How much to pay for childcare?...

[Piecey]

I'm new to this (DS is 1 month old today..) but trying to be fair. I've got no idea what fair is, though.

I've been in the talks with my uncle's fiancee's daughter (they've been engaged for about 8 years, so I know this girl well, she is just a few years younger than me) about watching DS for me to take a class this fall.

The class is T/R 9:30-10:45am and T 12:30-2:25pm. It would be 15 weeks, and she wouldn't watch him everyday.. I have a few other people that will watch him on their days off for no charge.

Of course, DH and I feel like we need to offer this girl $$ but don't know what to offer her. Do I let her name a price or do I say "We're willing to pay xx amount" and then how do I break it up... for the "week" (the two days) or what.

Just curious what others would do...

TIA.

 

[allison443]

I don't know specific amounts, but there are a couple things to consider..
Does she babysit as her regular job (like a home daycare)? If so then I would ask her what her standard rate is.
Does she have another job/school schedule that she would be working around? She would be making herself available every T and Th even though you might not need her because of the free alternate care, kwim?

 

[Piecey]

I told her the alternative care would be for the days she wants off (the alternative care is a friend who makes her own work schedule, she is the boss, and offered to watch him whenever I wanted but can't do it EVERY week, kwim? should have clarified that.)

She works at Auntie Anne's in the mall, which doesn't open until 10am. She said she would just change her work availability around the times of my class...

I wouldn't just say "Oh, my friend is going to watch him so we won't need you" on one day's notice and keep her from the $$. We'd work a schedule out... but I'm trying to figure out how much to expect to pay her to figure out how many days I want to ask my friend to watch him, haha.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Infant care is $15/hr - $20/hr here. More experienced sitters certified in CPR, etc. would get the $20.

 

[PatsGirl]

Because the hours are so short, I think I'd pay $20/babysitting session (looks like the longest one is 2 hours?)... it'll even out for the shorter sessions. Babysitters in my area get anywhere from $8-15 depending on their age, age of the child, time of day, etc. Actually, I only pay $5/hour but DD is a preteen and doesn't need "watching"...

 

[aprilgail2]

Its about 10-15.00 an hour here for child care so if it was just 2 hours I would figure on 25.00 for 2 hours.