What are the going Babysitting rates?

[Cyndiu]

Hi there!

DD15 wants to start babysitting around the neighborhood, but doesn't know what to charge. DH & I were fortunate enough not to have to pay for a sitter as I had younger sisters who loved coming over. I'm paying my dues now that they have children though! Anyway, we're wondering what people are accustomed to paying per hour/per child for a babysitter, especially in the northeast.

Thanks!

 

[depplyinluv]

I would say 5-6 $ an hour....depending on how many kids ....that's about how much i get, maybe a little bit more

 

[huey duey & luey]

I have 3 kids and the only $ babysitter I used has been my neice. We have used her a couple of time to go out to dinner, it always ends up being about $8-10 (i usually round up)
Tara

 

[Otto's Doll]

I have 2 kids (9 & 11) and pay $5 per hour. I also round up.

 

[Wagamama]

wow, 5-6? I charge $10 an hour...

 

[N.Bailey]

When I was a teen, I'd get around $10 an evening to babysit, so I'd imagine $20 a night would be pretty good now, that depending how long the parents wanted to go out for. At that time, it really wasn't a per hour thing, it was here is 10 bucks for the night. Is it different now?

I have never paid anyone so my husband and I could go out. We were lucky and my inlaws would watch them for us.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Wagamama
wow, 5-6? I charge $10 an hour...

Thats what I pay a babysitter, 10.00 an hour. Unless I need them for the whole work day then they only dharge 50.00 for the day.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
Thats what I pay a babysitter, 10.00 an hour. Unless I need them for the whole work day then they only dharge 50.00 for the day.

Is this $10 an hour for a teen? I'm interested also because my daughter would like to babysit too. I think she's a little too young (she doesn't LOL) right now. She'll be 13 soon, but I want to wait a little while yet.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Depends on how old the kids are, where she is babysitting, what time of day, etc.
I always charged more for late night care (and you can because there are less people willing to "work" late), young infants, etc.
Also depends on the neighborhood she babysits in. If she is in a place with 1/2 million dollar houses then she can charge more and vice versa.
I know the most recent I heard was between 7-8 an hour for a teen babysitter... I use to work for a few families on the beach and made between 50-75 a night. I now work as a nanny and average around $14-15 per hour in my more formal jobs, plus perks! Not bad money to hang out and play all day...
You will find some parents who pay that much for just babysitting.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by N.Bailey
Is this $10 an hour for a teen? I'm interested also because my daughter would like to babysit too. I think she's a little too young (she doesn't LOL) right now. She'll be 13 soon, but I want to wait a little while yet.

Its not for a 13 year old..only 13 year old I ever trusted her with was my godson but since he died I don't let anyone that young watch her. The girl that was watching her for me was 16 and even that is a little young for me...BUT....when I was 13 I was babysitting half the people on my paper routes kids. One family had 4 kids I used to watch and another one had 5..but the famiy with 5 used to make me nuts, they would say they would be home by midnight and at 3 or 4 am they would come strolling in. Another thing I didn't like about babysitting when I was that young was the fathers who would try to drive me home...I was NOT comfortable with that...I would rather have their wives drive me home or with some of them I just asked them to stand outside and watch me until I ran down the block to my house...

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I get between 10 and 15 dollars an hour..but i only babysit for kids that are in my class ( im 19 and a teachers assistant at a preschool)

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
Its not for a 13 year old..only 13 year old I ever trusted her with was my godson but since he died I don't let anyone that young watch her. The girl that was watching her for me was 16 and even that is a little young for me...BUT....when I was 13 I was babysitting half the people on my paper routes kids. One family had 4 kids I used to watch and another one had 5..but the famiy with 5 used to make me nuts, they would say they would be home by midnight and at 3 or 4 am they would come strolling in. Another thing I didn't like about babysitting when I was that young was the fathers who would try to drive me home...I was NOT comfortable with that...I would rather have their wives drive me home or with some of them I just asked them to stand outside and watch me until I ran down the block to my house...

Thanks for the reply. I think 13 is too young too. I did babysit at that age, but I still think it's too young. Something to think about for her over the next couple of years though.

 

[Nancy]

When I used to babysit...years and years ago I only got .50 per hour!

I haven't paid a sitter in years, but I used to have a teen come over during the summer for about 3-4 hours to stay with my 3 kids so I could run errends in peace. I paid her $20.00 a day. Sometimes she was here and I was home, but doing work around the house and she was outside watching them...she still got the same amount.

I had a Mom tell me the other day that she pays $10.00 per hour. That's more money then they would earn working for a company! I think I need to get my daughters into babysitting! I always thought they were too young (2 oldest are 14 and 16)

 

[Dopey Sharon]

When I babysat, I got paid $1 an hour! One family only paid .75 but they always had a lot of goodies to eat! Times sure have changed...this was 30 years ago!

 

[gottaluvPluto]

$10 an hour to babysit! Maybe I should quit my job and become a nanny or just babysit.

I think it also depends on where you live. Most people I know pay a babysitter $6 an hour for two kids and it depends on their age and when they go to sleep. I will give extra money if they drove and if they cleaned the house.

 

[rascalmom]

My youngest dd just complete the Safe Sitter course at the local hospital today. This is a national program developed by a pediatrician emphasizing safety for young children. They did a poll of the class, about 35 kids, and they going rate among that group was $4 to $6 for one child. My 16 y.o. dd charges $5 for one child & a little more for multiple kids or for extra late hours. My youngest is 12 and she will be allowed to keep nearby neighbor children only when I am home to start out. This is how my oldest started out & as she got older and got more confident she branched out & started charging a little more. The parents that she sits for seem very happy with those rate in my area.

 

[kadaten]

My sitter is pretty shrewd....she only "charges" $1 per hour per kid....but gets WAY more than that She charges that just to have an answer when folks ask her how much and when you complain it's too little, she says to give her whatever we feel is appropriate.

We just started using her (first time I've used a teenager....she's 18 and graduates next week...is VERY mature and trustworthy) but she comes highly recommended. SO highly recommended that you have to ask her about 6 weeks ahead to get her available...even farther for weekends! Most of the other moms who use her pay $20-30/night....$20 if they just go out for dinner, $30 if a movie, too....I gave her $20 for 3 hours...and the kids were only awake for 1 hour after we left!! The lady with 3 kids throws in a little more if the kids are awake very long after the sitter gets there since it's more work. Worth it though, to know the kids are with someone good and we can have a rare evening out. I'm WAY too overprotective and nervous Nelly to use anyone younger than that....and I had to get 3 independent recommendations for her before I even called her....

 

[Duchie]

Wow.... we must live in the wrong part of the country!!!

Babysitters around here ask for an average of $10/hour, and expect more than that. I'm talking about teenagers here, not college kids (who I can understand might ask for a little more.) There have been times when DH has put his foot down and paid less than that, and wouldn't you know it, those girls are always "busy" when we call them again.

And is it any wonder I'm looking forward to free babysitting from Grandma when we're in WDW in November?!?!?!

Has anyone ever tried this babysitter web site? ? A friend of mine was telling me about it - you put in your ZIP code and it gives you a list of sitters. To get their information, however, you have to join for $25/year. She hasn't joined yet but was thinking about it. Has anyone else used it?

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by Duchie
Has anyone ever tried this babysitter web site? ? A friend of mine was telling me about it - you put in your ZIP code and it gives you a list of sitters. To get their information, however, you have to join for $25/year. She hasn't joined yet but was thinking about it. Has anyone else used it?

Never heard of it but wouldn't do it anyway. I'm just a nervous nelly-type and need lots of personal recommendations from people I know before I trust someone I don't already know! Do they screen these sitters? What do you have to do to be included? ....just can't see me doing it...I also don't take the pull-sheets from the info board in the neighborhood or at the grocery store....

 

[Az Pirates]

Am I ever glad I have 16 & 13 yr. old DD's to watch the little ones!

Back when we used sitters we paid $5.00 per hour for the first child plus a dollar/hr. extra for each additional child.

My oldest used to get lots of calls to baby-sit, but because of her work schedule she had to say no most of the time. Maybe she should have taken the babysitting jobs - if people are paying $10.00+ an hour, thats more than she makes coaching gymnastics!