Is it reasonable to ask a neighbor/friend to watch a child every morning before school for free?

I am going to school and I mentioned that once classes start earlier than my 6yo goes to get the bus, that I will need to offer to pay a neighbor $20 to $25 a week to keep her for an hour or so before the bus comes.

My significant other believes that I should just ask the neighbor without offering any money. His argument is that she will already be home with her child getting ready for school and that it's no problem.