Question for those w/ older kids who babysit

[KimR]

Do you pay your DS/DD to babysit younger siblings? Just curious about what other families do because DD12 has begun thinking about babysitting and has pretty much assumed that she will get paid for sitting her sisters. She even told me that would give us a 'family discount' I can see both sides.

 

[Sandy V.]

It depends on the situation. I paid my daughter to watch her brother if my husband and I went out for the evening, just as we would any other babysitter.

However, if I ran errands throughout the day and she was left alone with him with instructions to watch him (in essence - babysit), she wasn't paid for that. It was understood that part of being a family member meant contributing to what was needed for the ENTIRE family - and you don't get "paid" for doing what is normally expected of you to help around the house. (Frankly, if I got paid for cooking, cleaning, and laundry, I'd be a wealthy woman!)

That seemed to work for us.

Good luck!

 

[BrerMom]

Yup, what Sandy said. If we're on a date or I'm doing something fun, then we pay her. If I have a doctor appt, then it's just part of being in the family. I've also given her a choice like A) we all go grocery shopping or B) you stay home with DS5.

 

[FINFAN]

We're the same as Sandy also...or if DD needs to sit for us and it means she will have to turn down a real job, then we pay her. There have been times we have paid each kid a flat fee just to make sure they were BOTH on their best behavior...nothing outrageous, $10 each, tops!