Babysitter Watches Family’s 2 Kids. When One of Them Sleeps the Whole Time, Mom Asks If She Still Needs to Pay the 2-Child Rate

A babysitter was left unsure how to respond after a mom tried to reduce her agreed-upon pay once she realized one of her kids had slept through the entire babysitting session.

The story, shared by the original poster (OP) on Reddit, explained that they had babysat for this family several times before — and each time, the mother had “nickel and dimed me” over small details, even down to the minute.

This time, OP agreed to babysit from 6:30 to 9 p.m., charging her usual two-child rate of $20 per hour, which the mom had already confirmed. During the evening, however, one of the children fell asleep early and stayed asleep until the parents returned. OP spent the evening entertaining and putting the other child to bed.

When the mom returned home and learned that one child had been asleep the whole time, she asked OP whether she still needed to pay the “two-child rate.”

“Now she’s asking me if this still counts as my ‘two-child rate,’” OP wrote. “Mind you, my one-child rate is $18 — just two dollars less.”

OP asked Reddit whether it was fair to charge for two children if one of them had slept the entire evening.

Commenters overwhelmingly supported the babysitter. Many pointed out that even if a child is asleep, the sitter remains responsible for both children throughout the job.

“You were still responsible for two children, regardless of whether one was sleeping,” one commenter said. “She needs to pay you $20 per hour.”

The same commenter added, “At a daycare, parents pay full price whether their child naps or not. And as a parent, you don’t get to ‘clock out’ just because your kid is asleep — you still have to make sure they’re safe, comfortable, and okay.”

Another commenter reminded OP that babysitting isn’t just about playtime. “You’re not only there to entertain or feed the kids — you’re also there to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely while the parents are gone,” they wrote. “So when she asks if it’s still a two-child rate, ask her if she suddenly gave one away.”

Others advised the babysitter to stand firm and charge for the full booked time. “If she hires you from 6:30 to 9, you get paid for that full time — even if she comes home early. If she keeps being stingy, you don’t need to make yourself available next time. There are plenty of other families who’ll respect your time.”