Babysitter fees

[Geckmumto3]

I know babysitting fees vary greatly from area to area. Tomorrow we have a teenage babysitter coming in to sit with our kids for a long time. For us, it is a long time. She is coming at 4:00 and we likely will not be home before midnight. She has babysat for us at other times, but for much shorter periods of time (afternoon matinee, meetings, etc...). What would you consider paying a teenager for that amount of time (approximately seven-eight hours)? Three kids, but no babies.

[danner]

When our 24 year old college student sitter comes to sit with my 4 yo and 15mo, she comes for 6 hours and we are usually there with her. (We've been painting and stuff to get our house ready for sale) She sometimes takes our car to the museum.

Anyway, we pay her $45 for the 6 hours, which is $7.5. When she travelled out to our new place that is further, I gave her an extra $5.

I would suggest paying her her normal rate per hour, whatever that is, and as long as it's not $15 an hour, give her a bonus for her commitment. (You'll need her again!)

[EmilytheStrange]

Whatever her normal rate is should apply regardless of how many hours she is there. Some sitters might drop their hourly rate for when the children are asleep, but really, they don't have to because well... they're still giving up their time.

We pay $10 an hour for 1 child (2yo). We could find cheaper, but I really like this nanny.

[galesville1980]

We pay our teenage babysitter $5/hr for 2 kids...she will watch them for just a few hrs. We pay our daycare lady $50/day as she watches them 8.5/hrs per day...so id say somewhere in between would be fair.

[Geckmumto3]

Originally Posted by danner When our 24 year old college student sitter comes to sit with my 4 yo and 15mo, she comes for 6 hours and we are usually there with her. (We've been painting and stuff to get our house ready for sale) She sometimes takes our car to the museum. Anyway, we pay her $45 for the 6 hours, which is $7.5. When she travelled out to our new place that is further, I gave her an extra $5. I would suggest paying her her normal rate per hour, whatever that is, and as long as it's not $15 an hour, give her a bonus for her commitment. (You'll need her again!)

That's about what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by EmilytheStrange Whatever her normal rate is should apply regardless of how many hours she is there. Some sitters might drop their hourly rate for when the children are asleep, but really, they don't have to because well... they're still giving up their time. We pay $10 an hour for 1 child (2yo). We could find cheaper, but I really like this nanny.

I actually thought I should pay her more, not less, because it was so long and late...

Originally Posted by galesville1980 We pay our teenage babysitter $5/hr for 2 kids...she will watch them for just a few hrs. We pay our daycare lady $50/day as she watches them 8.5/hrs per day...so id say somewhere in between would be fair.

We have paid her $5 an hour in the past regardless of how many of the kids are here. We often add a bonus/tip on top.

[chloecat]

we pay our babysitter $2 an hour per child. so we have 3 kids and if we go out for 5 hours then i pay her $30. she lives literally right next store so i don't have to worry about her gas money or anything though

[luvsviola]

Our neighborhood pays $10 per hour. So 4-midnight would be $80. I live in central Indiana, so a low cost of living.

Sadly, we have to have 2 sitters when we go out due to DS's special needs. Evenings out are quite expensive for us.

[I_run_with_scissors]

How much do you normally pay per hour? I would pay the same rate, maybe add on an extra 5 for the late night

[danner]

From what you've said, I'd give her $50 if you come in later than midnight and the house looks as it should.

Eta I'd go so far as giving her a small task to do once the kids are sleeping. I don't know if that's normal, but it's what I do.

[luvsviola]

I used to wrap Christmas presents for the people I babysat for. I liked doing it, and it gave me something to do.