Babysitting Rates; Question for parents of young kids
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Teresa · 04-10-2012, 10:09 AM

DD Lauren is 14 and took babysitting courses and CPR courses through the local hospital. They told her to charge $5 an hour per kid. She's really only babysat for friends and family before, and they've always paid her well. She's done what I did when I was her age - I never gave a price, just told the parents to pay me what they thought it was worth to know their child/ren were being cared for and loved. I was always paid more than I would have asked for.

Yesterday, one of the neighbors asked Lauren to babysit for them for 3 nights a week. 5 pm to 10 pm, Thurs. Fri, and Sat. nights. They have a 5 year old and a 2 month old.

What would you pay for that? We really don't know what she should ask and am not sure if she should use my old trick.

JoanneS · 04-10-2012, 10:54 AM

I wouldn't use your old trick. It's better to know what's coming into your wallet. The minimum I'd charge would be $150 for the week and that's a bargain. A local daycare would charge much more, especially with an infant.

Ashli · 04-10-2012, 11:00 AM

I don't know what I would suggest as a price now, but I will tell you that I made $5 an hour - SIXTEEN years ago, which was the last time I babysat.

unewillow · 04-10-2012, 11:18 AM

I would say that for 5 hours a night for 2 kids, she should be getting AT LEAST $100. Since it's the weekend (Fri and Sat nights), I agree $150 for those nights would be a steal.

ETA: That's for all 3 nights, not per night, I think I didn't write that very clearly. I babysat my cousins (3 of them, 2 were toddlers) and to arrive at their house about 5pm, feed them dinner and put them to bed I made about $60 for 4-5hours. That's about $15/hr, but it was for 3 kids and usually on a weekend night.

Huntermom · 04-10-2012, 11:48 AM

I think Joanne's suggestion for $150.00 a week is reasonable. That's $10.00 an hour and I would guess in this economy they could find an adult (senior on fixed income perhaps) for that amount or maybe a little more. If her babysitting class is suggesting $5.00 an hour, that is probably the going rate in your area. She can also ask them about this specific situation. I would always pay more for a couple of hours than a regular sitter. Someone going out for a couple of hours, usually pays pretty well in part because who wants to give up an evening for $10-15 dollars.

I don't know what the area you live in is like. I would guess metropolitan areas have significantly higher rates than rural areas, the east and west coasts higher then the middle of the country.

Seeing as this seems like a regular job, not babysitting, I would draw up a contract if the employers have not already done so. Everyone needs to know the hours, whether taxes are to be paid, when time can be taken off and what happens when the family doesn't need her for a night, and how much notice each gives the other.

I would not use your old trick.

**HiddenMickey** · 04-10-2012, 11:59 AM

Around here the kids charge $10 hr.

Tink and co. · 04-10-2012, 12:00 PM

My 16 year old makes $10 an hour per kid on average. She runs the nursery for a local church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, and then babysits for the families on the side. I think I made $5 an hour back in the dark ages.

That seems like a very low rate.

Gin · 04-10-2012, 01:17 PM

$150 for the three nights at the very minimum. IMO, that's a big time commitment for a 14yo, and caring for a 2 month old is a lot of responsibility. I'd probably lean closer to $15 per hour, but it depends on where you live and your relationship with this family.

Teresa · 04-10-2012, 02:47 PM

Just to clarify - the $5 per hour was PER CHILD. She's cared for newborns before - had a regular "job" 2 years ago doing it for 4 hours, 2 evenings a week - but that was for her Sensei's son, so she didn't really charge them as much as she might have. Now that I think of it though, they were more than happy to pay her $40/week - so $5 an hour.

I guess $10 an hour doesn't sound unreasonable.

Thanks for the info.

(we live in the suburbs of Indianapolis, in a fairly well off town)

tkm1005 · 04-10-2012, 03:00 PM

We have been paying $10 an hour which honestly just seems insane to me, but I have heard it is the going rate. Has she done any babysitting for this couple before? Is there any standard set already? $150 kind of sounds like a lot of money, but they may be completely fine with it. Depends on why they need the babysitter. If its because they are both working and are making enough to offset that cost then it should be fine. However I do think when you have an ongoing arrangement like that, it makes sense to just have a flat fee as opposed to an hourly rate. So maybe negotiate $100 for the week or something along those lines?. If the kids are going to be sleeping for part of that time I would also take that into consideration. However with a 2 month old she will probably have her hands full the whole time.

On a side note - I went back to work part time and when I started I was making in the $10 range so I struggled to hand over every penny to a babysitter so I had to work out some working from home hours, but also I paid a flat rate for the day instead of per hour.

apqsmom · 04-10-2012, 03:11 PM

Wow...your babysitters are making a bunch. My DD's get $5/hr for the first kid and an additional $1 per kid/hr. So 2 kids would be $6/hr. They usually make more though if it is an infant.

buckinghammr · 04-10-2012, 03:49 PM

If my kids are sleeping our neighborhood babysitters get $5 an hour. If they're awake, we pay 6 or 7. That's three kids 4, 6, and 9. There is no way I'd ever pay $5 per child per hour.

tkm1005 · 04-10-2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apqsmom

Wow...your babysitters are making a bunch. My DD's get $5/hr for the first kid and an additional $1 per kid/hr. So 2 kids would be $6/hr. They usually make more though if it is an infant.

So glad to hear. Sounds like a much more reasonable rate

I used to make $1 an hour for babysitting... 25 years ago, but still. I remember babysitting 2 kids M-F 8am-5pm and cleaning the house too for $36 a week. I know I was totally ripped off, but I think that is why I struggle with the $10/hour rate. My kids are old enough that they just play with them and then send them to bed at the right time, but I don't ask that they do anything other than stay with them.

Teresa · 04-10-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkm1005

So glad to hear. Sounds like a much more reasonable rate

I used to make $1 an hour for babysitting... 25 years ago, but still. I remember babysitting 2 kids M-F 8am-5pm and cleaning the house too for $36 a week. I know I was totally ripped off, but I think that is why I struggle with the $10/hour rate. My kids are old enough that they just play with them and then send them to bed at the right time, but I don't ask that they do anything other than stay with them.

I just did some quick math - and I was getting paid $5.55 an hour for a regular gig: 27 years ago!!
I told her to go ahead and start at the $10/hour and if they said it was too much, ask how much they felt they should pay her. Negotiate from there.

mfirst · 04-10-2012, 08:13 PM

I babysit on a daily basis...I charge $15 for under 3 hours (per kid), $20 for 3-6 hours and $30 for a full day. I have one family that has two children, so we added $5 for each rate. Keep in mind that the families are bringing their kids too me with everything - diapers, food, milk, etc. that they'll need while they are here. If I supplied their food, I would charge more.