what to charge for babysitting a newborn

[weare6travelers]

I have been asked if I would be interested in babysitting a newborn. What is the going rate these days for a home care setting. I do not babysit other children. I am a stay at home mom with 4 children of my own all in school. I was thinking $150.00 per week. The baby would be in my care for at least 7 to 8 hours. His parents are teachers.
Thanks,

 

[Miller1412]

That's what I pay my SIL who watches my DS 3. She started watching my DD as an infant 5 years ago and when she started, I paid her 115/week. I think 150 is definitely a fair price, a center would charge way more than that in this area (I think around 200 a week).

 

[HayGan]

The best thing to do would be to call local day care providers and find out what they charge. $30 is about the going rate here (many places are higher but I actually pay less.) Also, you need to be very clear about what items you will provide and what items the parents will provide as well as payment terms.

You might want to look into your state's laws and regulations about home day care as well. Caring for someone's else child can carry huge liabilities if something would ever happen to the child while in your care. You may have additional costs to your insurance that you may want to figure into your rate.

 

[Hillbeans]

I'm sending my 3 1/2 month old to a home based daycare setting starting tomorrow. She already watches my oldest and charges $4 an hour. She'll charge me $7 an hour for the two of them. When my oldest starts kindergarden in the fall, it'll go back down to $4 an hour.

I will be providing all of the diapers, formula, wipes, etc.

Around this area, that's a bargain. When my oldest went to a daycare center we paid close to $700 per month and that was only 3 days a week!

 

[Miller1412]

The best thing to do would be to call local day care providers and find out what they charge. $30 is about the going rate here (many places are higher but I actually pay less.) Also, you need to be very clear about what items you will provide and what items the parents will provide as well as payment terms.

You might want to look into your state's laws and regulations about home day care as well. Caring for someone's else child can carry huge liabilities if something would ever happen to the child while in your care. You may have additional costs to your insurance that you may want to figure into your rate.

That is a great idea. My SIL went online to get tons of info and based her contract on some she found online. She keeps a teacher's schedule and only takes teacher's kids or people who can work with a standard school year schedule.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I was watching a baby while his mom finished up her nursing degree. Three days a week anywhere from 8 to 13 hours a day, depending on her clinicals.
I charged $25 per day, which I thought reasonable.
When his slot in the base daycare opened up, I watched him once a week in the evenings for 2-4 hours. She paid $20 for that.

Guess it depends on the area.

 

[PaulaSue]

Here it is about 120 for a baby in a center in a smallish town. That is the most expensive places, in the home it is much cheaper unless you are a Nanny working in their home. (I was a Nanny for years)

Having your own kids and doing your own stuff while taking care of the baby, I would charge less the going rate of a center. Make sure it is a flat rate for so many hours (and then what an hour over the flat rate) so you are guuarenteed at least so much a week for your time. Also talk about sick policy and vacation days, paid or not.

 

[krissynkayla]

wow that i think is alot . I provide daycre in my home and I only charge 70 for an infant and I provide formula, they provide diapers, wipes.. I think I would stay at home if I had to pay that much, but if I was making big bucks then maybe. Just my opinion..

 

[christinadei]

The going rate around here is around $100 a week, you provide formula, diapers, etc. I paid $80 a week for home care until he was out of diapers and then paid $65 a week. She provided food once he was done with babyfood and formula.

 

[preb]

I paid my girlfriend (stay at home mom of 4) $35.00 per day and provided formula and diapers. The only time we ran into problems was when her children would be home sick and I was afraid to bring the baby over. My boss was very flexible and would allow me to bring the baby to work or work from home the few times that happened. $150 per week seems very fair.

 

[Lil_Tink]

150$ Seems a little much. I would say around 100-115$ if your providing everything. I babysat two 1yr old twins with an adult (her 20 yr old son slept the whole time, he was there incase of emeregency ext) and got about 40$ a day

 

[barkley]

finding a center that will take any child who is not potty trained is about impossible out here (california), the few i know of that do won't take a newborn before 6 weeks of age and charge almost $1000.00 per month (justified by VERY HIGH liability insurance, much higher staff to child ratio, much more labor intensive), i think private homes charge 600-800 per week.

def. get a contract written with cost, how you will handle planned days off (will you still charge if they will be gone for 2 days one week), what time off you require (x number of vacation time per year with so much advance notice to the parent), call-in policy (how soon you expect them to get there if you feel they need to retrieve the child due to illness), sick policy (are you willing to provide care when the child is sick, running a fever, diareah-and are you comfortable medicating someone elses child), overtime charges (sadly, some parents will pick up late due to wanting to run errands w/o baby in tow-it can impair your ability to do planned activities, and with 4 of your own i imagine they have a few ), who will provide what (the providers here generaly require the parents to provide ALL FOOD PRODUCTS (safety when it comes to allergy detection), wipes, diapers, ointments, lotions...), and bedding (if they want the childs bedding washed in a particular product).

 

[KelNottAt]

$150/week sounds reasonable for a newborn. When my kids were that age, I paid about $115 - $125; so, accounting for inflation over the last 11 - 13 years, I'd say $150 is good. (My experience is based on suburban Baltimore prices. NH rates may vary.)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Depends on where you live. Around here it's very high--$150/week would be a bargain. I did what you are considering about 9 years ago, also for a teacher. I watched a newborn from the time he was born until the end of that school year (about Feb-May) and got $150/week. I would guess that the going rate around here now is closer to $200/week.

Look into the laws in your area. Here a person has to be licensed to care for even one non-related child in their home. You have to take into account your time and the hassle when doing taxes (keeping all receipts to declare, etc).

Call around to daycare homes in your area and ask what they charge for a newborn. Since you will not have any other babies you might be able to charge a premium (assuming your kids are older--forgot if you listed their ages).

 

[Miss Kelly]

I agree. It depends on where you live. I would never pay $150 for my child to go to daycare, for the simple fact that it wouldn't make economical sense in my region. I know many people who make only $250-300 a week. Let's hope that since I am now a college grad that I will make double that amount.

 

[ilovepcot]

Wow...this makes my old head spin! Anything less than a MILLION and I'm not doing it! Seriously, I do admire people who cope well with infants and young children as I'm at my wits end after the first 15 minutes with them. Now, anyone need help staying with their grandparents, I'm your girl!

 

[RadioNate]

$150 sounds like a bargan to me. I pay $125 a week for part time 4 year old pre school. The infants run WAY more. I think they run closer to $250 a week for full time.

$150 is less than $4 an hour.

 

[cepmom]

my SIL is a licensed home day care provider and she charges $40 per day. The parents provide diapers etc...I believe she provides lunch etc (the kids she watches are not newborns). She does pay taxes on her income.

I watch my friend's little girl 4 mornings a week (about 3.75 hours) for $20 per day, I provide food for her and drive her to school each day.


I think $150 per week ($30 per day)is reasonable for newborn (at least it is around here) when my oldest DD was in a preschool/daycare, I paid $25 per day and that was over 9 years ago.

I agree with the others that say call around to other home based day cares and see what the going rate is for your area. Also, maybe ask the parents what they would feel comfortable paying you ~ you might be surprised what they offer you.

 

[krcit]

I think $15o is very reasonable-actually a bargain around here. I was thinking of starting to babysit a teachers infant(I live right across the street from the school) and I would've charged $200-that's still only $5 an hour. I decided not to do it but certainly would never do it for less than $200.

 

[Jennifer S]

I used to babysit- 3 days a week and got $100 a week- that was over 7 years ago. It;s hard work. I would think $150 is good. I'd ask them to provide diapers and formula too. Think long and hard before you do it and lay down some ground rules.

The family I babysat for was always late to pick up and early to drop off and took advantage numerous times. Sit down and talk about what both side expect or you could have some trouble ahead.