Babysitter Protocol

Since you only arranged for 1 girl to baby sit, I would pay her a reasonable rate and hope that she offers some of that to her friend (who will, no doubt, be helping in some ways).

I'd also recommend providing pizza or something so they're fed as part of the incentive for helping out so late.

I, too, used to babysit alone that late, but I was only a few doors up from my parents' house and was watching kids I knew really well.

That's what I'd do personally - good luck making a decision. I hope it goes well.

You are under no obligation to pay her friend. You don't want to set the precedence that every time she babysits she brings a friend and you have to pay double.

That being said....

You didn't say how old your child is...but I have a 5th grader and a 6th grader of my own and a 3 year old. I think 7th grade is too young to be left in charge of another person's child. Since it is a neighbor, is there any way you could ask the M. of the 7th grader if SHE could babysit at HER house and then pay her daughter as the "helper"? I know it's more convenient to have a sitter at your house, but you are sacrificing safety for convenience. You are making M. so nervous saying that a 7th grader will be babysitting!! At least her M. will be close by, but still. I think about the time my little one was just sitting on a chair and fell over and bumped his eyebrow so hard that it bled like crazy, and as an adult I freaked out so I can't image a 7th grader having to go through that trauma of trying to figure out what to do!

I babysat very late when I was in 7th grade by myself... As soon as they walk in make it clear that you hired the neighbor girl so she will be getting paid, the friend is there just to hang out but should not distract the neighbor girl from taking care of our child(ren). Do the typical run down of what is left of the child(ren)'s schedule and then let the girls know that after bedtime they can watch TV (if you want to allow) or whatever you allow. Once again state you know that her friend is there but only the neighbor girl has been hired by you so she will be paid at the end of the night (or whenever you have arranged that).

Think of it in this sense: the babysiter asks if her boyfriend can come over, you know him (great guy) so you say sure because you know your child(ren) will still be the priority to the babysitter. The boyfriend does not get paid even if he helps out, he is the babysitter's guest so if the babysitter wants to pay him out of what she gets fine BUT the parents do not pay the boyfriend.

I also think that is pretty young and that may depend on the age of the child. Is a parent going to be available should there be an emergency? Has she babysat for you before? If this is the first time you might want to make a plan that will allow you to come in earlier then midnight. Having another 7th grader there won't really help in case there is a real problem. I realize this isn't what you asked ...Just a thought. :)

Have a fun night out! Keep it up, it will really keep your marriage happy.
I would pay the sitter and give the friend a little "tip".
Remember, YOU hired a younger girl for a LATE time. Put yourself in the other moms shoes. It is hard to have a young child babysitting so late. She was worried enough to ask that a friend be there.. In reality, when a child babysits, I promise you we moms of the sitter are "on call" just in case and worry about our child being in someone elses home caring for someone elses children.

You absolutely would just pay the girl you hired. She is asking if she can bring a friend to keep her company, you did not ask for this other girl to be there. You are nice enough by letting her bring a friend. Just leave them some junk food and they will be happy to have the house to themselves. I know my daughter loved being home alone with her friends. Pizza, chips a movie and they were in heaven
Have fun. Date night's are always fun even if your married. I'm going on 28 yrs and we still love them :)

I used to go along with a friend when she would babysit late, and I wouldn't get paid. I was okay with that. I didn't expect payment from the parents or my friend.

I would pay the sitter a good rate and leave it up to her whether or not she compensates her friend. But, I would also tell her beforehand what you were going to do about payment.

I would say just let them know in advance that yes they can bring a friend, but you are only paying the girl you asked. If you let them know in advance, they will then have no expectations to get paid. They can't assume that you doing them a favor in allowing a friend to be there is going to cost YOU. I would just say tell her in advance that you will only be paying one them and you are then covered. Hope that helps.

I babysat at that age for 3 young children (one of them quite disabled) until 12am quite a bit. My M. was next door if I needed anything. If I brought a friend, she did not get paid (rarely did I have anyone--maybe 2x?)
As for her age, if you think she's able then she is! Have fun. And check in once :)

I would bring a friend when I used to babysit late nights, most of the time it made babysitting a little bit easier. I always gave my friend a little bit of my money, just for coming over. Or when I became of age to drive, I would buy her Taco Bell or something like that in exchange for coming.

I would agree with the others, as long as you let them know upfront that your only paying for 1 babysitter.

just pay ur sitter, the friend would be agreeing to go in support of ur babysitter, like a favor, so she's there cuz she wants to help and hang out with her friend. if i did that i wouldn't be expecting any money. you hired your NEIGHBOR, it's her M. making there be a second party.

My daughter has done this & never expected to be paid more because she had a friend along. If you are satisfied with her service and want to keep hiring her I like the idea of giving the friend a small tip.