how much to pay a weekend babysitter

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

It seems like everyone is writing off the overnight hours. How many 5,4 and 2 year olds do you know that sleep through the night? Especially when mommy and daddy are gone. She may even have to stay up until the 16 year old is home if she was out with friends. There is no off time during this weekend and she determined what her time is worth. By the way she may even be a student who knows that she will be exhausted by Sunday night and has a whole week of school ahead so she wants to make sure it is worth it.

Worth is relative and while we can all offer our opinions on what amount she should charge. I don't really understand why so many people are essentially berating this 21 year old for her decision of determining a charge for her services.

 

[fbb]

Yup.

And for all of those saying the girl is the one that is needed, no, she really isn't. Plans can and do change.

And you never know, taking the job at the offered price could turn into a semi-regular gig.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

It seems like everyone is writing off the overnight hours. How many 5,4 and 2 year olds do you know that sleep through the night? Especially when mommy and daddy are gone. She may even have to stay up until the 16 year old is home if she was out with friends. There is no off time during this weekend and she determined what her time is worth. By the way she may even be a student who knows that she will be exhausted by Sunday night and has a whole week of school ahead so she wants to make sure it is worth it. Worth is relative and while we can all offer our opinions on what amount she should charge. I don't really understand why so many people are essentially berating this 21 year old for her decision of determining a charge for her services.

I totally agree! I get people saying that they wouldn't pay $500 for the weekend. That's their choice and nothing wrong with that.

I don't get so many people saying the girl needs to take the job at the price offered. I'm sure she know whether or not she needs the money enough to do the gig for the offered price.

For all the people saying she needs to take what was offered, is it because of her age? The idea to me seems kind of out there. I know plenty of people who negotiate their salary. How is this any different? Sure if you really need the job you might take whatever you can get. I don't know many professional advisors that would say "you need to do the job for what they offer, don't ask for what you need."

Like another poster said who needs whom completely depends on the circumstances. It certainly seems that some people are almost offended that this girl didn't jump at the $350.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I do in-home petsitting. (In-home, as in from the comfort of MY home.) I charge, on average, $100 per pet, per day. Sometimes a little more or less depending on the circumstances. To watch four children in someone else's home? Mom is getting a bargain of a deal at $500.

OP, your daughter should set a price she's comfortable with and stick to it. If it "blows" the deal and she doesn't get the job at all, she needs to be comfortable with that, too. Doing it for less than she feels is fair will only lead to resentment and set a precedent for how much the neighbors will be willing to offer in the future.

 

[Lucky4me]

I do in-home petsitting. (In-home, as in from the comfort of MY home.) I charge, on average, $100 per pet, per day. Sometimes a little more or less depending on the circumstances. To watch four children in someone else's home? Mom is getting a bargain of a deal at $500.

OP, your daughter should set a price she's comfortable with and stick to it. If it "blows" the deal and she doesn't get the job at all, she needs to be comfortable with that, too. Doing it for less than she feels is fair will only lead to resentment and set a precedent for how much the neighbors will be willing to offer in the future.

$100 PER DAY for a pet? At your house?!
Wow that is steep!
I took our dog to someones farm and they charged $15 a day a few years ago. Our dog had the run of the place and a spot by the fireplace to sleep.
I think now they charge $25.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

$100 PER DAY for a pet? At your house?!
Wow that is steep!
I took our dog to someones farm and they charged $15 a day a few years ago. Our dog had the run of the place and a spot by the fireplace to sleep.
I think now they charge $25.

I was a vet tech at an emergency/ICU hospital so most of my clients came from there. What I charged was less than half of what it would've cost for their now-healthy pets to have been boarded in hospital and, while my prices weren't exactly cheap, I was never lacking in people wanting to use my services. There were a number of times I had to turn clients down because I didn't have the capacity to take another animal on. I don't work there anymore and my financial situation has changed for the better so I don't do nearly as much pet-sitting as I used to, but I still have a few leftover clients.

 

[Iowajes]

Wow- our emergency vet hospital only charges $25 per pet per day for the affiliated boarding!

$100 a day is a lot for kids, but crazy for a pet. Good for you for garnering that!

 

[iheartwalt]

I just "watched" one 14 year old girl from Thursday after school until Sunday night and was paid $400. I am in northern MN.

 

[scrapquitler]

OP, Has your daughter babysat these children in the past? If not, I think she should not agree to babysit for the entire weekend (for any amount of money) until after she has babysat them at least once for a day. Doing so might help her determine how much of a hard or easy task this weekend gig might be.

And on another note that I haven't seen anyone else mention: if she has to transport these children somewhere while babysitting them, she should NOT be doing it in her own car. WAY too much liability for her (and for you, as her parent, if she lives with you). If she is transporting those children and is in a car accident in her own vehicle, she, YOU and your insurance could be liable for any injuries resulting from an accident. If she is driving their car, there is less risk on you for liability. I think that she could still be sued, but their own auto insurance would take at least some of the liability. I'm sure the laws vary by state, but it is something to consider and keep in mind.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I just "watched" one 14 year old girl from Thursday after school until Sunday night and was paid $400. I am in northern MN.

I can't imagine an instance where I'd ever pay a dime for this. At 14 there is usually a friend they can stay with.

 

[AZMermaid]

My bosses son was in the Olympics is Sydney in 2000. School had started and I stayed with her 15 year old for like 10 days. I think I got $50/ day for basically overnights for a teenager and this was 14 years ago. I guess she could have stayed with a friend, but 10 days is a lot to ask. It was fun actually, we were on the news and stuff! I was 20 at the time.

 

[SEA333]

My bosses son was in the Olympics is Sydney in 2000. School had started and I stayed with her 15 year old for like 10 days. I think I got $50/ day for basically overnights for a teenager and this was 14 years ago. I guess she could have stayed with a friend, but 10 days is a lot to ask. It was fun actually, we were on the news and stuff! I was 20 at the time.

Wow. I would not have taken or charged a penny. Maybe I would have offered the idea that the 15 year old might like some of her own spending money.

 

[Laura66]

If my 21 year old DD turned down a weekend babysitting job that paid $350, her and I would be having a serious talk about earning money! This isn't about how much per hour she will make. Rather that come Sunday night she will be $350 richer! Seems to me that people are not willing to work for money anymore.

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.

 

[dpswift]

I do in-home petsitting. (In-home, as in from the comfort of MY home.) I charge, on average, $100 per pet, per day. Sometimes a little more or less depending on the circumstances. To watch four children in someone else's home? Mom is getting a bargain of a deal at $500.

OP, your daughter should set a price she's comfortable with and stick to it. If it "blows" the deal and she doesn't get the job at all, she needs to be comfortable with that, too. Doing it for less than she feels is fair will only lead to resentment and set a precedent for how much the neighbors will be willing to offer in the future.

It is sad that it has come to people paying more for their pets than children. DD has gotten more than $375 for a weekend dog sitting. She is allowed to leave the house for reasonable amounts of time. So I can depend on her to get her brother on the bus or pick up her sister from work.

However for a day of in house babysitting she gets $50 tops. I have told her repeatedly to quit that job and pick up hours at her regular job. BTW the parent thinks it is reasonable because it is what she would pay a daycare. I asked a coworker yesterday she said that she gets $10 to $15 an hour for daytime sitting and would not work for less.

As far as OP I can see both sides of it. However the mother needs to take into consideration that the kids most likely will not sleep through the night. They will miss their mother and could easily be upset by being away from her. I must say that either of my daughters would jump at the chance to take the job at the offered price.

 

[danygirl]

I pay my pet sitter 45 per day
Anyone who thinks a similar amount to care for kids is ok shouldn't have kids

 

[okeydokey]

I'm sure she will find a wonderful person to take the job at 350. If your daughter doesn't want it, someone else will. Win win for everyone.

 

[Laura66]

The last time my daghter sat for a weekend while the parents were on a cruise the daughter got a fever and repeatedly vomited all night. She also was caring for their 4 dogs.
I'm sure there are wonderful sitters for 350 - but my daughter charges more and the families that use her have no problem paying that.
Again - I understand if certain rates are a financial hardehip. I do find it sad when people nickel and dime or aren't wiling to pay their babysitters a fair rate - yet have no problem shelling out $$ for drinks and dinners out, weekends and vacations, nice clothes and cars etc.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Also consider that salaries range a lot all over the country. We considered moving to FL before we had kids and my hospital job in the Tampa area would have paid around half of what I was earning in Philly.
It was so hard to try to plan a future budget. Sure cost of living is less in FL but food, clothing, cars, gas, etc is all the same. The thought of having our paychecks cut in half was what scared us into staying here.

So it's all relative. If I got my same job in NYC it would be much higher paying because the COL is so high there.
So then compare the FL pay to the NYC pay. Of course FL lady would say, "Hey you're crazy to not take that much money".
Meanwhile NYC lady would look at FL pay and think, "That's not even worth setting my alarm clock for."

 

[danygirl]

Reminds me of the time my friend was the "emergency contact " for her brother's kids and step kids. Kids were at sleep away camp while her bro and his new wife went on a trip. She had to pick up two of the kids (on different days!) because one was puking and one got hurt. She spent hours in the er and puke in her car. Anything can happen when you are taking care of kids!

 

[kiramay]

I paid our sitter $100 a day for 3 kids, and then added a little more as a thank you. I also left extra money for things like going to chuck e cheese, McDonald's, ordering pizza, etc. I normally paid her $15/hour, but there's no way I could afford that for a weekend.