Babysitting rates?

[dianna11]

Just trying to get an idea of what to pay the sitter - nether she, nor her mom, nor I have any clue how this works.

She is 12, and will be coming over to watch my 2yoDS for a few hours, two times a week while DD is in day camp.

I will be in the house, working in the basement - so if there is a diaper situation that she doesn't want to deal with, or has any issues, then I'm right there. I won't likely be leaving her in the house alone with DS.

We're in Toronto if that makes any difference.

Any ideas?

[butterfly_mommy]

I am also in Toronto and we have had my 13 year old niece babysit 3 times. 2 times at my house with no one else home and one at her house with her dad and then her mom (my sister) home.

The 2 times at my home I paid her about 6 an hour and at her house I paid her about 5 dollars an hour. She babysits for non family and usually gets paid between 5-10 an hour depending on how many kids etc.

When I baby sat while I was going to school for my ECE about 6 years ago I charged 10 dollars an hour plus transportation if it was at there house.

I think for a mother's helper type of position were I would be home I would pay 5 dollars an hour.

[sweetcheeks]

Our babysitter is 13 and if she's just watching one of the kids, she gets $5/hour. We pay $10/hr if she's watching all 3. The going rate here seems to be $5-8/hr. We really like our sitter so we pay her a bit more so she hopefully won't leave us!

[dianna11]

I guess it is more of a mother's helper role... I wouldn't have her babysitting on her own. From what I understand, she has never babysat before.

I did used to get my butt kicked by her in Teakwondo though... maybe I should pay a little more, she is a 2nd dan blackbelt!

[Drummer's Wife]

I was thinking $5-6 an hour in that situation.

[*MamaJen*]

I think about $5 is plenty in that situation.

[nalusj]

We live in San Diego and I am guessing things SHOULD be less expensive if you are in the house. We pay $13 an hour for our 14 mos old when we go out. She is 26 years old and a professional. She went through a background check, has been fingerprinted, has CPR/first aid, and has awesome references. I say all this because I still can't believe we pay that much for a sitter. We don't go out much. Ha Ha.

[just_lily]

For a 12yo playing with a 2yo in a house with mum home, I would probably offer $5 an hour.

For an older sitter who would be left alone, the going rate around here (outside Calgary) is $8 to $10 an hour. But that would be more for an evening where the sitter has to do bedtime and whatnot. But for a 12yo who is probably still just learning and doesn't have much experience I think $5 is completely reasonable. You can always explain that when she gets a little older you may ask her to babysit on her own, and at that point you will pay her more.

[Gendenwitha]

Wow. Seriously?
I was looking at this because I was looking at my work options, and part of that might include finding babysitter to drive oldest home from school.

I got paid $1/hr/kid as a teen (15-20 years ago) and pay $3/hour to a SAHM when I was working (a few months ago) I don't even make $13/hour, if I had to pay $5/hour, by the time you take out taxes and gas and commute time, it wouldn't be worth me working.

Not criticizing, just extremely frustrated at prospect of looking for work.

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by Gendenwitha

Wow. Seriously?
I was looking at this because I was looking at my work options, and part of that might include finding babysitter to drive oldest home from school.

I got paid $1/hr/kid as a teen (15-20 years ago) and pay $3/hour to a SAHM when I was working (a few months ago) I don't even make $13/hour, if I had to pay $5/hour, by the time you take out taxes and gas and commute time, it wouldn't be worth me working.

Not criticizing, just extremely frustrated at prospect of looking for work.

Its definitely frustrating finding affordable childcare nowadays. Anywhere you go.

As for the OP, I agree for a mother's helper in house with mom $5-$6 sounds reasonable.

[just_lily]

Originally Posted by Gendenwitha

Wow. Seriously?
I was looking at this because I was looking at my work options, and part of that might include finding babysitter to drive oldest home from school.

I got paid $1/hr/kid as a teen (15-20 years ago) and pay $3/hour to a SAHM when I was working (a few months ago) I don't even make $13/hour, if I had to pay $5/hour, by the time you take out taxes and gas and commute time, it wouldn't be worth me working.

Not criticizing, just extremely frustrated at prospect of looking for work.

Well it all depends on the circumstances. I said I would pay $5 an hour in this situation.

But I also run a home daycare. For a full-time kid I charge $800 a month, which works out to about $38 a day. If a kid is here 10 hours (some of them are) that is less than $4 an hour. BUT - I have four full-time kids, so I make $16 an hour(ish) all in.

But the girl in question here is only going to make $5 and that's it.

So just because a teenager might get paid $8 or $10 an hour for an evening, that doesn't necessarily translate into how much you would have to pay for regular childcare.