How much do you pay babysitters?

[Darth Cupcake]

Because of friends' differing opinions on babysitting fees, I wasn't sure about how much I should be paying here in Denver. I've decided that $15.00 per hour is what is appropriate. Of course if we are quite late, I give more.
Our babysitter is incredible and it really is a pleasure to pay her.

 

[hello kitty]

Because of friends' differing opinions on babysitting fees, I wasn't sure about how much I should be paying here in Denver. I've decided that $15.00 per hour is what is appropriate. Of course if we are quite late, I give more.
Our babysitter is incredible and it really is a pleasure to pay her.

Jeebus! I would LOVE to babysit for all of you!

Around here you're lucky if you get $2 an hour. Per hour, not per child. It's ridiculous. I don't use babysitters. If I did, they'd be getting paid a lot more than that.

treboats, I have my nephew over all of the time. These are usually afternoon visits or overnight stays and I don't charge for it. My children and I adore him and enjoy our time together.

However, when my brother and his wife wanted me to watch my nephew on a daily basis, they were charged for it. Actually, my brother insisted, I accepted and his wife was livid.

I can understand doing it for free if they were barely making ends meet. But, that was not the case. They are very well to do and can afford a lot more than I. They only wanted me to watch him so my sister-in-law could work even more hours for extra play money. Her whole check goes to whatever she wants. So yeah, if I am being used in that way then I expect to be paid.

For the record, in thirteen years, they've only invited my children over once.

 

[Threehearts]

The good ones won't take less because they can watch a baby sleeping for $14/hr. Lots of disposable income here. Many times, we go to dinner and a movie from 6pm until say, 11pm. We pay the sitter $75 and our own evening was less expensive than the sitter's fee. UGH!! Threehearts

 

[imsayin]

DH's sister watched all 3 tonight for four hours and we paid her $30. Personally I think she should do it for free I would never charge my brother to watch my nieces but that is a whole different subject

As an adult, I would never charge a family member to watch their kids. A teenage relative is a different story. When I was 13-15 years old, I babysat for my nephew & got paid. At that age, it was my job, and I could have sat for another family & made money. I later paid that same nephew to babysit my kids.

 

[pixiepower1971]

$10 an hour is the going rate in my area. That is for 2 kids. Those with more or infants pay more. That includes the sitter being able to eat and drink anything they want in the house.

 

[Banana magic]

We have 2 kids 5 and 8, so pretty easy since they are kind of self sufficient. We pay generally between $9-10/hour. It all depends how late we are and how long and what they are expected to do. We are lucky that we have a family with three kids who all babysit, from college age to high school age, plus we have a backup younger high schooler. Hard to find good sitter when you need one, so we make sure to keep them happy!

 

[msdznyduck]

DD was paid $30 for the above (see OP). I thought that was a lot, but it's been a LONG time since I babysat for money. I guess that is the going rate now. When I babysat many years ago I got $1 or $2 an hour

 

[dismom301930]

My babysitter is 16 years old. I pay her $10/hour to watch my three DDs (2, 5, 6). I usually have fed them dinner already. She plays with them, reads to them and puts them to bed. She started with us two years ago when she was 14. When I asked her what her hourly rate was she said, "Whatever you want." I started her at $8/hour and have increased it to $10/hour over the past two years.

 

[feedindy]

I have only ever used a sitter once. She charged $5 an hour plus $1 for each addtional kid. At the time we had two so it was $6 an hour. That doesn't seem so bad now that I'm seeing what others are paying!

 

[Green Tea]

My 12 yo gets from $8-$10 an hour.

 

[beth_cam]

I dont go out much partially because it is rediculous to me to pay more for the sitter than for dinner and a movie. Or more to the point that by the time I add up the cost of dinner and a movie and a babysitter it just isn't worth it. I have had a few younger babysitters (12-15) that I paid 4-5 an hour when the kids were smaller. The 15 year old turned 16 and could drive herself at which point I would have upped her pay one way or another cause we really liked her. We used her several times over about a years time till she got too busy to sit (or maybe wanted more money). I didn't every offer her more however because no matter how many times I reminded her she never had the kids brush their teeth before bed, she never put a diaper on my son before bed (daytime trained only), and never cleaned up after the kids dinner that she fed them. I think if someone is going to expect to be payed well they need to be willing to do those things. I had a babysitter who had taken the babysitter course to sit with the kids while I had a grownups get together downstairs. When it was time to feed the baby I took a bottle up and handed it to her and she didn't have a clue what to do with it. Was actually scared to do it and asked me to do it instead...glad I didnt leave the house I wonder if she would have fed my son at all. The kids do learn about cpr and calling 911 at school and can call me or their own parents. I'm much more concerned about how they are going to interact with my children I sure wish the baby sitter classes would teach them some about how to care for the children.

 

[treboats]

As an adult, I would never charge a family member to watch their kids. A teenage relative is a different story. When I was 13-15 years old, I babysat for my nephew & got paid. At that age, it was my job, and I could have sat for another family & made money. I later paid that same nephew to babysit my kids.

Exactly I pay my niece who is 14 when she watches my kids but I never have to pay anyone in my family. My niece doesn't even want what I give her she usually tries to give half back.

Dh's family is a whole different story I have to pay MIL to watch our kids...HER GRANDKIDS. It's not like she does it for a living or anything she just thinks she should get paid because we would pay someone else. We only use her for our last resort.

 

[LilyWDW]

One family I used to sit for gave me $7 per hour/per child (I normally had all 3 kids but sometimes not)... but besides changing diapers on the youngest, they were the easiest children to sit for and simply some of the BEST kids I ever knew.

The other family I sat for was a bit different. I usually made $10 an hour for the two younger kids with an additional $10 an hour for the older one who has some handicaps that required special training and attention. Then depending on how the youngest acted, I may get a tip on top of it (she could be a devil).

This was something like 10 years ago as well.

 

[HelenePA]

I couldn't afford to go out after paying a baby sitter 15$ an hour! WOW I got ripped on when I babysat! I usually did it for free! Now. With my 3, I dont pay anyone. Either my grandmother or my dad (my mom died a few years ago). I dont trust anyone else! (my kids would eat them alive in one hour!) I do babysit my friends kids everynow and then again for free! Man.. I'm gonna have to start charging!

 

[Gillian]

Wow, that's a lot! Seriously, that really is a lot of money, when you compare it what my neice 17 & nephew 16 have made at their retail and fast food jobs.

When my niece or nephew watch the kids, we generally give them $50, regardless of the actual time. They live ~20 minutes away so they'll stay overnight sometimes, and we have to pick up/drop off. Still, nothing difficult for them, just hang out and keep the kids safe.

My daytime babysitter sometimes watches our kids in the evenings and it's $11 for the 2 of them.