What to pay a baby sitter?

[MSSANDRA]

OP- Your choices are perfectly reasonable and fine. I would give the girl 20.00 for a hour and a half job. I know that is more than 10.00 an hour but it's really not worth someones time to come for less than that. She might refuse that much if she is a church friend. Hope your date with hubby goes well.

 

[Zooshoveller]

$10 per hour, with a $20 minimum. Provide pizza.

 

[AndreaDM]

Why? Have you done such a terrible job raising her that she is totally inept? I can't imagine, other than disabilities, why a 10 year old would not be able to stay home alone for a couple of hours? Why would that be a disaster waiting to happen? Kids should be given increasing freedom over the years. You are treating your 10 year old and 2 year old the same. No a 2 year old cannot be left home alone, but a 10 year old can and should. They need to be given ever increasing responsibility and independence. She should have been left home alone for small bits, 15 minutes while you bike in the neighborhood, 10 minutes while you run to get milk by 7 or so and it should then gradually increase. By 10 she should be capable of staying home with the 2 year old while you are gone for 2 hours to dinner. It's is so disheartening to see parents constantly underestimate their children and hold them back. No one wants their kids to grow up!

Wow, I have some choice worlds for you right now, but asked myself, WWJD

 

[anelson81993]

It's been 4+ years since I babysat last (when I did, I made around $9 an hour), so I asked my little sister, who seems to be babysitting for one or another of our church families for at least part of every weekend. She said that she never charges a fee, and doesn't actually ask for payment either, but she does keep track of what they give her (she puts 3/4 of it in her savings account each month), and said it worked out to around $10 an hour, or thereabouts. She might get paid a little extra if the parents are running late or get home late, and she usually makes at least $20, even if she's only there for an hour or so (it's not really worth it as a teenage babysitter to only sit for less than a couple hours and make only $10). The families with pets tend to give her a little more. I think the most she sits for right now are families with 3 or 4 kids, and she makes about the same whether it's a family with one kid or a family with three. Almost all the kids she sits for are either preschool age or early school age; the families are all families from our church whose kids are in nursery/evening programs together, and they pretty much universally recommend my sister to anyone who asks. I don't think a family has ever ordered pizza for the kids and her, but since most of the kids are preschoolers, that makes sense. She's never asked to cook anything elaborate; often the kids have already been fed or she makes box mac and cheese or frozen pizza. Sometimes she puts the kids to bed; sometimes she doesn't, never baths.

I would second the PP who said that you should try to establish yourself with a babysitter, and then, once you find a good babysitter, recommend her/him to your friends and relatives! My sister started out in the nursery of our church, then started working in the preschool room of our Wednesday evening children's program. Then the adult leader of the preschool room asked her to start babysitting her kids, and (since my sister is apparently a decent babysitter; we were all shocked ) the adult leader started recommending her to other preschool families at our church. Soon enough, she had four or five families calling her regularly for babysitting. As a former teenage babysitter, and sister to a current teenage babysitter, I know from experience that this is the best way to make money at babysitting. It's slow going with only one family, especially if they don't require a babysitter often, but with multiple families calling, it gets a lot better.

And to the PP offering parenting criticism, the OP was only asking for suggestions for what to pay a babysitter. And, for what it's worth, my older brother is a year older than me, but five years older than our younger sister. My parents didn't leave us at home alone until he and I were both old enough (age) and old enough (responsibility and maturity) to look after our younger sister. You may think a 10-year-old is old enough to stay on their own (I would disagree, with extremely few exceptions for exceptionally, incredibly mature/responsible 10-year-olds well-versed in the safety rules), but I would never leave a 10-year-old at home alone with their significantly-younger sibling. I know when I was 10, I would not have been a good babysitter for my 6-year-old sister. I didn't start babysitting for other people's kids until I was 12. My parents didn't start leaving us at home alone until I was nearly 12, and that was out of necessity (my mom's new job) and only for a few hours max per day, until I was 13 or so. The family I babysat for kept me on until their oldest was 12--and the two kids were within a couple years of each other. Some kids might be fine staying at home with their siblings for a couple hours at 10 (though I would never leave siblings with more than a year or two gap at home alone that young), but a lot of kids wouldn't be fine at home alone that long, never mind with a sibling. And a lot of younger siblings won't take well to the older sibling being in charge--that's hard enough to deal with as a 12-year-old with an 8-year-old, but as a 10-year-old with a 2-year-old? I wouldn't do it. Some kids are great babysitters young; others will never make a good babysitter (my older brother is 21 and still is terrible with kids). But I would never leave a 10-year-old at home alone with a 2-year-old, and probably wouldn't leave the 10-year-old at home alone either.

 

[stitchlovestink]

This isn't the same situation at all. This is not parents making their older child change plans to babysit the younger sibling. Sorry that happened to you, that was not very considerate of you parents to do that to you on a regular basis. This appears to be parents who rarely go out, due to the fact that she is asking how much to pay a sitter. The 10 year old is going to be at home anyway, she doesn't have plans with friends she is going to have to cancel to babysit. The options are pay a babysitter for the 2 kids or let the older child babysit the younger one. One option would be humiliating to the 10 year old (and I do have a 10 year old!), the other option would be empowering to her. I don't know of any 10 year old who would not be embarrassed to death to have a babysitter. I have a 9 & 10 year old and both of them would think I was nuts if I tried to hire a sitter for them! If your children that age are not capable of caring for themselves you are doing something seriously wrong! This once again highlights to problem of parents treating their children like babies far too long. Ask your grandparents generation if a 10 year old should be capable of caring for a 2 year old for a couple of hours. This is a 2 year old not a 2 month old and the parents are going to be gone a couple of hours not a couple of days! And no it is not illegal! There are only 2 states that have any law at all regarding what age children need to be to stay home alone and even in those 2 laws there is lots of wiggle room.

Bolding is mine....
NOT here in MD! The Law is VERY clear!! No one under the age of 13 (sibling or NOT) may be responsible for another child under the age of 8! Period! No if ands or buts about it! Now if they are 8, they may be left unattended without adult supervision, but it is very clear that you may NOT leave a 10 y.o. in charge of a 2 y.o. So your wiggle room comment doesn't fly here in MD! Get your facts straight!

In your example of a 9 and 10 year old staying home alone is perfectly legal where I live in MD. But the OP stated she has a 10 and 2 year old. This is different. In my state this is not allowed. A child must be 13 to watch anyone younger than 8.

I pay my sitters between 8-15 an hour depending on their experience.

Exactly!!

 

[mdsoccermom]

Bolding is mine....
NOT here in MD! The Law is VERY clear!! No one under the age of 13 (sibling or NOT) may be responsible for another child under the age of 8! Period! No if ands or buts about it! Now if they are 8, they may be left unattended without adult supervision, but it is very clear that you may NOT leave a 10 y.o. in charge of a 2 y.o. So your wiggle room comment doesn't fly here in MD! Get your facts straight!
Exactly!!

Bingo. I'm in Maryland and there is no doubt as to what the law says.

 

[DeniseinNS]

Why? Have you done such a terrible job raising her that she is totally inept? I can't imagine, other than disabilities, why a 10 year old would not be able to stay home alone for a couple of hours? Why would that be a disaster waiting to happen? Kids should be given increasing freedom over the years. You are treating your 10 year old and 2 year old the same. No a 2 year old cannot be left home alone, but a 10 year old can and should. They need to be given ever increasing responsibility and independence. She should have been left home alone for small bits, 15 minutes while you bike in the neighborhood, 10 minutes while you run to get milk by 7 or so and it should then gradually increase. By 10 she should be capable of staying home with the 2 year old while you are gone for 2 hours to dinner. It's is so disheartening to see parents constantly underestimate their children and hold them back. No one wants their kids to grow up!

Wow, that was just RUDE!!!! Some people are not comfortable with leaving a 10 year old alone, I see nothing wrong with that and it does not mean they did a bad job raising their kids. My daughter is 11 and we don't leave her home alone, she is not comfortable with it so why would we push it???? Why do they need to start growing up at 10?? let them be the kids that they are.

 

[danielle79]

Sounds like you're the one who needs a babysitter.. boo hoo

Not looking for sympathy from anyone here! Thanks for the comment davedmaine, you are special!
And to the OP I didn't think you would leave your 10 year old with your 2 year old, my response was to the " super smart person" that suggested it! I also have very mature kids but leaving them alone at night while my hubby and I go to dinner is just not good parenting. In NY, CPS could be called if you left a 10 year old in charge of a 2 year old.

 

[gracie1]

When I babysat a few years ago for a couple (I was in my mid 20's), I was paid $10 per hour/ per child. Yes, they did pay well!! That's why their the only ones I ever babysat for

 

[DisneyEater]

Sadly we do not live in the world we grew up in or that our parents grew up in.

Sadly, I think the world is not that different. We are now just hearing about things that were covered up in the past.

To the OP's question, my 12 yo DD only gets $6/hour, but she is only 12 and watching a 9 yo boy, so she is basically just supervising. For a 2 yo I would go at least $10.

 

[mm1971]

I'd pay the 10 year old 2.00 an hour to watch the 2 year old

I would like to think that this is a joke (she said dinner time, not a quick trip to pick up a thing of milk during mid afternoon) but from your previous posting history I am really afraid this suggestion is for real.

I think age 10 is too young to leave in charge of a 2 year old. My DS just started watching DD and they are almost 13 and 10. Just an opinion. I would hate for something to happen and have my 10 year old in a position to have to make important decisions. Too much for a child at that age.

We are in the northeast and babysitters in our area make between $10 and $15 an hour if that helps. We usually ask family, but don't know if that is an option.

 

[nchulka]

Sadly, I think the world is not that different. We are now just hearing about things that were covered up in the past.

Thank you, the world is NOT more dangerous now. We simply hear about it more now, every FREAK incident gets national coverage, sometimes international. If you care to do an actual study of real numbers you will see that all violent crime, including against children has been dropping steadily since the mid-90's and continues to decrease. So if you grew up in the 80's the country is actually safer than it is now. We are currently at about the same crime rate as in the mid-60's.

That is beside the point. If you all want to think so little of your children's capabilities and don't want to give them the chance to prove themselves go ahead. You have every right to hold your children back instead of encouraging them to become independent, confident, and competent. People come at parenting from all different angles. It has always been my objective to work myself out of a job, to create children who can take care of themselves, not who need my watchful eye hovering over everything they do. Sadly I guess this is not where our society is headed based on the responses to this thread and new laws like allowing 26 year old adults to still be on their parents health coverage. When I was 26 I was married with 2 children, certainly not still attached monetarily to my own mommy and daddy. I guess what goes with making 15 the new 10, is making 26 the new 18! I'll look on the bright side, I'm 35 now, by the time I reach 40 maybe it will be the new 30 What I see time and time again on these boards is parents constantly underestimating their children, I find it very sad. I do wonder how these children who cannot be home alone at the age of 10 are being raised. I truly cannot imagine a 10 year old who could not be trusted to take care of themselves for a few hours. I understand the original suggestion I made was the the 10 year old should watch the 2 year old, but so many responded that they would not even leave a 10 year old alone ever. I find that very sad for the children being sheltered, and not allowed to grow up and discover their own potential all because mom and dad desire them to stay little forever because they think they "grow up so fast". If you continue to stunt their development because you don't want them to grow up you may just find that they don't, and it may be a bit more on the annoying than cute side when they are 25, still living at home, and you find yourself saying things like "when are you ever going to grow up?"!!

 

[declansdad]

Thank you, the world is NOT more dangerous now. We simply hear about it more now, every FREAK incident gets national coverage, sometimes international. If you care to do an actual study of real numbers you will see that all violent crime, including against children has been dropping steadily since the mid-90's and continues to decrease. So if you grew up in the 80's the country is actually safer than it is now. We are currently at about the same crime rate as in the mid-60's.

That is beside the point. If you all want to think so little of your children's capabilities and don't want to give them the chance to prove themselves go ahead. You have every right to hold your children back instead of encouraging them to become independent, confident, and competent. People come at parenting from all different angles. It has always been my objective to work myself out of a job, to create children who can take care of themselves, not who need my watchful eye hovering over everything they do. Sadly I guess this is not where our society is headed based on the responses to this thread and new laws like allowing 26 year old adults to still be on their parents health coverage. When I was 26 I was married with 2 children, certainly not still attached monetarily to my own mommy and daddy. I guess what goes with making 15 the new 10, is making 26 the new 18! I'll look on the bright side, I'm 35 now, by the time I reach 40 maybe it will be the new 30 What I see time and time again on these boards is parents constantly underestimating their children, I find it very sad. I do wonder how these children who cannot be home alone at the age of 10 are being raised. I truly cannot imagine a 10 year old who could not be trusted to take care of themselves for a few hours. I understand the original suggestion I made was the the 10 year old should watch the 2 year old, but so many responded that they would not even leave a 10 year old alone ever. I find that very sad for the children being sheltered, and not allowed to grow up and discover their own potential all because mom and dad desire them to stay little forever because they think they "grow up so fast". If you continue to stunt their development because you don't want them to grow up you may just find that they don't, and it may be a bit more on the annoying than cute side when they are 25, still living at home, and you find yourself saying things like "when are you ever going to grow up?"!!

Deciding to not leave a 10 year old child alone is not stunting their development.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Thank you, the world is NOT more dangerous now. We simply hear about it more now, every FREAK incident gets national coverage, sometimes international. If you care to do an actual study of real numbers you will see that all violent crime, including against children has been dropping steadily since the mid-90's and continues to decrease. So if you grew up in the 80's the country is actually safer than it is now. We are currently at about the same crime rate as in the mid-60's.

What you consistently seem to miss is that the world is safer today precisely BECAUSE of the precautions that we take and that you denigrate.

Fewer kids are killed in car accidents BECAUSE they wear seat belts.

Fewer kids suffer debilitating brain injuries BECAUSE they wear helmets.

Fewer kids are exploited BECAUSE parents are more vigilant.

Fewer kids are accidentally shot in their homes BECAUSE more parents take precautions to lock up their guns, train their children to stay away from guns, etc.

I could go on and on, but you will either get the point or continue to deny it.

You are betting, incorrectly, on herd protection keeping your kids safe. The problem is that unlike the herd protection that exists with vaccinations, it doesn't exist in discrete accidents/crimes. So while more kids survive car accidents, a kid not wearing their seat belt will still die if their car rolls into a ditch. While fewer kids are exploited, the ones whose parents fail to protect them are still vulnerable (see Penn State, the Catholic Church or ANY of the myriad cases of mass exploitation that have taken place).

You seem to function in some kind of binary world where kids must either be ready to work in the salt mines at eight years old or they are destined to be babies forever. It simply does not work that way, and your inability to grasp that is shocking to me, and apparently to many of us. My family had a full-time, live in nanny until I was 14 years old. I had expanding freedoms much younger than that, but I wasn't ever left home alone until I was around 12 or so (which means my siblings were 15, 13, 11 and 9, and I know the 11 and 9 year olds were not left alone at that time with me). Yet somehow I am highly functioning as an adult, and since we are approximately the same age, this was taking place at the same time that you were apparently already running free and wild in your world. We both grew up; why do you insist that my parents' way was wrong?

Stop denigrating those values that differ from yours. Let your kids run free and forbid them from wearing helmets and pray that it works out for yourself, but stop insulting those with whom you disagree.

 

[dizluvah]

i have a 2 year old daughter and live in NH. My teenage babysitter (age 16) charges $5/per hour for the first kid (an additional $1 per hour for each additional kid). I actually offered her $9/hour and she countered saying that was too much = how about $5. That being said, she is a daughter of a friend and she babysits for many of us in my mom's group so perhaps her rate was low to get all of our business - if so, it worked! I know 3 or 4 other families who utilize her services. Usually she just sits on the couch, watching tv while DD is asleep upstairs and we go out to a late dinner or movie.

 

[islandmum]

my 10 and 8 year olds have a babysitter once a month, they love it, get to brag about things to her, play dominos with her, stay up later than usual and torment her by watching the original Thunderbirds .... they really enjoy having someone round. He's never even thought to say it was embarrassing -but then I guess we've not put that thought into his head ......

I'm willing to bet the certain 10 year olds mentioned in previous posts who would "die of emabrrassment" at having a babysitter:
a) feel like that due to what rubbish they've been fed by their parent
b) will be out of that house like they're on fire when they're old enough, without waving goodbye

I'm no helicopter parent, but I don't leave my 10 year old alone for more than 10 minutes or so, just because he doesn't need the pressure of being the one "in charge", and I don't feel the need (unlike the other poster) for him to "prove his independence" to me. The kid's been flying round Europe since he was 8 on his own (with an airline chaperone of course), I don't fear for his independence or confidence!

 

[gracie1]

How did this thread get so off topic just from someone asking the rate of pay for a babysitter

 

[gjl]

How did this thread get so off topic just from someone asking the rate of pay for a babysitter

I've found multiple threads go off topic on this board! I am new and I have yet to understand why people must go that route to answer a simple question!


We pay between $8-$12 for our 3, 5 and 7 year old. It depends on what time we leave the house. If the sitter comes at bed time, then we pay the lower amount as all she does is literally sit. If it's earlier and requires a meal, etc, it's higher. We usually still bring the newborn with us!

 

[CdnCarrie]

I'd pay the 10 year old 2.00 an hour to watch the 2 year old

That would be illegal in my province. Age 12 is the age that they are legally allowed to be left alone/babysit.

 

[Kellydelly]

Exactly. They're only watching and protecting your kids.

Exactly, sitting watching tv, playing a game, or tossing a ball with my kid is not rocket science . I used to make $2 an hr to "watch and protect" people's kids so I don't think $7-10 is too shabby at all .