How Much Should You Pay Your Babysitter
Date: Nov 5th, 2009 8:09:00 pm - Subscribe
Mood: bipolar
You’ve found the perfect sitter (yay!), but what on earth should you pay her? If you search parenting message boards for the answer you’re going to find that sitter pay rates range from as low as $3/hour (yikes!) to as high as $25/hour (double yikes!) I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but in the end there is no easy answer.
Hourly babysitting rates depend on a variety of factors from where you live to what you expect your sitter to do while she’s with your kids. Who you hire is also an issue; you’re going to pay a 12 year old Mother’s Helper a lot less than a 45 year old experienced Nanny. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You also have to consider how many kids she’ll be watching, how old they are, and if they have special needs. And last, but definitely not least, you have to take into account when the sitter is going to be watching your children.
How to determine what to pay your sitter
The best way to determine the going rate in your neighborhood is to ask around. Talk to other parents in your community to find out what they pay. Talk to any sitters you know. And finally ask your babysitter what she usually charges. Babysitters often set their own rates and will probably let you know in their Sitters.com profile or when you talk to them about a potential job. You can even ask her previous employers what they paid her when you call to check her references.
Once you’ve done your research consider the following before deciding what you’re comfortable paying.
How many kids will she be watching? Most parents pay a little extra for three or more kids.
How old are the kids? Infants and toddlers might require more care.
Who are your kids? Are they a rambunctious lively bunch or will they sit and read in a corner the whole time?
Where do you live? If you live in a major city you might have to pay more than if you live in a very rural area.
How old is your sitter? Young teens usually make less per hour than a grown-up who’s been watching kids for years.
How much experience does the sitter have? You’ll need to pay very experienced sitters lots more than someone who has absolutely no training.
Speaking of training, does she have Childcare Certification, Early Childhood Education credits, a college degree, CPR training? Any of these guarantee her a higher pay rate.
When is she coming over? Watching children from 10am to 5pm is very different than watching kids from 7pm to midnight.
Does she need to be picked up and dropped off or does she have her own transportation? You can get away with paying a little less if you are in charge of getting her to your house and taking her home.
How far will she have to travel to get to your house? Depending on where you live you might want to take into account gas prices and travel time.
What do you expect her to do while she’s at your house? Expect to pay more for someone to fold your laundry and clean the kitchen than for someone who’s just going to play with the kids.
What is the time away worth to you? Hey! Some days that might be all that matters.
Coming to a decision of what to pay
One way or another, you’re best off broaching the topic before leaving the new sitter with your children. Nothing is more upsetting than losing a great sitter because she didn’t think you paid enough or coming home after a great date and being hit with a bill twice as high as you’d anticipated. As the one hiring it’s your responsibility to bring up the topic. Start by asking her what she charges and by letting her know what you think is fair. Then you can both negotiate until you reach a fee that pleases everyone. Don’t forget to ask about the best way to pay her; some sitters will take checks while others prefer cash.
No matter what you decide in the end, don’t forget that babysitting rates aren’t set in stone. Being flexible will definitely work in your favor. Tipping for great service or if the job ends up lasting longer or being harder than you had anticipated is always appreciated. Be liberal with your tips and raises and you’ll guarantee that your beloved sitter won’t wander off to find greener pastures.
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