If the babysitter wants to take the day off, should she get paid?

since returning to work two years ago, i have been using a great babysitter for my daughter. The baby is now a few months older than 2. The sitter has a nice house, is very friendly and cooperative, she likes the baby and the baby likes her – i have no complaints about her work. She babysits for a few other kids, also.

When she started she charged me $50 a day, then after about a year she raised it to $60 a day, which was fine and that’s still cheap compared to others. She used to not charge when the baby was out sick or i had the day off and did not use her. She recently told me she wants to now charge half for days when the baby is sick or i have the day off. OK, no problem. My question is, if i have the day off for a holiday (like Election Day or Columbus Day – not a religious family type holiday)I am kind of feeling like if i am going to pay half for no service, i may as well just pay the whole thing and take the baby there, and use the day to run errands or something. However, I know the babysitter likes to have the days off, too, (understandable, who does not like a day off now and then?). I am envisioning her asking me to not use her for my holiday so she can have the day off.

My question is, if i am willing to take the baby there and pay the babysitter her regular rate, but she requests the day off, should i then have to pay her the half she requests?

This is a hypothetical question, as this issue has not yet arrived. However, I know the babysitter likes her days off, and I also know I may want to use her on my day off, so I know this issue may come up.