OT: Babysitting pay?

[mamaofonetrying42]

I have never had to pay anyone to watch my kids before, my sister always did it for free Or for very little. In the last few months my other sister has moved in with us, she has a 3y/o boy. Between her work sch. and Ours, there is time where our sch.'s over lap, so we need to bring someone in to help us out. My sister has a friend who will do it for us. We have an Idea of what to pay her, but I want to know what you all pay an hour for a babysitter? What is too less and what is too much...

For a 5y/o-3y/o-2y/o and a 6months ago

[Megs2girls7]

I pay my sitter I pay $30 for my 2 yr old and $20 for my 2 yr old. so $50/day. If I pick up before noon it's $25. Now that my oldest goes to kindergarten for half a day it's $40. Kind of confusing but it works for us.

I think it should depend on your situation and what you can afford. I don't think it would hurt to have a conversation with this friend and see what her expectations are and find something in the middle that works for the both of you.

[Spiket77]

I watch a 3 year old and 8 week old for 2.5 hours a day during the week. She pays me $150 per week. It is really easy extra cash for me. The time flies by and I love getting a little kid time in around my regular freelance work.

[Lynniepooh]

Hello,

I was a nanny for a long time and I made $10 per hour for 1 child.  But we kinda just went by a weekly rate of $500.

I take care of my grandmother now 11 hours a day 7 days a week and make $500 per week.  Thats about $6.50 per hour.  I cant charge my gramma $10 per hour!  I wouldn't ask for $ at all but I have bills too and she insisted!

[KeyD]

I pay daycare $3.50 per hour up to 5 hours, over 5 hours is $25. I have 1 child. There is a discount if u have more kids but I don't know the amount. Check with local daycares to see what they charge but remember you can pay less because the kids are your house eating your food so the sitter soesn't have to pay for that stuff.  I would think that $7-8/hour is sufficient.

[bluegenie2003]

I really think it depends on the age/experience of the babysitter, and also where you live. I'm on the east coast, and I think its a little more here. I worked as a nanny since my senior year in high school (11 years ago).  I got paid $8 an hour then.  2 summers ago I took care of one baby, and got paid $13 an hour. I typically charge at least $12 to start and then $1-2 more per extra kid. I think that's about average here.  Our full time daycare centers dont' go for much less than $200 a week per kid, (and the one next door charges $330 a week) and they usually charge less per hour than an individual. Last summer I  took care of 5 kids and got paid $18 an hour.

[Grandmatobe]

This was fun to read........when I was about 12, I started babysitting in my neighborhood and this young couple across the street had two kids, one was 3 and the other was a baby.  I was paid 50 cents per hour and these parents were very literal with their pay.  If they were gone for 4 1/2 hours, I would get my $2.25.  It is one of those memories that sticks, because I would write on my calendar the amount I got paid each time, so I would know how much money I could put in the bank.  In fact, I remember sometimes getting very odd figures, like $2.47 or something.  I wonder what that was all about??   LOL.

But this was pay back in the 70's, so I guess I did well.  It is worth a few dollars more to have peace of mind that you are getting a good sitter, instead of one that wants to work for beer money later (so to speak)........Also, just a side note....if you agree on the $9 an hour, but decide to write a check at the $10 per hour level, your babysitter will feel like you gave her a tip, and that is always appreciated in their eyes.

[FreshLove]

If it's only for 3hrs a day I would go for $8 an hour

[rbohl01]

I pay 5 dollara for 2 kids (school aged) so I just would add a dollar for each additional kids- I think yo usould be good at 7 dollars an hour as long as the kids are pretty well behaved

[LosingMyMindInGA]

You also have to consider the area you live in, what is charged at daycare centers and what is charged by home daycare providers.  You could get a list of home daycare providers that are licensed by your state and call around and ask them what they charge for weekly, daily, dropin and hourly.

[tiredbuthappy]

Going rate here for a young girl (high school, college but not ed major) is around $10 to start, and an extra $1/hr for each additional kid. People often charge more for an infant as well.
If you get a highly qualified person such as a teacher, ed major, daycare worker, or professional nanny, it is more.

[martikadragoon]

we had a friend who works with hubby who offered to babysit our younger son (gma had the older one)
and she didn't even ask for money but I kindof felt obligated in a good way to pay her, her daughter is 6 or 8. I paid her $20 for about 5-10pm. she's a really cool chick and works with hubby and her and I have ALOT of things in common including a messed up knee ( same knee )

[JoyRenee]

I think $30 is a good amount. $10 p/h seems really fair! I'll watch 'em for that much, ha ha! ;-)

[mamaofonetrying42]

ok thanks...We agreed on 9$ an hr. but I hate uneven numbers So knowing me I'll always around Up to make it even. So 3hrs times 9$ is 27$ I'll write a check for 30. so i guess its more like 10$ LOL

[mamaofonetrying42]

We were thinking 9$. ??

[Sunkissed19]

If its only for a couple hours twice a week like that id pay $40 a day...only because thats a lot of kids.

[Sunkissed19]

in highschool when i would baby sit i usually got paied 10 an hour. When i was out of highschool and had a job for infant twin boys i got paied 14-17 an hour...but i worked 12 hour days 6 days a week. i really think it varies...but those are some high energy age groups so it shouldnt be too low like 5 an hour or anything. I agree with Alaysha that it really matters how long your out. Maybe ask the sitter what she thinks is fair or whatever rates she's worked for? I think it also matters how long she's been doing this (like if she nanny's a lot or if she's just a sporadic babysitter because she loves kids) The more experience usually means higher pay. But, i also live in Seattle and nannies make big bucks here LOL...everyone has a nanny!

[mamaofonetrying42]

It would only be a few hours once, or 2x a week maybe 3 but I dont think so and only for no more then 3hr each day

[alaysha]

Hmm... I think it really depends. I know that with my daughter if someone watches her while I go on a date I pay like 20-40 depending on how late we are out. Like if we leave at 8pm and don't get back until 2am then we pay 40 but if we leave at like 8pm and are home by 11pm we only pay like 20. As for watching her while I'm at work its usually about 25-30 a day and if its 2 children then usually like 40-45 a day. If it is less then like 3 hours it is 1/2 that. That is just what I've noticed is usually charged around her for daycare. If its only for like an hour I would just give like 10 dollars.

[Momo1409]

I babysat and got 5 an hour when it was a full time thing (from 8-4) before when it was just every once ina while it was 7-8 an hour that was for 2 kids 3yo and 1yo. Hope that helps!