I (F24) am a preschool teacher and I babysit on the side. My class is a mixed age group (2.5-5) and I have 26 children on my roster, around 40 in the entire school. I have been teaching for over 6 years so I feel very comfortable caring for young children.
I was asked by a previous coworker if I’d like to sit for a new family and I accepted. I had a phone call with the mom prior to today (I am currently here babysitting as I write this) and went over all details, basically just the names and ages (3 boys, Cameron 8, Lewis 4, and Adam, 1) and that they (mom & dad) would be in the basement the entire time with some friends for a d&d night. So, if I needed anything I could always come down and get them.
Everything seemed great and when I arrived, the boys have been well behaved and no major issues. That was until Adam vomited all over the couch out of nowhere. I went to the basement and let them know, and the dad came and cleaned him up but left some of the vomit on the floor. He then put the Adam in his bed and asked me to read him a story, saying he should just go to sleep.
Adam cried for his parents for a while and eventually I gave up and brought him into the living room where Cameron and Lewis were watching a movie.
After a while the dad came back upstairs and saw Adam on the couch still crying and put him to bed. He slept for about 30 minutes before waking up crying again. I came to try and get him back to sleep but noticed he felt very hot to the touch.
I went back down and asked if there was a thermometer because he felt very warm. Dad came back up and took his temp, told me he had a “little fever” and got him back to sleep (I assume he also gave him some medicine). Because he didn’t tell me the actual temp, I checked it myself after he left and it was 100.7, which I consider more that a ‘little’ fever.
I continued to monitor his temperature and it continued to increase until it reached 102, that’s when I texted his mom. I let her know his temp increased and she basically just said ‘thanks for letting me know!’
I’m sitting here waiting for their game night to end (should only be a few more minutes) but WIBTA if I charged a fee for having to watch a sick child since that was not what we agreed on? Plus it puts me, my family, and my entire school at risk as many of my students have siblings in the other classes so it could spread to the whole school. Plus, I’m pretty sure they knew he was sick the whole time because I saw the mom giving him what looked like Motrin when I first got there when I don’t think she knew I was looking.
TLDR; WIBTA for charging an extra fee for having to care for a child who got sick during my shift?
EDIT: I did not charge a fee and just discussed that in the future I will not be willing to sit if there is a fever or vomiting prior to my arrival. I explained that I know it was mid-shift when he got sick and they didn’t know before hand so I totally understand. Kids just get sick it happens, so I definitely think I made the right call. I reassured her that there’s really no avoiding illness in children and it can come up out of nowhere. It wouldn’t have been fair to charge a fee when we didn’t discuss it. Mom was extremely apologetic and gave me a $20 tip so it ended up working out perfectly I’d say. Thank you all for your advice, I have learned a lot about things I really need to discuss before taking on a new family for babysitting.
Oh come on, a “sick child fee” can’t possibly be a thing. This is simple; don’t babysit for them again if you feel like they were less than honest with you.
But as a preschool teacher, surely you know that kids get sick all the time and half the time they get sick and show first symptoms WHILE they’re at school.
Whatever this kid has, the other kids in the town have either already had it or are going to have it anyway. Fevers happen. This is an unfortunate situation, but honestly, be a grown up and shrug it off. It’s not that big of a deal.
As someone who had a child in preschool, if the child is sick you’re not allowed to bring them, just like regular school you are expected to keep the child home. They specifically say they need to be fever free for 24 hours before they come back. In this instance, it seems they knew the kid was sick, gave medication to cover it up, and didn’t stay with their kid. They should have let the babysitter go home once the kid threw up. I have never heard of a sick child fee, but I do feel the parents were not honest. If it were me, I wouldn’t babysit for them again. If there was an instance where a sick child fee was appropriate, I think this would be it.
Nta they are putting your job and the kiddos you work with at risk. As a former nanny and babysitter I don’t watch sick kids because my body doesn’t handle illness well. It was MASSIVELY inappropriate and selfish of them to not disclose illness to you
YTA. I’m not going to judge their parenting here, because that wasn’t the question. Personally, I would have left the game night and taken care of my kid. But that has nothing to do with how much you charge – your fee is your fee, and you offered that fee not knowing whether the kids were well behaved or monsters from the underworld, going to be aware or asleep, perfectly healthy or coming down with a virus. If the mom knew he was sick and still asked you to babysit – you should consider not babysitting for her again because that’s not cool. But again, that has nothing to do with your fee arrangements.
YWBTA for charging an additional fee, yes.
What should have happened: At least one of the parents should have bowed out of their game night and actually parented their sick child. So, they kind of suck here.
But no, I don’t think you get to charge extra because one of the children was sick.
NTA, especially after COVID. When I used to babysit, one thing I always made clear is that I expect your kids to be healthy and in good order. Allergies are fine; if your child is sick and you do not tell me there would 100% be a sick child fee. If you called me ahead of time, I would work it out with you as I’d bring PPE so I my chances of getting ill would be reduced as someone with a lowered immune system.
YWBTA if you charged it in this case. You agreed to a rate without any provision for a child getting sick. I’m sure you’re well aware kids get sick unexpectedly. You should have had a sick fee in place already and explained it to the parents before you accepted the babysitting assignment. Going forward YWNBTA if you decide to implement a sick kid fee going forward. This way parents can decide if they’re ok with it or not beforehand.
You shouldn’t charge a fee now, but you should make it very clear in the future that you do not sit sick kids. If the child is vomiting or has a temp above x, then parents must come home or cancel. If there is ever an issue, put up with it, then NEVER sit for them again. I wouldn’t sit for these jokers again.
Yta if you charge it without telling the parents beforehand. Should have told them the moment the kid got sick that you either stop babysitting and one of them comes back up to take care of the kids or you will add sick kid fees. Lesson for future.
YWBTA.
If you were left with this all on your own, like they were out at a movie or heck yes, charge the fee. But since it sounds like they did a decent amount of cleanup and care, I would let them off the hook this time. Maybe remind them that you have a sick kid fee, which you aren’t charging this time because this was so unexpected (see if they squirm). Also make sure these policies are outlined ahead of time with parents so you don’t get stuck in a situation like this again.
It sucks it’s added exposure for your school, but I would just chalk that up to part of the job. Kids get sick and you don’t always know they’re sick before they spread it. Any time you take care of kids, you accept that they may be sick with something nobody has identified yet.
Former nanny and babysitter here.
No you can’t increase your agreed-upon fees *after your shift* due to some unexpected situation arising during your shift.
What you can do is request that the parents take over so you can leave, if a child needs care above and beyond what is normal and expected for a babysitter.
NTA but you can’t charge more than you agreed on. Tell them that next time your fees will be higher and that if a temp goes about 101 (or whatever is your limit) then they have to come back and watch their own child.