What to pay babysitter with these conditions?

[descovy]

In your case I would go closer to the $10 range. My reasoning is the 2 yr old is plenty of "work"

In our case we used to have a 18-19yr old friend watch our 3 girls when they were young... ages 1,3,5 (or later 2,4,6) and paid her $10/hr (plus dinner) because at that age they were work!! (Diapers or potty accidents, sometimes had to put to bed, just little kids)

But nowadays we have a 13 yr old girl that watches our girls every once in awhile and we pay her $5/hr. The difference is, the girls are now 5,7,9... older, know to mind the rules (or tattle on the other!) stay up and play board games or watch TV. They have never gave the neighbor any trouble, and if so, her parents are right next door. She seriously has it easy! (usually hanging out on the couch watching shows that she too enjoys)

So for me, the price is higher on the little ones (tantrums, nicknames for milk, may cry, can't "help" the sitter) than for older well-behaved kids who will likely watch the disney channel or play scrabble, clean their mess, show the sitter where the glasses are kept, etc.,

 

[Sorsha]

In your case I would go closer to the $10 range. My reasoning is the 2 yr old is plenty of "work"


So for me, the price is higher on the little ones (tantrums, nicknames for milk, may cry, can't "help" the sitter) than for older well-behaved kids who will likely watch the disney channel or play scrabble, clean their mess, show the sitter where the glasses are kept, etc.,

This is good reasoning. I am paying the neighbor to watch a 6 and a 9 yr old... they are pretty low maintenance.
They do fight a LOT and she has to play referree, but they are usually better behaved for her than for me.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

$50. And I agree, dinner is not compensation.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I think 50.00 is a fair price. My two girls babysat for a lady last year for her three children and for 10 hours. I took them lunch and I picked them up and they were only paid 40.00, which they split. I would never let them do that again for her.

 

[happygirl]

$50. And I agree, dinner is not compensation.

I agree as well dinner isn't compensation and either is transportion to your house.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I got $1 per hour too!!! I think we are showing our age

I must be ancient. I got paid $.50/hour to babysit 5 kids.

 

[Feralpeg]

This shows how old I am. I got 50 cents an hour when I was a teenager.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree as well dinner isn't compensation and either is transportion to your house.

I disagree on the latter. Any other job, you provide your own transport. They don't come and get you. As the employer, I'm being put out and as such will not compensate the sitter with the regular wage if that is the case. This of course is all disclosed in advance and they are welcome to not accept the job.

 

[mhsjax]

I disagree on the latter. Any other job, you provide your own transport. They don't come and get you. As the employer, I'm being put out and as such will not compensate the sitter with the regular wage if that is the case. This of course is all disclosed in advance and they are welcome to not accept the job.

wow, I don't think I would want to babysit for you with that attitude, you act like you are doing them a favor by having them watch your kids. I hated babysitting and now I remember why. If you are being "put out" that much, then just don't use baby sitters.

 

[holycow]

I agree with mhsjax.

The girl is 16 for pete's sake she isn't 21.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I pay my teen sitter $5 an hour. I usually don't have to have a sitter (one of the perks of having a 15 yr old ) but when I do I ask the daughter of a neighbor.

She lives 4 houses down the block, so no one has to pick up/drop off unless the weather is nasty, in which case I will drive her here and back. Sometimes my kids go to her house instead of her coming here.

She never has to cook when she is here... either I will cook something and she just has to serve, or I order pizza. When the kids go to her house, they eat with her family - something which her parents invite them to do and is completely Ok with everyone.

She doesn't have to do any cleaning either, but she usually throws the dishes in the dishwasher and tidies up after baths, cause she is just that kind of kiddo.

She supervises bathing and PJ's, and spends the rest of the time playing with the kids, doing crafts, or reading them stories. My kids love their sitter, and have been known to ask DH and I to go out more often so Katie can come over.

Wow. You're getting a bargain with all she does.

wow, I don't think I would want to babysit for you with that attitude, you act like you are doing them a favor by having them watch your kids. I hated babysitting and now I remember why. If you are being "put out" that much, then just don't use baby sitters.

Ditto!

 

[merryweather20]

I disagree on the latter. Any other job, you provide your own transport. They don't come and get you. As the employer, I'm being put out and as such will not compensate the sitter with the regular wage if that is the case. This of course is all disclosed in advance and they are welcome to not accept the job.

How are you being "put out". You're already up, but you want my parents to get out of bed, to come get me when you roll back in? I assure you my parents don't think its any big favour that you "let" me baby-sit your kids for a couple of hours.

 

[Cinderella94]

I'd probably get $50, but that could also be because the neighbors that I babysit for love me .

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah, I've never heard of anyone expecting a sitter to get there on their own unless they are older and of driving age. And usually those older sitters who drive, make and expect more money. Since they do drive themselves and that's sort of considered a perk worth paying for my most.

Around here, its around $7-8 an hour I think. If its mealtime and the kids are bieng fed, the sitter gets to eat too.

My son charges $5 an hour but he only babysits for friends so he gives a discount. Of course one of those "friends" has yet to pay him for babysitting he did over two weeks ago! They may not be getting the discount from here on out!

 

[daisyduck123]

My DD15 gets paid $10.00/hour....and that's just for watching one toddler.
So for 5 hours....she'd make $50.00.

 

[disfan07]

I started babysitting at 13 and never got paid less than $8/hour for 2 kids. By 16 I was making $10-$12 for 2 kids. BUT when I could not drive how old I was, my parents always dropped me off and picked me up so that was never consideration. and the pay did not change when I got my license (but my parents paid for gas for my car so it didnt come out of my money)

Now...the meals thing. I have to say, paying less because you're providing a meal is something ive never heard of before (or at least not for the families i babysit for). Every family I have ever babysat for has an "open kitchen" policy. I was always offered breakfast/lunch/dinner (depending on the time of day) and They always told me that I was free to have whatever snacks I wanted while I was there.

So taking what I have experienced into consideration, I would say $50

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

wow, I don't think I would want to babysit for you with that attitude, you act like you are doing them a favor by having them watch your kids. I hated babysitting and now I remember why. If you are being "put out" that much, then just don't use baby sitters.

It's part of my request and I have no trouble finding a sitter and the mom's have no problem driving their dd and some even charge their own child for gas.

I'm not sure where you are getting attitude. For the being "put out" when my DH is here, he will not drive the females home, so that I have to and I won't drink wine with my dinner. I know--poor me. I've done my share of driving sitter's home and I just don't like to do it. There is nothing wrong with that. I will pay a higher wage to avoid it if I can. ETA: The other thing I would do is cut short my evening so that I will be able to drive the person home and as a grown woman, I don't like to have a curfew that is earlier than my sitters. Sure it is self-imposed. But it is all so that I can get the sitter home safely. Stinks to be home by 9 or so on a weekend night.


My last sitter was a 2 week nanny situation b/c I was horribly ill in bed. Driving to pick them up or not was not an option. She had to be dropped off and that was prearranged ahead of time. she was an adult, but had no car as she was transitioning for a move and her mom drove her to my home.

Now my DH is out of town pretty much permanently. I suppose I could stay recluse, but in the event I need a sitter, again--driving the sitter home is not an option if it were an evening gig.

Is it attitude? I don't see it nor do any of my sitters or their parents if the parents have to drive. In fact, there are parents who will charge their child gas money.

If I have to drive and really need the sitter, then I will find someone who can watch them at their house since I have to put all the kids in the car anyway.

I only hire 16yo's and up anyway and they would be in the same pickle if they were seeking other employment.

When I was a teen, I would have never expected anyone but me to figure out how I was getting to work including babysitting gigs.

But essentially, my point was that I compensate for this to be done by paying extra so that they cover their own gas money or what their parents may charge to taxi them.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Here in Oregon where I live it'd be about $20 total

OK, I wouldn't generalize the entire state since all the parents I know pay $10/hr for 1-3 kids.

 

[clgwli]

Baby sitting here starts at about $7/hr minimum for 1 child. $10/hr seems fair for 2. Picking up the person is normal for me (unless a neighbor) and giving them dinner if during a meal time is normal too. After all the babysitter will be feeding the children as well and that is more work.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

It's part of my request and I have no trouble finding a sitter and the mom's have no problem driving their dd and some even charge their own child for gas.

I'm not sure where you are getting attitude. For the being "put out" when my DH is here, he will not drive the females home, so that I have to and I won't drink wine with my dinner. I know--poor me. I've done my share of driving sitter's home and I just don't like to do it. There is nothing wrong with that. I will pay a higher wage to avoid it if I can.


My last sitter was a 2 week nanny situation b/c I was horribly ill in bed. Driving to pick them up or not was not an option. She had to be dropped off and that was prearranged ahead of time. she was an adult, but had no car as she was transitioning for a move and her mom drove her to my home.

Now my DH is out of town pretty much permanently. I suppose I could stay recluse, but in the event I need a sitter, again--driving the sitter home is not an option if it were an evening gig.

Is it attitude? I don't see it nor do any of my sitters or their parents if the parents have to drive. In fact, there are parents who will charge their child gas money.

If I have to drive and really need the sitter, then I will find someone who can watch them at their house since I have to put all the kids in the car anyway.

I only hire 16yo's and up anyway and they would be in the same pickle if they were seeking other employment.

When I was a teen, I would have never expected anyone but me to figure out how I was getting to work including babysitting gigs.

But essentially, my point was that I compensate for this to be done by paying extra so that they cover their own gas money or what their parents may charge to taxi them.

Some babysitters drive, some don't...you have a choice to hire the ones that don't- or not...I certainly am not going to "nickel and dime" a teen who either A) cannot drive yet or B) doesn't have access to a car...
I also don't think its fair to compare "other employment" to babysitting. Babysitting is not a regular or full-time gig (if it were, it would be nannying). I don't know babysitters who take out taxes, nor get 401K
As far as providing food...I think it is a nice courtesy... Do I think employers should provide employees with food?? NO!!! A babysitter is not my employee..... rather someone I'm using to replace me while I'm not there...