how much to pay a weekend babysitter

[Sleepy425]

I must have been an odd kid, because when I babysat I took whatever the parents felt they should pay me. I even did overnight by the time I was 15. I always knew the parents were appreciative and that is all that mattered.

But also, my mother would never have gotten involved with my finances, even as a teenager. When I was 13 I babysat a family of 3 where the youngest called 911 so the cops showed up, the oldest hid asthma meds that needed to be given, and the kids threw toys at me violently. My parents never once considered telling me not to take another job there, or that the $20 I was given wasn't enough. They trusted that I was smart enough to deal with it myself. And I would have been mortified if she was like some of the moms on here going on and on about how their daughters are worth so much more. Please, especially at 21, if you daughter is so responsible let her figure it out herself. What you think she is worth means nothing, you are her mother of course you think she is the best thing since sliced bread.

The more jobs you take, the more jobs you may potentially be offered. I used to dog sit for a family friend for free when I was an older teen. This person told others about me, and I ended up landing other jobs - including a family that paid me $750/week, plus gas money, plus presents from Disney. That more than helped average out watching one bichon who lived 3 minutes away for free now and then!

 

[dpswift]

I talked to DD 21 and she said she would happily take the $350 as long as the job did not require driving from one activity to the next.

 

[Skatermom23]

My daughter has an excellent work ethic and is equally dedicated and hardworking earning her masters degree. She is very busy and highly in demand because she is such a responsible young lady. I would have no problem with her turning down a job like that.

It's one thing if the parents only have 350 to spend and are in a bind - and in such a case I'm sure my daughter would have no qualms negotiating a price that would work everyone.

But my daughter is good at what she does and is responsible she should be paid accordingly. That's how many kids 24/7. If parents have someone they trust to take care of their children - the most precious things in the world to them - then they should be budgeting a fair price for that FIRST! Good times, meals out etc should be figured in second.

That's how we operated when our children were young. Having a babysitter who was responsible, who our children liked and who we knew we could trust - that's not something to nickel dime.

I guess we just view things differently. To me it isn't about how qualified or trusting the 21 year old is, it is about earning $350 or $0. Now if she is self sufficient and doesn't need cash then it is her right to turn a job down. Most 21 year olds could use a little spending money. To me this is no different than people turning their noses up a minimum wage job because they feel they are worth more. Where I believe some income is better than no income.

 

[whtyger97]

I guess we just view things differently. To me it isn't about how qualified or trusting the 21 year old is, it is about earning $350 or $0. Now if she is self sufficient and doesn't need cash then it is her right to turn a job down. Most 21 year olds could use a little spending money. To me this is no different than people turning their noses up a minimum wage job because they feel they are worth more. Where I believe some income is better than no income.

I feel this is a horrible argument. One could use this argument to say she should do it for $50 or even $10, because well thats better than $0.

I see nothing wrong with a person turning down an opportunity, maybe its a good choice maybe its a bad one (she makes $150 more vs mother finds another cheaper sitter she may like better and hire over OP). I think its a good life lesson on how to negotiate and the potential consequences.

 

[sk!mom]

DD18 did this a couple of times last year- her senior year. She was paid $200 for Friday afternoon (picked up from school) until Sunday afternoon. They also left another hundred in case the kids wanted to go out to eat or to a movie or something. DD stayed at their house where the kitchen was fully stocked and she used her own car and gas for driving them around.

The big difference, DD was watching two girls- 10 and 11. She mostly did homework all weekend and drove them to several activities. The kids DD was watching needed supervision but very little actual care.

Since your DD would actually be caring for children who need care, I would think $10 per hour for waking hours and maybe $50 per night for the overnights.

 

[sk!mom]

I asked my 22 year old would she do this for $350...answer NO.
I asked her would she do it for $500 - same answer.

She does occasionally babysit for the family across the street for 4 or 5 hrs at a time for whatever they give her - usually about $15 per hour. (Done as a favor for the neighbor - not for the money.)

I'm kind of on the same boat with my daughter - you couldn't pay me enough to spend that much time with someone else's kids.

Guess we won't be opening a daycare anytime soon.......<G>

My DD18 and I are right there with you. Giving up a whole weekend to wrangle several small children I hope that I'm never desperate enough to have to consider it at any price. My DD only did the weekend job because the girls were close family friends and tweens who really needed very little from her. She actually had most of Saturday free once she dropped them off at a rehearsal.

The job the OP mentions is a big one.

 

[Southernmiss]

I realize I am way late to this. I have a ds20 in college and so busy with his own college stuff and working 3 jobs that he'd have to be paid darn well for a weekend to take this job. I wouldn't blame him for turning it down if it wasn't what he thought it was worth.

Also, 21 is an adult! The Op's daughter can certainly refuse the job. And really mom shouldnt be very involved in decisions like this at 21. I quit babysitting at about 17 when I had a 'real' job. And i was married at 21 so i was completely on my own.

It's a huge responsibility to care for someone else's children no matter how well they behave.

And it's very sad that people will gladly pay more for pet care than child care.

I'm in the camp fully supporting the daughter.

 

[nsmith]

DD daughter did not take the bbysitting job as the mother was not willing to pay $500 for the weekend.

To clarify DD has been working at a grocery store in our hometown since high school. She comes home and works on breaks and full time over the summer. She makes $11 per hour. The store also awarded her a $2000 a year scholarship for the five years she will spend obtaining her masters degree. She has already paid $8000 towards her education out of her savings and she is in the first semester of her Jr. year. So she knows her worth and what it means to be in the working world.

The children in question do not have a scheldule for naps or bedtime and the 16 year old (boy) did not "feel comfortable" helping DD the few times she sat at the house. He did seem however to be a "good kid" so she wasnt really worried about bad behavior from him.

The mother contacted another girl at her school, who happens to be DD's house mate and offered her the $350. She accepted. She had never met the children before this weekend, but the mother mentioned on the phone that she wont leave her children with "just anybody". Another student at DD's small college added that she had done a weekend for this family before and they paid her $425, so it seems mom was looking to save some money.

All in all DD is happy with her decision. She knows she probably won't get any more bbsitting jobs from the family and will miss the income. She found it a hard decision to make but took into consideration all the advise she was given and did what felt right for her. "Mom it just seemed like a lot of responsibility to care for someones 4 kids for a three full days while they were out of the country (Canada) I would have taken it on for $500 but not worth it for $350.

I heard from DD yesterday( Friday) at about 4pm she said her housemate had been babysitting since 9am, 2 year old would not take a nap, and the next oldest child just started crying for her mom. She mentioned that she was thinking about going over and helping her later.

 

[rsschneck]

DD daughter did not take the bbysitting job as the mother was not willing to pay $500 for the weekend.

To clarify DD has been working at a grocery store in our hometown since high school. She comes home and works on breaks and full time over the summer. She makes $11 per hour. The store also awarded her a $2000 a year scholarship for the five years she will spend obtaining her masters degree. She has already paid $8000 towards her education out of her savings and she is in the first semester of her Jr. year. So she knows her worth and what it means to be in the working world.

The children in question do not have a scheldule for naps or bedtime and the 16 year old (boy) did not "feel comfortable" helping DD the few times she sat at the house. He did seem however to be a "good kid" so she wasnt really worried about bad behavior from him.

The mother contacted another girl at her school, who happens to be DD's house mate and offered her the $350. She accepted. She had never met the children before this weekend, but the mother mentioned on the phone that she wont leave her children with "just anybody". Another student at DD's small college added that she had done a weekend for this family before and they paid her $425, so it seems mom was looking to save some money.

All in all DD is happy with her decision. She knows she probably won't get any more bbsitting jobs from the family and will miss the income. She found it a hard decision to make but took into consideration all the advise she was given and did what felt right for her. "Mom it just seemed like a lot of responsibility to care for someones 4 kids for a three full days while they were out of the country (Canada) I would have taken it on for $500 but not worth it for $350.

I heard from DD yesterday( Friday) at about 4pm she said her housemate had been babysitting since 9am, 2 year old would not take a nap, and the next oldest child just started crying for her mom. She mentioned that she was thinking about going over and helping her later.

Thanks for the update!

Your daughter sounds very level headed and I wish her luck while she is finishing college.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My heart would tell me to help her friend for the sake of the children but my head would tell me to let it be and it will work itself out, even if that means the sitter and kids are all miserable. The girl who was willing to accept $350, thus making the mom very satisfied, will likely regret it by the end and will possibly express that to the mom. Even if she doesn't tell the mom she probably wouldn't do it again. Eventually the mom will have a harder time finding extended overnight sitters at low prices.
Who knows, maybe I'm way off and after a rough start the rest of the weekend will be fine.

Either way I wish your daughter the best in her education and future employment.

 

[wishesuponastar]

OP thanks for update. your daughter sounds very sensible and she knows how much she is worth and that 4 kids would be a lot of work and huge responsibility. As it turns out the gal who took the job for less money is already having issues at the job. It is very kind of your daughter to think about going to help out. Good luck to your daughter with her future.