Do you pay your child when they babysit a sibling?

[Mimi Q]

My father is in the hospital. He broke his hip Sunday. I asked my 12 yo to watch her younger sister yesterday afternoon. I was gone 3 hrs. (only 5 minutes away) When she went to DH's mother's house last night, her aunt and DH's cousin told her she should be paid for babysitting. DH asked what I thought about paying her. DD didn't mention it. I told him I thought helping out with her sister was just helping out as part of the family. If I was working or out having fun, I would pay her. What do you think- would you have paid your child for babysitting?

 

[Divamomto3]

Originally posted by Mimi Q
My father is in the hospital. He broke his hip Sunday. I asked my 12 yo to watch her younger sister yesterday afternoon. I was gone 3 hrs. (only 5 minutes away) When she went to DH's mother's house last night, her aunt and DH's cousin told her she should be paid for babysitting. DH asked what I thought about paying her. DD didn't mention it. I told him I thought helping out with her sister was just helping out as part of the family. If I was working or out having fun, I would pay her. What do you think- would you have paid your child for babysitting?

I don't pay my kids to do anything here. It's part of being in a family and living in this house. No one pays me to do anything!

 

[poohandwendy]

We often (but not always) paid IF the reason we wanted a sitter was for recreation, like going out to the movies or something. We didn't pay if it was a situation where we NEEDED a sitter, like someone being in the hospital or we had to work. In that case, it is considered working together as a family when there is a need.

The times we paid, it was usually to help my eldest DD have some extra spending money.

 

[slo]

Currently my DD is to young to babysit her sister, but when she is older I will pay her for babysitting. I'm not going to pay her each time I go somewhere - I will pay her at the end of each week for how much I feel she earned. I guess I am going to treat babysitting like a real job and having a real payday. This way she will have something to work for and look forward to. I don't want her thinking that each time I need to run out of the house she's going to be getting cash in hand.

Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[clh2]

I agree with you. If they are helping the family to function - i.e. you doing grocery shopping, attend parent/teacher conferences, play taxi driver for a different dibling, visit a parent who needs help or is in the hospital, choir practice, dr. appointment, ETC they should not be paid.

But yes - if you are going to see a movie, dinner out with your SO or a friend - you should pay them something. Otherwise - they may want to babysit for someone else.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I don't think she should be paid when you were not going out to have fun. It wasn't right and it certainly wasn't there place to suggest that you pay her. If you were going out to have fun then I would have probably paid her but not when you were going to visit someone in the hospital.

 

[nuts4sn00py]

I agree with the previous posters who advised they would pay if it was for recreational reasons. I have 2 step daughters & I always pay them when they babysit. I never wanted them to resent their brother & sister. Their mom use to have them babysit all the time & never pay them! Needless to say, when they are at my house they beg us to go out so they can make some money! Kathy

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I give 13yo dd a weekly allowance of 10.00. This includes babysitting (7yodd) & chores we ask her to do.

If we go out for recreation we do give her a little extra.

 

[auntpolly]

You might lose a good babysitter if you don't!!

Seriously, babysitting can be a nice little profession for a young kid and why not let them get a start at home? But make sure they are professional, too. They have to act like any babysitter -- play with their sibling, feed them, get them to bed on time, not be on the phone, not watch tv until the kids go to bed, etc...

 

[6_Time_Momma]

I pay my DS to watch his brother and sisters while I sleep for about 5 hours (I work midnight shift). I don't feel it would be fair of me to expect that much responsibility of him without pay.

 

[Serena]

Only if they don't kill each other.


Actually I agree with most of the previous posters. For something neccessary, no, it's part of being in a family. For recreation, I think it's fair to pay them.

 

[wdwdvcdad]

I am of the belief that one should NEVER pay one's child to do anything; chore, babysitting, etc...They need to realize that it is part of theresponsibility of being in a family. I also do not do the allowance thing. Wht I DO do is provide everything they need, and almost everything they want. They know that their "job" is to achieve to their full potential in school, be mannerly & respectful, and to do whatever chores are asked of them. When they do this, there is no need for an allowance of being paid to do things.

 

[hentob]

I am the oldest of five. I was expected to watch my youngest brother. A lot. I really don't feel babysitting falls under the "Hey, we're family. Pull your weight. Help out." umbrella. Babysitting isn't like taking out the trash. Or folding laundy. It is a VERY big responsibility. And it is the responsibility of the parent to find proper childcare for their youngster. If that means paying a sibling to babysit, so be it.

I cringe when parents EXPECT older kids to watch younger siblings b/c they should "help out". In an emergency (like the OP) I feel it is ok. But on a daily basis? NO WAY!

Hentob

 

[Mimi Q]

Thanks for all the replies. I just wondered how other folks handled situations like this.

 

[grlpwrd]

I always pay my oldest when she babysits. Yes, babysitting is a big responsibility and my dd even got certified thru the American Red Cross. She's trained in the basics and she is a great sitter so I pay her accordingly.

It's also good training overall if she decides to do this for other families which helps her career-wise and financially as well.