Overnight Care

[small_steps]

So...I HAD to get a new car this weekend. I'm excited about the car but not the payment. I haven't had a car payment in about 3 years and it's been great. That being said, i really want to pay this thing off asap. I was thinking of taking about 3 overnight kids for extra money..if I can find them. I'm going to advertise to the nursing homes/hospitals for the 10-6 of 11-7 shift. I am only going to accept children that sleep through the night (so that I am still able to get my sleep...our state regs say that we can sleep as long as the children are asleep first and as long as we can hear them if they get up). We have evening activities but it should't interfere with that because I wouldn't have these kids arrive until between 9 & 10.

Does anyone do this? If so, do you charge more for overnight because its a service that's hard to find or less because they are sleeping and it should be easier work? If you have policies for your overnight care would you mind sharing them with me?
I'm still in the thinking it out process. I haven't started advertising or anything yet because I'm not sure if I could find the clients. I need 2-3 to make it worth my while. I charge $125 per week for daytime care, what would you suggest for overnight? And I would be closed on weekends because I just can't give up my free weekends.

My friend works at a local nursing home and was talking to a coworker about working night shift because the pay is more and his excuse was they had no childcare for their 3 children so that's what got me to thinking maybe I could find a few kiddos to make this work.
Let me know your thoughts and what has worked for you.
Thanks in advance.

[Cat Herder]

Be sure to include the costs of getting them fed, dressed and ready for school into your calculations to see if it is worthwhile. That being a pretty late bedtime to start with; it could cause some AM issues for you. .

Also what is the plan if school is canceled and they cannot pick up in time for your AM arrivals? Miss the bus? Do you have a plan for temp over-ratios?

How late are you willing to let them stay on Saturdays? Will you allow drop off on Sunday nights for rotating shifts?

It is not a bad way to earn a living, just lots of variables to consider. I used to do it.

[Meeko]

Haven't done it in years, but we did it for a single mom with two kids about 8 years ago when I was still living at my day care. It worked well because the mom was a sweetheart and so were the kids. No waking up, no problem at all. Mom always paid on time and was forever grateful her kids had a safe place to sleep.

I am always open to doing it again, but it's not something I seek out. A few have asked, but I could tell it wouldn't be a good fit. It has to work for me.

My husband would be the one to greet the kids (I get up at 5AM...not about to stay up until 11PM!). The kids slept on mattresses in our family room. My husband would put the kids down to sleep and then come to bed. We had a baby monitor just in case, but the kids never made a sound and slept like logs....they were age 2 and 4. The mom would pick up around 8AM. I didn't worry about ratios because she always picked up way before all my day kids were there.

She only left us because it was time for school for the oldest and her needs changed.

I charged a little more for nights because even though the kids and I slept, it was still a big responsibility and I had to be available if for any reason the kids needed me. However, if I had had problems and had to get up in the night on a regular basis, I would have stopped care. Like I said...it had to work for me.

[SilverSabre25]

I would consider having the kids arrive earlier so they can have a good bedtime; also, remember the difference between the parents' working hours and the travel time they'll need. If I were doing overnight care I would probably want kids to be going to bed at my kids' bedtime of 8:30 or 9 PM.

[small_steps]

That is a late bedtime, you're right about that. My own children don't go to bed until around 9pm usually too. But they don't have to be at school until 8 and don't get picked up until around 7:40 am so they still get around 10 hours of sleep each night. I've tried earlier bedtimes with my own boys (now 8) but they are involved in sports and most nights we don't get home until about 7:30 and it's after 8 before bedtime.

Cat...I would have parents pick them up by 8. As long as they are here by 8 I should be good with my ratios. Most of my daytime kids arrive right around 8 each morning. I would really will prefer they be picked up right after the parents shift which would end at 6 or 7. I live in a fairly small town and it shouldn't take them more than 15-20 minutes to get to my house. I will have to consider Sunday nights. I really wouldn't mind sunday nights as long as it's 8:30 or so before they get dropped off. Saturday mornings they would have to be gone by the same time they are during the week.
Another concern I have is...these parents with younger children, how do they get any sleep unless they have them in a daycare program on weekdays? I'm thinking most of my kids will be school age otherwise, parents couldn't sleep during the day. Like I said...I only need 3. I'm a single mom but 3 kids at $100 per week would be an extra $1200 per month. I could have that car paid off in no time. And breakfast wouldn't be to big of a deal since I'm already going to have to have it ready for my own kiddos.
I know there are lots of factors to consider so I appreciate all of you guys helping me determine what those are so I can plan ahead.

[frugalmama4]

So...I HAD to get a new car this weekend. I'm excited about the car but not the payment. I haven't had a car payment in about 3 years and it's been great. That being said, i really want to pay this thing off asap. I was thinking of taking about 3 overnight kids for extra money..if I can find them. I'm going to advertise to the nursing homes/hospitals for the 10-6 of 11-7 shift. I am only going to accept children that sleep through the night (so that I am still able to get my sleep...our state regs say that we can sleep as long as the children are asleep first and as long as we can hear them if they get up). We have evening activities but it should't interfere with that because I wouldn't have these kids arrive until between 9 & 10.

Does anyone do this? If so, do you charge more for overnight because its a service that's hard to find or less because they are sleeping and it should be easier work? If you have policies for your overnight care would you mind sharing them with me?



I'm still in the thinking it out process. I haven't started advertising or anything yet because I'm not sure if I could find the clients. I need 2-3 to make it worth my while. I charge $125 per week for daytime care, what would you suggest for overnight? And I would be closed on weekends because I just can't give up my free weekends.

My friend works at a local nursing home and was talking to a coworker about working night shift because the pay is more and his excuse was they had no childcare for their 3 children so that's what got me to thinking maybe I could find a few kiddos to make this work.
Let me know your thoughts and what has worked for you.
Thanks in advance.

Hey smallsteps,

I'm also looking for something as well, would you mine sending me anything you come across and I'll do the same. Thx

Oh, also try your local wal-mart/Kroger for new families.

[small_steps]

Hey smallsteps,

I'm also looking for something as well, would you mine sending me anything you come across and I'll do the same. Thx

Oh, also try your local wal-mart/Kroger for new families.

Sure! I am going to be writing my overnight policy this week so I will let you know when it's finished and maybe I can email you a copy?
So far I haven't found any policies already written up but I'm not done with my search yet.
Just thinking...3 extra kids could be $1200 a month....think of how fast I could get that car paid off...then on to paying off the house. That would be awesome!!

[frugalmama4]

Sure! I am going to be writing my overnight policy this week so I will let you know when it's finished and maybe I can email you a copy?
So far I haven't found any policies already written up but I'm not done with my search yet.
Just thinking...3 extra kids could be $1200 a month....think of how fast I could get that car paid off...then on to paying off the house. That would be awesome!!

Yes, that would be super...be sure to add a "about your child section" questions to ask could be

What time does she/he go to bed?
Does she/he sleep through the night?
Does she/he need a night light?
Does she/he need to be woken for bathroom breaks?
Does she/he sleep with a toy? and so on...

Good luck I'm still in the planing stage, trying to get the hubby on broad too!

[frugalmama4]

So...I HAD to get a new car this weekend. I'm excited about the car but not the payment. I haven't had a car payment in about 3 years and it's been great. That being said, i really want to pay this thing off asap. I was thinking of taking about 3 overnight kids for extra money..if I can find them. I'm going to advertise to the nursing homes/hospitals for the 10-6 of 11-7 shift. I am only going to accept children that sleep through the night (so that I am still able to get my sleep...our state regs say that we can sleep as long as the children are asleep first and as long as we can hear them if they get up). We have evening activities but it should't interfere with that because I wouldn't have these kids arrive until between 9 & 10.

Does anyone do this? If so, do you charge more for overnight because its a service that's hard to find or less because they are sleeping and it should be easier work? If you have policies for your overnight care would you mind sharing them with me?
I'm still in the thinking it out process. I haven't started advertising or anything yet because I'm not sure if I could find the clients. I need 2-3 to make it worth my while. I charge $125 per week for daytime care, what would you suggest for overnight? And I would be closed on weekends because I just can't give up my free weekends.

My friend works at a local nursing home and was talking to a coworker about working night shift because the pay is more and his excuse was they had no childcare for their 3 children so that's what got me to thinking maybe I could find a few kiddos to make this work.
Let me know your thoughts and what has worked for you.
Thanks in advance.

Hey samllsteps,

not sure if you came across this website already...they have a lot of FREE contract and handbooks to pull from.

www.supporting providers.com