Babysitting

[LaDonna]

Okay toddler age 2, 11 hours a day 7am-6pm, paying sitter $100 and sitter is in charge of buying and serving food.

So I'm just curious to what others think, is this a way too low wage for this, just right, or what? Because my friend and I see differently and she said that I'm the only one she knows that thinks this is too low of pay to expect them to buy lunch too. For arguments sake lets say what is the lowest you think would be reasonable?

 

[sbnorton]

Is this $100/week or day you're talking about?

 

[LaDonna]

week

 

[daisyduck123]

$100 a week?

Wow - that's only $20.00/day, for 11 hours of work? I can't believe anyone would take that job. Honestly.

Wayyyyyy too low, IMO. I wouldn't do it for less than $50.00 a day, and that's not even $5.00/hour.

 

[Gabe's Mom]

I live in a very small rural community. I also pay $20/day. I have 2 boys ages 3 1/2 and almost 2, she gives us a deal with the 2 so we pay $35/day for both of them. I think it is very reasonable. I know even in our small community people who have their kids in day care centers are paying much more. I do think the in home day cares are often cheaper.

ETA- my babysitter also feeds my kids breakfast and lunch! Believe me, I know how lucky I am, but that is about the going rate in our area.

 

[Marionnette]

Okay toddler age 2, 11 hours a day 7am-6pm, paying sitter $100 and sitter is in charge of buying and serving food.

So I'm just curious to what others think, is this a way too low wage for this, just right, or what? Because my friend and I see differently and she said that I'm the only one she knows that thinks this is too low of pay to expect them to buy lunch too. For arguments sake lets say what is the lowest you think would be reasonable?

Is this $100/week or day you're talking about?

week

Nowhere near enough, IMO. That's $20 per day for 11 hrs with a toddler, supplying food, keeping the little bugger entertained & happy and changing diapers.

The only way that I would even consider doing that would be if the mother was a close relative who was in desperate need of childcare. And it would only be on a temporary basis. Anybody else would have to pay me $250/week with extra for late pick up and no refunds for canceled days.

 

[cluvsdisney]

One of my friends pays about that much per day for 2 children (2yo, 10 month old), 3 days a week. My friend provides the food, diapers, wipes and any special items such as a walker for the baby, etc.

 

[java]

$100 a week? Wow that 's low. Those are 11 hour days. Plus expecting them to provide food? I am assuming 3 meals since the toddler is there for those meals.
In our area you pay $50 a week for just an hour care before school. Those are school age children. A toddler is busy busy busy. I would expect to pay at least $250 a week.

 

[redlawyer]

I just don't think I'd want this individual watching my kids. Eleven hours a day is a very long time. As someone posted, that's peanuts on a per hour basis. So why are they charging so little? Why wouldn't they work someplace to make more money?? Even minimum wage is more than you're paying.

 

[LaDonna]

actually it is just lunch, I'm not sure but I think the mom packs snacks

I'm just feeling like a weirdo because she thinks it's weird I break down the price by hour when deciding to babysit.......but I only do that to make sure I'm getting what I think is a fair wage? I guess she thinks you just charge xx amount no matter when drop off or pickup is, but I'm thinking in my head that say 8:30 until 5:30 would be a normal dropoff/pickup time, and I'm just saving average/normal here, basically anything over 9 hours a day....I know everyone has different work schedules etc.....anything past that I'm thinking I want to be compensated for that extra time.......I don't know I'm thinking taking care of kids is harder than she thinks it is I guess.....

I'm thinking I'm gonna get a job and give her $100 to watch my kids, and i"m being serious!

 

[LaDonna]

I live in a very small rural community. I also pay $20/day. I have 2 boys ages 3 1/2 and almost 2, she gives us a deal with the 2 so we pay $35/day for both of them. I think it is very reasonable. I know even in our small community people who have their kids in day care centers are paying much more. I do think the in home day cares are often cheaper.

ETA- my babysitter also feeds my kids breakfast and lunch! Believe me, I know how lucky I am, but that is about the going rate in our area.

thank you for that response I really am wondering what others pay elsewhere......I've actually always been one to charge only like $4-5 an hour to watch kids ya' know on an occasional basis when the parents or going out or something, and EVERYONE where I currently lives think that is way low, but I think it the average $7hr is too high?

 

[daughtersrus]

I charged $100/week about 16 years ago. I don't raise my rates very often. I am now up to $170/week. I charge the same rate for children of all ages until they are in school full time. I provide wipes but not diapers and all table food. Baby food and formula are provided by the parents.

I'm in a suburb of Chicago and here rates vary greatly! I am less than 1 mile from the next town where the average rate is closer to $200-$250/week. Needless to say, I have two families that drive a little out of their way to come to my house.

If you want to check rates, you may be able to call your local "Child Care Resource and Referral" agency. They keep a database for providers in the area. They used to give out averages based on zip codes but I don't know if they still do or not.

 

[princessnoelly]

We pay our baby sitter $10/hour and give her spending money for the kids/gas money. She takes our kids to camp, ballet, swim lessons, out to movies (we give her extra to cover the cost), the zoo (she's on our family account), etc. That is the going rate for most of the people we trust.

When my kids were in full time day care we paid about $1370 a month and that was for care from 7am to 6pm, all meals/snacks but we provided the diapers (and special food for DD6's allergies). That was in a group setting. We switched daycare when DD was 4 as it was closer to DD7's school and it was $95/week- but we provided all her meals and snack 2x month for the class. This also included weekly swim lessons.

I think $100 a week is insane cheap! Have you seen the facility? I would be worried about the ratio's and also if she is reporting to the state/irs- you can't deduct it on your taxes if she isn't a licensed business. Does she have her CPR certification?

 

[phred52]

I was thinking that you were talking about $100 per day which I thought was in the ballpark, if a tad bit low.......$100 per WEEK just boggles my mind. Its sooo low IMHO I'd be thinking twice about the quality of supervision and safety for the child....

 

[LaDonna]

I was thinking that you were talking about $100 per day which I thought was in the ballpark, if a tad bit low.......$100 per WEEK just boggles my mind. Its sooo low IMHO I'd be thinking twice about the quality of supervision and safety for the child....

see I think $100 a day sounds outrageous! it's so crazy how all over the board everyone can be....that is why I was also wondering what the lowest possible pay everyone would think was still reasonable..... ya' know not so long that you are like what the heck is going on

 

[LaDonna]

I actually don't think $100 is totally unreasonable, just for that long of a work day I do........am I the only one that thinks the hours in the work day matter? When does it get to be too many hours?
Sorry you'll have to excuse me, I HATE debate and confrontation and this was our first kind of "disagreement" me and my friend have ever had(we are both the same in that regard we HATE confrontation) and one downfall of mine is not being able to let things go in my mind until I'm satisfied lol

 

[sherry7]

The replies to this question are a very good indication that the price of childcare varies widely depending on what part of the country you live in. For an accurate estimate, it's best to call various places in your own community and ask their rates. It's pretty mind boggling to me that some people thought it was $100 a day. I make pretty good money, but if I had to pay $500 per week for daycare it wouldn't make much financial sense for me to work by the time I figured in gas money, wear and tear on the car, bumping to the next tax bracket, etc. I sympathize with those of you who have to pay that much for childcare.

My DD is starting daycare next month when my maternity leave is over, so I recently did a lot of looking around at various daycare facilities in my area. Out of the 5 places I looked, the least expensive was $26 per day and the most expensive was $35 a day. The one I chose was $30 a day, for a max of 11 hours per day. I provide diapers, wipes, snacks, lunch, breakfast, milk, etc.

 

[ilovejack02]

see I think $100 a day sounds outrageous! it's so crazy how all over the board everyone can be....that is why I was also wondering what the lowest possible pay everyone would think was still reasonable..... ya' know not so long that you are like what the heck is going on

My best friend pays her nanny 11 an hour, so some days it can get up to that much : )

 

[JennCa]

Such a personal preference and location specific and care specific. Money is not the only issue. I would only be concerned if your friend is the one who providing the service. Since she's not, it just sounds like an opinion.

If you say do the hours matter for the daily rate? I would ask you do you expect to get the same salary if you work 4 hours vs, 8 vs. 12? I think it matters a lot.

I would say when you look at your community make sure you compare similar scenarios.

Home daycare when there are only 2-3 kids is a completley different rate than if they have 8 compared to a center, etc. I would pay whatever it takes to get a situation that fits with my family, sometimes that is free (having a grandparent watch or trade with a friend) and sometimes I have to pay upwards of $12 an hour for someone to come to my house. If I worked 11 hours then that would be more than the $100.

I think it you like the person for daycare, TRUST them then the price is a matter between just you two. No one else's business.

Jenn

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Okay toddler age 2, 11 hours a day 7am-6pm, paying sitter $100 and sitter is in charge of buying and serving food.

So I'm just curious to what others think, is this a way too low wage for this, just right, or what? Because my friend and I see differently and she said that I'm the only one she knows that thinks this is too low of pay to expect them to buy lunch too. For arguments sake lets say what is the lowest you think would be reasonable?

Is this sitter in your home? If not, is it just your child or are there other children?

Around here (Houston area, so not rural), the going rate for a nanny--a sitter who comes to your home and does what you describe--is $10-15 an hour, plus expenses (e.g., you give her the cash to buy the lunches to be prepared, pay for gas or provide car for driving kids around, etc).

Now in-home daycare--where you drop child at someone else's house--is a lot lower. Even still, $100 a week seems super-cheap. Seriously, if she has 5 kids (which actually is probably close to the max allowed for a day-care depending on age), that's only $9 an hour in total and she has to cover all expenses with that.