Wow, you guys had some great advice about baby-sitters. And, since I have a calling with the Stake Young Women, I actually have six Young Women's Presidents at my disposal. Although, I did like the point about knowing the parents well. In fact, I mostly baby-sat for families that were good friends with my mom. Hmm... mental puzzle pieces are beginning to fit together.
I should have asked this yesterday, but since I didn't, you get two baby-sitting related posts in a row. And two question posts in a row. Bonus, eh?
The question: What's the going rate for baby-sitters these days? I know that I charged $1/hour/child back in the early-to-mid-nineties. At the time my rates were fairly common, although I knew girls that would watch one child and make $5/hour, sometimes more. But really, what's a fair wage for a baby-sitter?
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I think it depends on the area. Here in Colorado my friends seem to pay $6-7 an hour, and that's about what we've paid. Depends also on how many kids and ages.
In my experience it's a very unexact science. :-P
Wow, Beth! I still only pay $1.50 - $2 an hour (per kid). This is mainly because Jackson is so easy. No diapers to change or bums to wipe. I don't make my babysitters give him a bath. If they have to feed him, I have dinner ready, and none of my babysitters have cleaned anything. Also, I go off what my next door neighbor charges for day care, and her fee is $1.50 an hour for a 5 year old and older. I think it's $2 (or more) an hour for younger kids that need more attention.
I always ask my babysitters what they charge, but they never have a preference (and I've had three different ones). Personally, I would start low and work up. If you start paying high, then you can only go up from there. Most girls just want a little extra cash anyway and aren't too picky. At least the girls I've paid haven't said anything.
I paid my little brother (14) $5/hr. I pay seniors in high school $8-10/hr. But that's my personality - for services I always err on the generous side. I tip 20% in most all restaurants, unless they tick me off and then they get 10%. I've only tipped 10% a handful of times. And we eat out more often than we should. My sisters (I have three under me) would take whatever they were paid, but they weren't happy about it and didn't sit for those families again.
SOOO - I'd say try a moderate range for babysitting, and then increase a little when you find a girl you really like so she'll go out of her way to make you happy. My two cents.
We do $5/hour but that's for three kids. And I'll probably still keep it at $5/hour once the fourth one arrives, maybe $6.
We have one girl in particular that we like to have watch our kids. She's 13 but she's awesome! Her mom is in the Relief society presidency and her mom is also Elisabeth's kindergarten teacher. We love and trust their family and they're just a block or two away, so if there was an emergency, they could help their daughter out and drive them all somewhere.
We pay $5/hr base rate plus $1/hr per kids being watched. I've learned that with babysitting, you get what you pay for. Chances are, if you're a good payer, the babysitter will do an exceptional job because she'll want you to call her to do it again. I usually get my dishes done and house picked up before I get home with this rate. But obviously, it all depends on the babysitter. Good luck!
That is, the babysitter does the dishes and picks up the house. Sorry that wasn't very clear.
dang! we pay between $10-12 an hour. but we have 4 boys. and it's hard work.
I pay $6-7 an hour for my 2 boys. I can't believe LeMira can only pay $2 an hour!! I wish I could do that. My babysitters I use are both 13, almost 14, and I know their parents very well.
Maybe it depends on where you live. Everything seems more expensive in CA.
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