How much would you pay a 13 y.o babysitter-I'm at home too

[Enudely]

I will be hiring a very sweet 13 y.o to watch my kids in my house while I teach music lessons in the next room. I'm looking for input as to how much I should pay her. I want to offer $5.00 an hour. Is that too little? I will be giving her 2 solid hours a week at least, so she'll be taking home $40 a month. Should I go up to $7.00? more? I am on a very tight budget here....

[AmaraMonillas]

Does she have any experience or other families she works for? If so I would ask how much they pay for reference (not that you need to pay the same exactly). I think $5 is very reasonable. Unless she has been doing weekly childcare for multiple children since she was 10 (like I did ) any more is unnecessary. Do keep in mind as she gets older and more experienced the rate should go up. By the time she is 15 and can get a "regular" job you should match minimum wage if at all financially feasible.

Another thing I wanted to mention is to have really clear definition of what are appropriate reasons for you to be interrupted (child is hurt or feeling sick, crying for more than x number of minutes, etc.). Make sure your kids also hear it from you and you consistently back her up as the authority while she is there. Once she is at the experience level where you are comfortable leaving her alone with them, the pay rate should not vary depending on whether you are there. In my experience (and the other nanny's I know), watching children is always far more difficult and stressful with the parents around.

I hope it works out wonderfully!

[Drummer's Wife]

I was thinking about $5 an hour - seems fair to me.

[finnegansmom]

That's a good question. I have an almost 12 year old cousin, who I was going to hire more as a "mother's helper" - watching the boys while I clean, cook, work (you know, fun stuff!). I was totally thinking $5 an hour too!!

I know when I was that age, $40 a month would have been awesome!

[joycenjackiesmom]

I immediately thought of your question in terms of how much I would be comfortable with my 12 year old making next year and my thought was $4 or $5 an hour---with two hours a week $5. Enough to make her feel like she is earning enough to buy herself something but not so much that she thinks it's always easy to earn a lot of money.

[butterfly_mommy]

I pay my 13 year old niece $5 an hour to babysit my DS who is 2.5. i think $5 is very reasonable esp since you are on site.