Help me figure out my vacation pay please!

Questions About Nanny Standards/Etiquette

I am currently nannying one 3.5yr old girl with the most amazing family and we are all going on vacay soon together and I have no idea what to charge.

I’ve been with this family for awhile (started as babysitter and moved on to nanny when my previous family ended in April) They just had another baby in July but since they are both on maternity/paternity leave and newborns need mom a lot, I have currently just been responsible for 3yr old. We are all going (mom, dad, toddler, infant, and I) on a beach vacation in two weeks with both sets of grandparents. They are going for two weeks, the first week I’ll be off and then joining them for the second.

I tried talking to mom about schedule and expectations and it’s more of a go with the flow vacation. She said that mainly we will be on the beach each day in the mornings and then return for nap time and the rest of the day is up in the air. I will be responsible for the monitor during nap and possibly the newborn as mom and dad may go off and do some activities during this time. She mentioned that if they go out to eat I am more welcome to go with them or could hang back for alone time, however, they will mostly be cooking at home in the evenings and hanging around the house. I do not think I will have the monitor over night and yes I do have my own room.

So what I’m feeling is that I am basically going to be working almost 24/7. Which is totally fine and I am expecting to be working a lot more than my normal 40 GH a week. I have no idea what to ask pay wise. Am I supposed to be getting paid for the week I am not joining them since I have GH? If they pay me for the week I’m off do I not ask for more during the working week? Do I charge an overnight fee on top of GH even though I don’t have monitor over night?

I’ve read all the articles that state I should get paid for the week I’m off as well as additional pay each day I’m down there. I definitely can’t afford no pay for a whole week but I feel like asking for additional pay per night is a lot. Even though I also feel like this trip is going to take a lot out of me! I’m going to have to be “professional” all week and am not the type of person who can put that wall down around my employers or their parents. I really want to help my NF enjoy their vacation and am ready to be there with whatever they need because they deserve it. They’re in the newborn trenches and need the rest and relaxation, plus I love them and really enjoy being able to help them. So how do I make sure I’m compensated fairly and they’re comfortable?

I feel like you guys are going to tell me to talk to MB again and get a more set schedule or idea of what’s going on but I can tell you right now that mom doesn’t know lol. We’ve had a very good go with the flow agreement because of the new baby and them being home. They’ve never taken a nanny on vacation before either. The previous convo we had ended with us agreeing to both do some research to see how payment should be done.

Posted Aug 4, 2025, 7:15 PM UTC

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