my parents, they used to watch him twice a week, and he was in daycare the other three times. BUT they used what i paid them to put in a savings for my son. so it's actually payment to him and his future.

I think if a grandparent is watching their grandchildren every day due to the fact that mom or dad has to work, then yes, they should be paid because what is the difference from a daycare? But, I guess this is just one of those things that the two (grandparent & parent) will have to discuss. Some grandparents probably wouldn't care, and then some would care.

I paid my mom when she watched my kid. I didn't pay a lot because I was a single mother with a deadbeat husband, but I wouldn't have felt right to not pay her something. Whether they are family or not, they are dedicating their time to take care of the child or children as the case may be. I paid my mom 25 dollars a week. I would have gone for more, but I let her set the price. She did so reluctantly.

Hi swtrose, I get my granddaughter from daycare every day and bring her to her mom so they can take the bus home together and on Saturdays and my daughter works I do look after her, and yes she does pay me as I desperately need the money and at least I am dong a small something to earn it , she has been paying or giving me money every month as I can not make it on my pension check no matter how hard I try. as well my daughter wants me to have my computer and INTERNET so that I am enjoying myself every day so she basically pays for the INTERNET as well as my cable bill. I truly appreciate this as I would be stuck at home looking a the bare walls other wise. And as my daughter says she would have to pay some one to get Aubrey for her so why not me. I am able to do that much. She did mention to me the other day that she can see where I am losing ground as I get very easily overwhelmed. and unfortunately that is all to true. Oh he// and bother.

I guess it depends on the grandparents & the situation. I am a SAHM so i have no need for anyone to take care of my daughter for long periods of time. I guess i would give my Mum extra gifts as a thank you if she took care of my daughter because i asked her to though. On the other hand, a lot of grandparents just want to do it for the fun of it, if they take care of a child because they want to not because they are needed to then it's not really necessary.

Hi Swtrose! Before my son was born my mother and mother-in-law would divide the days up each week on who would keep my daughter while I was at work. My mother-in-law would not let us pay her anything even though we tried to. So we just paid her in other ways like extra special presents for her birthday or other occasions or any other way we could find to treat her. My parents at the time were on a fixed income and my stepfather was not in good health. My mother hated to ask for any payment but it didn't offend us at all to pay them because they fed her breakfast and then took her and picked her up from school and kept her till I got home. We felt it was only right to pay them.

I just wanted to say thank you for giving me best response. Hope you have a great day! SheliaLee

My thought is family is just that, family. You all should always be there for each other when one needs help with something, including babysitting. My mom passed away when my son was 6 months old and was too sick to care for him during the 6 months. When she passed, my dad never watched him for any reason. I know that I will always be there for my grandkids, to watch them and care for them. I will also be there for any other reason for my son. I know he will always help me out with whatever I ask of him. So I think you should not have to pay them, but be there for them whenever they need you.

If you are relying on them for regular babysitting, such as for work, you should definitely offer to pay them something. If it is the occasional night out or you have appointments that the children cannot go to, I do not think payment is necessary. Some grandparents may insist on being paid and if that is the case, you need to decide if it is worth it or find another sitter. However, I think most grandparents would be overjoyed to occasionally babysit at no cost. I do think if they watch the children while you are out having an enjoyable evening that you should do something nice for them. Invite them over for dinner, make a special treat, mow their lawn, etc.

I paid my mom for when I was working and she kept her. She did not charge if I was going on a date or a night on the town with the girls or something of that nature. She was a babysitter for others and as it was her job, she felt she should be paid, but the after hours stuff is what nannys are for! Her other grandmother only gets her from time to time and there is no kind of baby sitting. She just calls when she wants Tara to come over.

Excelent discussion!!! When i was gorwing up i was told and raised with the belief that if a family member watched another family member then they shouldnt be paid or think they should be. I gave up alot of my weekends growing up to babysit my neices and nephews and never exspected anything form it. So i think that if the grandparents are willing to do it and it isnt a full time thing i dont think that they should exspect to get paid. But if you offer to pay them then i think it would be ok. I also think thought that if it is a full time everyday for 8 hours thing then i think it is only right that you would pay them maybe less then what you would pay a day care ot regular sitter but something. I have to get help to pay for child care but the program also pays family if they watch your children. I guess it all depend on the family and the situation.

I think it depends on the grandparents and their situation. If they don't have much money to live on, and if they will accept it, I say sure, why not.

My son's grandma watches him mainly cause we can't afford daycare or a babysitter. We don't pay her but we buy her diapers and wipes and put the food she needs in his diaper bag so she doesn't really have to buy anything that he needs, plus we bring him to her house and she's also never had to buy a carseat. I think if a grandparent was babysitting them constantly, then yes you should offer at least to pay them somthing, but if it's just two days a week, like in our case, then no I don't think that they should have to get paid.

I guess my opinion on this topic is that not paying family members to babysit is an unwritten law. Especially for grandparents, spending time with their grandchildren is usually priceless. I guess if they really wanted to get paid and treated like a real non-family babysitter, fine, but they are usually thankful to spend time with the grandchild.

try to offer them some money. hide the money in their house!