Babysitting Rates; Question for parents of young kids - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I made $2/hour babysitting. If they family had over 3 kids it may have bumped up to $3/hour. At that time, it was a bit less than minimum wage and I was too young to qualify for such a job anyway.
We do not get sitters much, but I pay $2/hour/kid. My kids are 5, 7 and 10 and practically care for themselves. Their favorite babysitter just plays games and does crafts with the girls while the boy is one his own. She always jumps at the chance to babysit for us. If I were to pay $10 an hour I would expect someone over 18 with solid work experience, probably in college. I would rather find a responsible and bright 13 year old who is excited for the chance to make some extra money and willing to do her best.
$5 per kid per hour for a sitter under 14
$10 per kid per hour for a sitter 15-17
$12 per kid per hour for an adult
These rates are for a regular neighborhood babysitter who doesn't do this for a living.
Also if it's over 4 hours most babysitters will charge a little more.
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.
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.
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.
Maybe we are just cheap in MN? Or value-conscious? Funny that 3 of the posters on this thread are MN peeps who charge about the same amount for a young teen babysitter.
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I just gave our 8th grade babysitter 18 dollars for almost 3 hours. Now I am worried we underpaid. It was just for our 4 year old. This is the first time we have used someone other than family. Hope I wasn't cheap!! 10 dollars an hour seems outrageous for a teenage babysitter, at least in our area.
I just gave our 8th grade babysitter 18 dollars for almost 3 hours. Now I am worried we underpaid. It was just for our 4 year old. This is the first time we have used someone other than family. Hope I wasn't cheap!! 10 dollars an hour seems outrageous for a teenage babysitter, at least in our area.
I think you are fine, especially for one child. Its interesting that babysitting rates are based on the age of the babysitter... I too sort of agree with the idea that if it is an adult who is making their living providing child care then $10 per hour makes sense, but for a neighbor kid who would be excited to make a little extra money I think the $10 is a bit high. We have paid about $10 per hour, but we have never had a babysitter ask for that amount.
If they will agree to $10 per hour, that is great for your dd; but it sounds high to me.... I would think minimum wage or lower for a teen babysitter.... But, like others said- it varies based on where you live...
I don't know that I agree that the rate should be the same "per child" -- it seems to me that the first kid would be more, and less for each additional.
Paying a babysitter $10 is crazy! That is what I make at my restaurant job!! That is why ppl stay home and collect welfare instead of getting jobs because they would shell out more money for daycare then they make. I would not pay more then $5 /hour, but then I would not leave my kids especially a new baby with a 14yo, maybe I am a bit over protective.
I was 12 when I started babysitting for children over 5 yrs. At 14 I started babysitting for Newborns/infants. I was paid .75 cents an hour then eventually $1.00 an hour. back in 1972 lol I am amazed at what babysitting costs today. What do her friends make as Sitters?
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Oddly, none of her friends babysit! I don't know if it's that their parents won't let them, they're not interested, or no-one wants to hire them. We live on a single dead-end street. There are 4 girls who are exactly Lauren's age, and another 5 or 6 who are slightly older teens. NONE of them babysit. Most of them I wouldn't trust.
I think $10 an hour is not unreasonable. She is responsible, reliable and has gone through training to know what to do in an emergency. If the parents are not willing to pay her that, then she needs to rethink taking the job. No one else in the area babysits! She is a hot commodity!
I used to babysit and it's not an easy job if done correctly. I was bitten, thrown up on, and pummelled with snow balls. It's a lot of responsibility. Most of the time, it wasn't just playing with the kids; it was changing diapers, feeding them, putting them to bed, and sometimes making sure they got a bath. I helped with homework, cleaned scraped knees, and, yes, played lots of Chutes and Ladders. Sounds like what a Mom would do, right? And, I would wager that Mom would expect that what she does is worth more than $2/hour.
I wish Lauren lived closer, we could use her services this summer for our actors with children. We paid last year's babysitter $8/hour for one 3 year old.
I used to babysit and it's not an easy job if done correctly. I was bitten, thrown up on, and pummelled with snow balls. It's a lot of responsibility. Most of the time, it wasn't just playing with the kids; it was changing diapers, feeding them, putting them to bed, and sometimes making sure they got a bath. I helped with homework, cleaned scraped knees, and, yes, played lots of Chutes and Ladders. Sounds like what a Mom would do, right? And, I would wager that Mom would expect that what she does is worth more than $2/hour.
I wish Lauren lived closer, we could use her services this summer for our actors with children. We paid last year's babysitter $8/hour for one 3 year old.
Sure - if they need all of that then they should definitely make more than $2 an hour. However for some kids - who maybe are a bit older, past the diaper stage and just not quite old enough to stay home alone, I could see paying less than $10 per hour. In Lauren's situation it seems she will have her hands full.
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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.
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