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View Full Version : What is the going rate for a babysitter?


danielnoahsmommy
Sep 5, 2008, 05:02 PM
We will be using a babysitter for the first time. She is a daughter of a friend and 14 years old and has experience with a youngster as she has a sibling the similar age of my son? She does not know what to charge. What should I give her?

JudyKayTee
Sep 5, 2008, 05:11 PM
We will be using a babysitter for the first time. she is a daughter of a friend and 14 years old and has experience with a youngster as she has a sibling the similar age of my son? she does not know what to charge. what should I give her?


I think it depends on your area - what do your friends and neighbors pay?

I pay $15.00 an hour to the person who dog sits for me - and that's the going rate.

danielnoahsmommy
Sep 5, 2008, 05:13 PM
That's what I pay for my dog sitter per visit as well, but I think 15 is a bit high for a babysitter? What do you think?

ConfusedInAK
Sep 5, 2008, 05:21 PM
Shoot 1 kid for a 14 year old... I would pay them $5 per hour and if everything is in order when I got home maybe a bonus.

I only pay $20 per hour for 4 kids!

LOL maybe I should start babysitting ;0)

JudyKayTee
Sep 5, 2008, 05:23 PM
Thats what i pay for my dog sitter per visit as well, but i think 15 is a bit high for a babysitter? what do you think?


I don't pay $15 a visit - I pay $15 AN HOUR.

J_9
Sep 5, 2008, 05:24 PM
Thats what i pay for my dog sitter per visit as well, but i think 15 is a bit high for a babysitter? what do you think?

You are willing to pay your dogsitter more than your babysitter? I don't mean to sound harsh, but isn't your child worth more?

My daughter charges a flat rate of $20. With this rate, no matter how many or how few hours, she has a flourishing babysitting business.

ConfusedInAK
Sep 5, 2008, 05:28 PM
I pay my sitter $50 for an over night which is usually 7pm to 2 am...

I think $5 per hour PER child is generous for a 14 year old to earn...

danielnoahsmommy
Sep 5, 2008, 05:33 PM
I'm not saying I pay more for a dog sitter than a baby sitter. Someone mentioned dog sitting, and I told them how much they were getting for a visit.

My child is worth more than anything to me, but that does not mean I should over pay for a babysitter, now do I want to underpay.

I just want to know what would be a fair yet generous amount to pay a babysitter!

Fr_Chuck
Sep 5, 2008, 07:01 PM
Yes somewhere the I pay the dog sitter more just bothered me, But I pay about 30 dollars for a evening out

JBeaucaire
Sep 5, 2008, 08:41 PM
$10 to show up, then at least minimum wage for 1 kid, adjust upwards from there.

1 kid - $10+$6p.h.

Add $3 per kid per hour, so 3 kids would be $10+$12p.h.

Write that on a card and give it to the parents when you talk to them. It's professional, and looks pretty good in writing.

JustMarried614
Sep 5, 2008, 08:49 PM
I think it depends on your area - what do your friends and neighbors pay?

I pay $15.00 an hour to the person who dog sits for me - and that's the going rate.


I hope your dog sitter has a master's degree

JudyKayTee
Sep 6, 2008, 06:55 AM
I hope your dog sitter has a master's degree



She's a retired teacher so, yes, she probably does.

liz28
Sep 6, 2008, 08:02 AM
Depending on how long you plan on staying out. I give my 15 year old sitter a flat rate of $40 and she watchest her no more than 4-5 hours.

JudyKayTee
Sep 6, 2008, 08:17 AM
You are willing to pay your dogsitter more than your babysitter? I don't mean to sound harsh, but isn't your child worth more?

My daughter charges a flat rate of $20. With this rate, no matter how many or how few hours, she has a flourishing babysitting business.



Asked my neighbor - she said she gets what she pays for. Her sitter has some Red Cross training (the sitter is 16), good head on her shoulders, wants to be a teacher, and she pays $20.00/hour. I guess the neighbors practically fight over this girl.

Another girl in the neighborhood also babysits but for $15.00 an hour but no first aid training, no references.

J_9
Sep 6, 2008, 12:07 PM
Wow, my daughter is First Aid trained and she charges a $20 flat fee. She has people knocking our doors down for her. Between school, cheerleading, and babysitting I never see her anymore. (She's 15).

JudyKayTee
Sep 6, 2008, 12:10 PM
Wow, my daughter is First Aid trained and she charges a $20 flat fee. She has people knocking our doors down for her. Between school, cheerleading, and babysitting I never see her anymore. (She's 15).


I think it might depend on where you live, who is available.

cher042571
Sep 8, 2008, 07:37 AM
I have 2 children, ages 3 and 1... I pay 5.oo per hour for 1 child and 8.00 per hour for 2.

liz28
Sep 8, 2008, 07:48 AM
Since your going be gone for only 2-3 hours you can give her $20-25. Even $30 is okay.

xcarriecookex
Sep 8, 2008, 08:43 AM
We will be using a babysitter for the first time. she is a daughter of a friend and 14 years old and has experience with a youngster as she has a sibling the similar age of my son? she does not know what to charge. what should I give her?
I would say the average is around 5 pounds an hour. But as she is a friend she may want less so ask her first!

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