Should grandparents get paid for looking after their grandchildren?.

I dont have grandchildren yet, but if I was asked to look after my grandchildren while their parents worked, I would do it free of charge, unless my daughter offered to pay something. I wouldn't ask or tell her she had to pay. Spending time with my grandchildren would be payment enough.

I have no children yet but I am sure my parents would be delighted to look after their grandchildren with no payment in return.

Here in our country, mostly grand parents or not, as long as you are a family and free to take care of the children then we do it freely. It's up to the parents to give something back in return the favor, small things for being grateful but not really money to pay.. If i am the grand parent then i will be insulted if i will be paid. But of course they can show their gratefulness in some other ways. But this is just my opinion and i respect others who have a different culture.

130 a day! i guess that includes meals?

I think it is better that the grandparents should take care of the kids whenever they can and if they can. If their kids give them money out of their goodness and goodwill because the grandparents helped them then it is okay but to pay them like they are employee, then no. By the way, I like the hair. Is it natural color?

Not necessarily paid but well compensated too for time spent with the kids, it isn't easy being with kids all day

I think it shouldn't. However, if they are other's children, I think it needs.

I'm not a grandparent but I know the cost of childcare is huge here in New Zealand too. I'm not sure how I feel about grandparents getting paid, but to me it does seem like a family responsibility. Often there is a happy shared medium. Some women I know go and look after their grandchildren during the school holidays.

As a grandmother I babysit my grandchildren. My son and his wife have five children and mom is a full time stay at home mom who home schools. I have taken the children (all at the same time) and they did provide me with some grocery money to cover some of my expenses while they were away. My one daughter has a little girl. I have been babysitting her at least one day a week since mom went back to work. Mom has a well paying job and she pays me to babysit the same amount as she pays her daycare provider the other days. This arrangement works well for both of us. If I babysit when she and her husband are going out for an evening or anytime it's not work related..I babysit for free. I love my grandchildren. When I was working, if my oldest babysat the youngest I paid her to babysit as well.

I can watch over them for free because I love them, but if my son pays me for it, I will accept it thinking it is just a way he wants to thank me for my time and effort caring for his children.

Hm, this is a tough subject for what my thoughts personally are... Depends on the situation I think. For example - I have a friend whose daughter and son in law have 5 kids, 3 of which are ill and need special care. The daughter and son in law work, so it is his mom, the grandma, who takes care of the kids. She drives 90 minutes to get there, and 90 minutes to get home each day, and watches them 6 days a week usually - because on the weekends the daughter and son in law like to do something together or take only a couple of the older kids. (Can't say I blame them, I know it must be a lot to have all 5 on an outing)- however - this means that grandma sees the kids way more than mom and dad do. I have often wondered how this is fair to her? When she had her own children - she had at least a little choice in how many kids to have or not have... I do not know if they pay her or not - but in this case, I hope they do. That is a lot of driving and the majority of her time. Of course.... how much they pay her would be up to them. I don't think relatives should charge as much as an outside party. On the other hand it wouldn't seem fair if someone were charging a lot, or , in the case of only occasionally watching the kids - then I don't think payment should be required. Sorry. Long rant. Love your dress

If I had grandchildren I would love spending time with them - and I know they will be safer with me - safer than in a child care facility. However - if their parents can afford it and are happy to reward me in some way , I won't refuse. Because even though I would love my grandchildren and be happy to spend time with them - I already sacrificed and raised my children. This is my time to relax, travel, read, paint - do all the things I couldn't do before.

To show affection towards grandchildren they are getting paid ?...that love and affection shouldn't get paid in my opinion...instead of paying we need to grateful to grandparents.

Our grandparents watched us before for free . I think grandparents should not be paid for looking after their grandchildren ..

I think that for a short time of looking after their grandchildren the grandparents shouldn't have to pay. If it is like a full time job then I think they should get paid. Parents have bills to pay so it would be less money that the average full time worker.

I look after my granddaughter on a different basis as the parents do not pay me. It was arranged through the courts, I have a Special Guardianship Order and I get paid for it. If I didn't I would only have my pension and would not manage. It is means tested though so I only get what they calculate I need. If it had been left to the parents I wouldn't get a penny!

It's good that you are able to help in this way. You will have a great relationship with your grandkids. I think where grandparents babysit for nothing and commit to certain days their children should perhaps show their appreciation in other ways such as maybe helping with maintenance round the house, etc.

@epiffanie Since I am not a grandparent but was a grandchild I thought grandparents enjoy looking after their grandchildren and then after they are done spoiling them give them back to the parents. Since you are near by why don't they let you take care of them instead of putting them in daycare?

My parents have always helped me to take care of my children, they love being with their grandchildren and would be offended if I ever mentioned pay them to stay with the kids.

I think it depends on personal financial reasons. I know one person who did it for free and once her kid got into a really good job they started paying her. It wasn't because she wanted the money, the kid just wanted to give back and she wouldn't take the money any other way. She was reluctant to take it even for babysitting. Its a new age in America. It use to be after working 40 years you also paid off a 30 year mortgage. Not everyone owns a house now so retirement check doesn't go as far as it did. Also age of grandparents is younger as in some cases people have kids at 14-18 and their kids are having babies young. So that 35 year old grandparents still has a job and needs to work too. My mom never charged my oldest brother ( he was the only one with kids when she was alive). I can't imagine charging my kids to watch grand babies.