[ecuadorianmom]

I was told about a babysitting position the baby would be 2 months old and the hours to babysit are from 8-10 hours depending on who gets home first from work... I have babysat infants before but never charged because it was either family or considered just for 2-3 hours max... I have a 11month of my own so I know how much work it really is for those long hours.. Question is how much should I charge?

[leanne1987]

I think this depends were abouts you will be babysitting, is it in the comfort of your own home or will you be in there home, if it is at there home then you have to take into account your child will get bored easily with nothing to do, do you have a car to take the children out to pass the time? 8-10 hours in some one else home is a long time! I would set an hourly rate, I don't know were your from so wouldn't know in dollars, for a child minder in uk its normally 6-7 pound an hour

[Jake2008]

What I would do is call local daycare centres, and ask them what the going rate is for full-time infant care, and go from there.

What you are more, it seems, is a full time nanny, which would be even more expensive, presuming you are in their home.

If the infant is in your home, and you aren't doing any additional work in theirs such as cleaning, cooking, laundry etc. then probably a flat rate in the ballpark of $10-15 an hour would be reasonable. Infants are a lot of time consuming work as we all know.

I would charge an additional fee over 8 hours. It could be every day turns into a 10 hour day, or more, and they should pay you additional money for each hour over 8.

I hope that it is worth your while to take on raising an infant, as well as taking care of your own. The benefit should be, to you, to make it worthwhile.

Regardless, it is a job, and a full time one at that. You could be working 50 hours a week, which is a good chunk of your time. Make sure you don't short change yourself, or leave yourself open for additional hours that should be additional pay.