Baby-Sitting

[SmallWorld71]

I have. I rarely baby-sit as most of my friends have family near by willing to watch their kids. I think there is a huge disconnect between the 2 opinions. Myself and a few believe that it is just a side gig that is worth only about minimum wage because it is not a consistent job. Other believe it is a legitimate job that should be paid as similar to a nanny or daycare rate. This thread has shown that there will be no seeing eye to eye. Everyone views it differently.

Personally, I don't agree with either of those scenarios you present. To me, the fact that it is a side gig/ inconsistent is what makes it worth more than minimum wage. But, like I said, I got paid more than $10 an hour back in the early 90's for my babysitting services in college. My regular job paid less. No way would I have given up my weekend nights for chump change.
Of course, the people I babysat for could afford it. If $10 an hour is too much for you (general you) then you likely can't afford the night out either. I know that was the case with us when my kids were little. We rarely went out on a date and on the rare occasion that we did it was either through family helping out or through taking turns with friends sitting for each other's children.

 

[sk!mom]

But I get it - we are raising entitled kids in an entitled world, in an entitled time. They expect to be paid $18/hour to make some mac and cheese and put the kids to bed at 8pm, and sit around watching Netflix for a few hours. And parents agree to pay it. Why? Because it's SOOOO unheard of for a teen to be expected to keep a kid safe and fed for 20 bucks while their parents have a date-night? In order to provide these VERY basic duties, these kids have to be paid more than most of the parents started off making after college?

What a racket.

To those willingly paying that much, and enjoying doing so, more power to you. But don't fool yourself into thinking you are getting any "better" care for your kid. A 15 year old is a 15 year old, no matter how much s/he is getting paid.

YMMV.

Entitled to you is entrepreneurial to me. Why should they work for 5 bucks an hour when the family up the street will pay 20? By the way, both of my nieces babysat all through high school and college and they never sat twice for someone who paid less than $10 and hour even when they were 15. The one who still sits usually makes more like $20 an hour now. She's just weeded out and narrowed down to the people who pay really well.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have. I rarely baby-sit as most of my friends have family near by willing to watch their kids. I think there is a huge disconnect between the 2 opinions. Myself and a few believe that it is just a side gig that is worth only about minimum wage because it is not a consistent job. Other believe it is a legitimate job that should be paid as similar to a nanny or daycare rate. This thread has shown that there will be no seeing eye to eye. Everyone views it differently.

The majority believe $10 an hour is minimum. Dd21 made $11 an hour as a cashier at 18, made $20 an hour as an intern last spring, will make about $25 an hour (salaried) when she starts her job in January. Babysitting is more than just playing on your phone while the kids sleep, the terrors dd17 sits for trash the house, fight like crazy, and refuse to go to bed (one has adhd, although the other is questionable). Fortunately the other kids she sits for are easier.

 

[yoopermom]

I grew up in the 70s, and DB and I had a babysitter at least once a month ($1/hr), because my parents valued their "date night" (or adult only affair). Fast forward to the late '90s, and we hired a babysitter for DS ($5/hr) about as often, at least once a month, because we valued our alone time together away from the house (and didn't have any family members close enough to help out).

Now I look at my generation of cousins who have kids ranging in age from infants to early teens, and NONE of them have a regular sitter, go out much, or anything (and yes, they all have good jobs). I don't know why, since I have *wonderful* memories of the fun I had with my babysitter, and DS actually invited his favorite one to his high school graduation party . (And we are those "terrible" parents who let our son sleep out in the woods with his friends, but long after he was past the age of needing a babysitter, so...)

Terri

 

[SmallWorld71]

I think it is a regional thing and comparing it to what we made back in the 90s. Yes it hasn’t changed and they should be making more but I was an excellent babysitter back between 94 through 2003when I graduated college. I started out making $3 an hour for 3 kids worked my way to $5 an hour by may senior year and when I was in college I maxed out at $7. And the reason I made that much money was because I came back from college to watch kids. I did a lot including making meals, baths, and putting kids to bed and I did my homework after they were in bed. I was also on call on Tuesday’s for a family and they paid me $20 a night for that if they did not use me because they needed me available that night as the dad was a dr and the mom had to lead a women’s bible study. I try and pay well but when a teenager who has to have me come gets them wants $20an hour to sit on a phone while my kid sleeps sorry that is not happening. I’m willing to pay them $30 for about 3 to r hours.

We don’t go out much because frankly we can’t afford to pay those rates. I do use the date night service at my sons daycare and pay $20 for 4hours of care with dinner. Oh and he is with his friends and they play games and stuff

Maybe region plays a bigger role than we might think. I was in college before you and there is no way I (or anyone) would have worked for those rates and nobody would ever have tried to hire at those rates. As I said, I went to college in Boston. Just curious where you were?

 

[DisneyOma]

How on earth do people afford that? That is insane. I am looking forward to the day my oldest can chill with his brothers.

How do they afford the babysitter? By working, saving, etc. BTW - it sounds like you went out for 7 hours. What do you expect it will cost when you are out so long?

I can’t even imagine paying a sitter $10 - $15 an hour or more to watch my kids. Ridiculous.

Back in the early 70’s I made 50 cents an hour, no matter how many kids I was sitting for.

Not ridiculous at all if you compare what things cost now as to over 40 years ago.

 

[somcgregor]

Maybe region plays a bigger role than we might think. I was in college before you and there is no way I (or anyone) would have worked for those rates and nobody would ever have tried to hire at those rates. As I said, I went to college in Boston. Just curious where you were?

I’m in northwest but more west.

 

[design_mom]

I'm not sure everyone will see eye-to-eye to this. I'm not sure that looking at it as worth less because it's sporadic vs. a regular thing is the right way to look at it. It sounds like your sitter is very busy. You need to make it worth her while to give up her little bit of free time to watch your kids. It sounds like she really likes your kids, but watching them probably isn't how she'd spend her free time (for free).

My niece is 15 and she gets paid at least $10/hr (and we're in Ohio, not a high cost of living area). It's decent money for a 15 year old, but it's sporadic. In a few months, she'll be old enough to get a "real job." It probably won't pay as much per hour, but it will be more regular hours. But it will probably make her less available for babysitting. I think that's why prices are they way they are. It needs to be "worth their while" to 1) give up their little bit of free time, 2) not be replaced by a more regular job.

I completely understand how paying a sitter can make a night out an expensive evening. If you don't want to pay a sitter, maybe you can work out a babysitting swap with a friend. You watch her kids for an evening, and in return, she'll watch yours when you go out?

 

[superme80]

I'm not sure everyone will see eye-to-eye to this. I'm not sure that looking at it as worth less because it's sporadic vs. a regular thing is the right way to look at it. It sounds like your sitter is very busy. You need to make it worth her while to give up her little bit of free time to watch your kids. It sounds like she really likes your kids, but watching them probably isn't how she'd spend her free time (for free).

My niece is 15 and she gets paid at least $10/hr (and we're in Ohio, not a high cost of living area). It's decent money for a 15 year old, but it's sporadic. In a few months, she'll be old enough to get a "real job." It probably won't pay as much per hour, but it will be more regular hours. But it will probably make her less available for babysitting. I think that's why prices are they way they are. It needs to be "worth their while" to 1) give up their little bit of free time, 2) not be replaced by a more regular job.

I completely understand how paying a sitter can make a night out an expensive evening. If you don't want to pay a sitter, maybe you can work out a babysitting swap with a friend. You watch her kids for an evening, and in return, she'll watch yours when you go out?

We are supposed to have friends near by????? All my friends with kids are an hour away. I would love to have someone to swap with though. I live in California, but we have much lower wages than I think most places.

 

[Southernmiss]

Minimum wage in California is now $10.50 an hour. $70 for 7 hours is still below minimum wage.

Minimum wage in my state is still about $7.75 an hour.

I would still pay babysitters $10 an hour for 7 hours for 3 kids if I wanted to keep the sitter.

What I make should not prevent me from being required to pay a fair price for an optional service.

Maybe my perspective is different after having older kids and knowing the load many kids take on these days

 

[mjkacmom]

We are supposed to have friends near by????? All my friends with kids are an hour away. I would love to have someone to swap with though. I live in California, but we have much lower wages than I think most places.

You have three kids, how can you not have friends? I’m still good friends with my HS friends (text every day) and even college, but my nearby mom friends are my tribe (and having 5 kids, it’s a nice sized tribe). Now that the youngest are 15, we can’t move, because how would we find friends.

 

[undertheradar]

We are supposed to have friends near by????? All my friends with kids are an hour away. I would love to have someone to swap with though. I live in California, but we have much lower wages than I think most places.

What part of California are you in?

 

[superme80]

What part of California are you in?

You have three kids, how can you not have friends? I’m still good friends with my HS friends (text every day) and even college, but my nearby mom friends are my tribe (and having 5 kids, it’s a nice sized tribe). Now that the youngest are 15, we can’t move, because how would we find friends.

I have friends, but they have all either moved away, are still in my hometown 2 hours away, or do not have children.

What part of California are you in?

I live in the Auburn area. I live about a 90 min drive from Tahoe.

 

[tcufrog]

We have two sitters. One we've used for about a decade and is widowed with 4 kids. You wouldn't believe it if you saw her but one of her kids just graduated from college, one is in college, one is in high school and one is in middle school. She has been amazing to have as a sitter. She knows how to handle anything thrown at her from potty training, warming up breast milk properly, disciplining a temper tantruming preschooler, etc. She's watched one of our kids when we had an emergency and he was a week old and over weekends when we've gone out of town. We started out paying her $10/hour and now pay her $11/hour. We call her the wonder sitter and just love her.

Recently her high school student got her license and now also babysits and pet sits for us. We've watched her grow up since her mom used to bring her kids with her when she babysat. She is the sweetest, most responsible girl you could ever meet. My kids love her. I trust her to take the kids to the park or mall or even pick them up from school (my kids' school is 25 miles away). If she drives the more than a few miles from home I give her gas money. I don't mind paying her $11/hour because I know she's putting most of that money in her college fund and I like the idea of investing in her future.

 

[penn19]

We never paid babysitters when my kids were little. We took them with us, or didn't do it. On the rare occasion we HAD to do something and the kids couldn't go, my SIL or MIL watched them.

WARNING: RANT AHEAD:

$18 an hour??!! I didn't make that much money an hour until I had a bachelor's degree! holy crap!!

Despite what many on here are saying, it's not "cheaping out" to pay a babysitter less than minimum wage. Min wage was $4.25 when I used to babysit in HS (in the 90's), and the going babysitting rate was $2.00-$2.50/hr, and for that pay, I used to do a pretty good job! It's really not THAT hard to keep kids alive and safe for a few hours, so what do they need $18/hour for today??!!

Personally, I think that charging (and paying!) that much is insane, and like everything else, parents feel guilted into paying that much because they think that paying any less - and then something happening - will make them bad parents. Things are going to happen no matter if you are paying a 15 year old $6-$8 (which I think is much more reasonable for a kid to earn babysitting for a few hours) or if you are paying them $18.

But I get it - we are raising entitled kids in an entitled world, in an entitled time. They expect to be paid $18/hour to make some mac and cheese and put the kids to bed at 8pm, and sit around watching Netflix for a few hours. And parents agree to pay it. Why? Because it's SOOOO unheard of for a teen to be expected to keep a kid safe and fed for 20 bucks while their parents have a date-night? In order to provide these VERY basic duties, these kids have to be paid more than most of the parents started off making after college?

What a racket.

To those willingly paying that much, and enjoying doing so, more power to you. But don't fool yourself into thinking you are getting any "better" care for your kid. A 15 year old is a 15 year old, no matter how much s/he is getting paid.

YMMV.

Can we be friends!?

 

[emmybee]

I was paid $15/hr as both a nanny and a babysitter for my employer's friends way back around 1998-2004. I watched 3 boys for my employer, and all her friends mostly had two kids.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

You've probably realized that DIS community board users skew older...so there are tons of "I paid my sitters $5/hr....back in the 90s." Or "When I babysat 30 years ago, I made $4/hr."

I'm a mom with 3 little kids (4, 2 and 1.) Babysitting and nanny (we have both) pay varies greatly by region. In my area, $10-12 is common for babysitting 1-2 kids. Sitters have told me this is generous. I pay $12-14 for a sitter.

 

[EveDallas]

You've probably realized that DIS community board users skew older...so there are tons of "I paid my sitters $5/hr....back in the 90s." Or "When I babysat 30 years ago, I made $4/hr."

I'm a mom with 3 little kids (4, 2 and 1.) Babysitting and nanny (we have both) pay varies greatly by region. In my area, $10-12 is common for babysitting 1-2 kids. Sitters have told me this is generous. I pay $12-14 for a sitter.

Where you live does play a big part, but it's also what people are willing to give up their time for. Where I am, I don't know anyone would would watch three littles for less than $20 an hour.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

You have three kids, how can you not have friends? I’m still good friends with my HS friends (text every day) and even college, but my nearby mom friends are my tribe (and having 5 kids, it’s a nice sized tribe). Now that the youngest are 15, we can’t move, because how would we find friends.

I don't have any mom friends in my area that aren't related to my husband. I have a few friends from school and we get together with our neighbor who is a coworker of my husband. All of my really good friends are back in Texas and Florida, they're my mom tribe. I'm a fairly introverted person though I don't need a lot of friends.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I babysat often while i was in college in the first half of the 90s in Colorado. I also worked summers and holidays in a preschool, was CPR and first aide certified, etc. By the end of freshman year I had stopped babysitting for all but two families whose kids I rally loved, and who paid me well and seemed to truly value having a reliable sitter who they felt totally comfortable leaving their kids with. I never set a price but the families paid from 10-15 an hour (rounding and paying a little less for hours kids were asleep), always had good food for meals (or asked me to take their little one out to dinner and then a playplace or park at their cost so they could host a meal at home), encouraged me to bring my laundry to get it done while i was there, etc.

Most of the best sitters we had when my own kids were young were in highschool. we moved often and over the sears had 3 truly unskilled people in ONCE---never4 brought back. A good babysitter is highly skilled---maybe not trained but skilled! In the midwest and in NH when my kids were small (late 90s early 2000s) we paid 12-18 per hour and did not go out very often because yes, that adds up fast.