What to pay a babysitter?

[uncommon]

That's wonderful but we're not all that lucky.

I understand that. I was just sharing my own answer and situation. It's not easy for me to get a family member to babysit so I generally just don't go out. I am lucky that my job is 8-4 and I can get back in time to pick my DD up from the YMCA and don't have to pay someone else to do it. If I had to pay $10/hr for a babysitter, I would have to rearrange my schedule because it wouldn't be financially feasible for me to do this.

[uncommon]

I pay $10 an hour. I have 3 children (12, 8, & 6) and my babysitter is a freshmen in college, but we've been using her since she was a junior in high school.

I really don't think you can compare babysitting to a a reg. min. wage job. I don't use my babysitter for 20+ hours a week. The most I've used her is 5 hours 2x a month, but the norm is 4 hours every other weekend. So 10 hours or $100 for the entire month. Someone working a min. wage job is gonna get way more than $100 a month. She is great with the kids, plays games, takes them to the pool in the summer and I know my children are safe when they are with her.

They are also going to work a lot more than 10 hours for it lol. Working 10 hours per month for minimum wage nets less than $100.

[Doglover8180]

I sometimes wonder if parents have spent more on the babysitter for the evening then the dinner and movie they went too. It is expensive.

[CouponQueen23]

I sometimes wonder if parents have spent more on the babysitter for the evening then the dinner and movie they went too. It is expensive.

This is probley the exact reason why we never go out, it is cheaper to stay home

[deeann7]

Babysitting Rates | Babysitter Rate Per Hour
In short, the average babysitting rate is typically around $8 - $12 per hour but babysitting wages can vary widely anywhere from as little as $4 per hour all the way up to $18 per hour or more! Why such a wide range? The reason is what rate to pay a babysitter depends on many factors, the most critical of which are location, experience, number of children, and any other additional requirements from parents. To read more click the link
also
Babysitting Rate Calculator | babysitting-rates.com

[christinamikayla]

My MIL works at a daycare and babysits on the weekends for some of the families. She typically gets $10 an hour. She sits for the same family every Friday for 4 hours and gets $40. The owner of the daycare gives her $17 an hour if she watches for her on the weekend. During Christmas break she'll watch for the same family all week and get less per hour. This is more like a nanny and gets paid per day not per hour. Depending on the family and how many kids she gets around $300 for the work week. The daycare she works at is in a wealthy area so most of the families that she sits for are wealthy, live in nice big houses, drive fancy cars and are doctors, attornys, accountants, business owners, etc...

[Doglover8180]

$17 an hour - that's incredible..... I want to babysit for that family :)

[christinamikayla]

$17 an hour - that's incredible..... I want to babysit for that family :)

yeah, everyone that works at the daycare does too!!!

[Colinsgrandma]

I used to make $.35 an hour. My daughter in law who is a preschool teacher charges $10 more for extra kids.

[brokenangel]

wow! When I babysat 20+ years ago I got paid $1 an hour. I used to run a daycare out of my home and only charged $1 an hour per kid... I was certified through the state so they paid for the meals. that was 17 yrs ago. I was on the very cheap end of the spectrum, just helped me beable to stay home with my kids. my dog has horrible gas right now and I want to gag... sorry, i got a wiff and thought I would share.