I was talking to my friend this morning and she brought up the issue of how much money should you pay a babysitter? I have asked this question of a lot of people and received answers all across the board. I think there are several factors that go into the equation. 1. How many children are being tended. Leave more kids= pay more money. 2. How old is the babysitter. Is it wrong to think that the time and experience of an older sitter is worth more? Also, they have a better idea about the shrinking value of the dollar. 3. Location. It definitely depends on where you live as to how much it is appropriate to pay. Our family in San Francisco definitely pays more than our family in Utah. 4. Your ability to pay. If you pay all of your extra cash to the sitter for a night out, but then can't do anything fun together it just might not be worth it.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on factors that go into the babysitter equation as a parent. But I was also a babysitter (and although it was probably longer ago than I think) I feel like I remember some things pretty well. First is that I hated getting stuck with hard children (crying baby) and leaving with a few dollars ($4) after a long tending ordeal (4 hours. True story.) Second is that there were families I loved to sit for because I loved their kids and didn't really care what they paid. Third is that as I got older there were other ways to earn money that were worth more to me than babysitting. And fourth, if you are LDS and hire an LDS babysitter, the girls will talk to each other about about how your kids are and what you pay. So yes, I am personally sensitive about what to pay the babysitter as I don't want any of them to regret, be turned off, feel slighted, or not want to come back and tend for me.
Finally, I have come to adopt a personal motto that the mother of some kids I babysat a lot shared with me. She said- I am not just paying you for your time to come and sit at my house. I am paying you to watch, guard, love, and protect my most important asset(s) while I am away.
17 comments:
Here is another idea: I once was paid by task completed. Read to kids--$3. Bathe kids--$2 each. Kids to bed--$3 each. Dishes done--$5. Toys cleaned up--$4. etc. etc. You get the point. So, the idea was, the more things you did, the better you were paid. That way, no one felt slided--parents came home to a clean house and felt it was worth it to pay the sitter well. (This was the same babysitting job I slammed the little girl's hand in the door--sad--but a true story.)
Don't gip (jip?) the babysitter! (I'm sure you don't but that is the WORST). As a side note, if you lived by us, I'd babysit for free! Hooray for you for getting away from the small ones every once in a while.
I payed my niece $5.00 an hour and that was when we just had Maggie. I would think $7.00 an hour for 2 kids. I dont know really though maybe that's not enough.
this is a topic we have been discussing as jessica is wanting to do babysitting for a summer/college job since she loves kids so much. but we haven't known what to say she'd charge. i agree w/ whitney that you should get more the more things you do, and with jord that the more experience you have and the older you are you should get more- but then will parents want to pay for that, or just want some 12 year old--- it's a hard thing- i'll let you know what happens when she finds something.
I totally pay my older babysitters more because I usually need them to drives themselves home and that is totally a commodity worth paying for! :) I agree with Claire, though, never jip the babysitter! That is the worst, and they totally talk ;) I
Good points..I always hated getting hardly anything for watching 5 kids for hours and hours. I definitely don't want someone else to feel under appreciated..I think its also great when the sitter cleans the house..I ALWAYS did that and I had some 'return' clients.
Oh and good for you on the pilates..I love pilates..I will do it until the day I die'! As a side note..you can do it the entire pregnancy..should you ever feel so inclined to have another baby..I teach it in my ward out here..its the best exercise to get back in shape after a baby, plus it totally strengthens your core and works your posture! Keep it up, you WILL see fast results.
I know your frustration! When we ask a girl how much they charge they say anything, or whatever... I never want to be the cheap one!
We hired a teen (decent money) to play with bug at the play ground while max played at a tball game and she was texting the whole time, and I took spencer half way through the game. So I get nervous if thats how they babysit and I am in eyes view...makes me nervous??
Let me know the answer to your question if you find one and who is a good sitter!!!
It's "gyp"
Whit- that is a good idea. I am going to have a girl over in the summer while I am here and that may be a good way to pay.
Don't worry Claire, I'll do my best not to gyp (as long as J consents)
Katie- that is right around where I am at..hopefully it works.
Leemo- Good question about parents paying Jessica. I know day care centers charge about $120/week/child, but that equates to definitely less than the minimum wage.
Sarah- a sitter who drives...bonus!
Alexis- thanks for understanding. And you're right, good effects from pilates have started already.
Nichole- that stinks about a texting sitter. There is a line where the girl needs to be responsible and actually earn the money you pay.
I guess I was cheap...when I was actually paying! I usually get my sis Dionne to sit for me, but when she couldn't I was paying $5 per hour for Brooklyn and Dade...I had once heard it was $3 an hour per child and was less per hour the more children being watched. I thought I was paying well since I knew someone with 3 children paying only $6. I love Whitney's idea of paying per task completed...smartest idea ever!
Jor-I totally pay my babysitter well partly because I'm afraid if I don't she'll go & find someone else! Katie loves her & she does a really good job...so I tend to pay a little more than normal, but she has stayed my babysitter for a while.
Here's the deal. I cannot afford to pay more than $5 for a date night, and I won't. So either they do it or they don't. I never had a problem finding a sitter even with my low pay. I think it's because my kids were good AND I became friends with the girls that sat for me. I would take them swimming with me and my kids, to the mall sometimes and downtown...not to babysit, but just for fun. I LOVE having a babysitter now!!!! You have NO idea. I hear in my ward the rate is up to around $7 an hour for about 3 kids. I'm sorry, that is a lot of money. Just to go on a date might cost more than what you actually end up doing. I hate "trades" with friends as well. I think paying per thing they do is a bad idea. What if they do a bad job, but they "think" they do a good job. Thier idea of dishes done, toys put away or kids actually asleep may be different than yours. Get them young. Have obedeint kids, and become their friends and you'll have it made in the shade.
Jord that is so funny you did this post, I've had mine sitting in the 'drafts" for a few weeks now but haven't got around to completing it. I pay $3 an hour for Emma, my standard was $1 an hour plus $2 per kid, but I am feeling CHEAPO! So I've just started doing closer to $5 an hour, what's an extra couple of bucks to us when it comes to a good babysitter? I've got something way worse then a texting babysitter....how about we had a 13 year-old beehive looking at pornography one night while she babysat for us and we went to the temple, nice. It was a bit of an ordeal. Since then we only use one sitter, we know her family WELL, and if she can't do it, then we drive to Logan for Jessica or we don't go out at all. My rule of thumb is to have your rate fall somewhere along the same lines as minimum wage, but that's only after you've had 2 kids, one kid is a different story. I like your friend Whitney's idea, that shows them just what they're getting paid to do. One last thing, I would love to get a babysitter cam, if you ever find anyweher cheap to get them please let me know :) I'm kind of sneaky like that. Thanks for the great post topic. I guess I could have written you all of this in an email.
Jord: Good post, very interesting, and many good comments. I think I'd just like to hire those who loved my kids and didn't want any pay, and I'd do my best to accomodate them. You did identify important factors to consider. It seems that you and Claire made out pretty well with the family in our neighborhood who always overpaid. They may have financed your early teenage years.
ree ree
I was a CHEAP payer when I had to pay sitters. As a single mom I couldn't afford a lot. I would pay $1 per kid, per hour. I mean, they're getting paid to watch TV and eat my food. It's not like they were teaching my children to read, or doing arts and crafts. I really hate paying when the kids are asleep. I echo Stacey in that it is SOOO nice to have built in sitters now. However, my older kids HATE it and complain a lot that they didn't ask me to have more kids. I tell them that when they are young parents, Spencer and Milly will owe them HOURS and HOURS of babysitting. I can't imagine paying someone $5-$7 an hour!!!! OUCH! I am way too cheap.
Christen: So jealous that you have family to sit for you!
JL: I'd love to sit for you any time. You are and have always been so generous.
Stacey: $5 for a whole date night? ;) Lucky you.
Linny: So scary about the porn girl...seriously that would scar me for life.
Jamie: I can't wait for my built in sitters- 10 isn't too young for them to start, is it?
And Pops: Yes, the related neighbors did finance many clothes and high school activities which was a bonus for everyone.
Jordan isntead of paying a babysitter do a swap.
Out here there are quite a few couples in the ward that swap with each other.
So the goal is to have kids in bed then have someone come and hang out while you and J go on a date. Then a few weeks later you do the same for that couple. So you go over, while J stays home with your kids, the other kids are supposed to be in bed, you sit at there house and hang out while that other couple goes on a date.
It works SO well and its FREE.
Hope this makes sense
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