We paid a friend $50 to watch DS for about 4 1/2 hours, give him dinner and put him to bed. We thought that was fair and reasonable (but couldn't afford to do it all the time!).

Wow, it seems $$$ when you consider we pay my qualified FDC provider $6.85/hr! I know she has four children to look after (who each pay the same), but she's following a programme, providing art/craft materials, documenting everything and actively playing with them the whole day! Or, is it that child care workers are paid a pittance!