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OT-Current Babysitting Rate?

HappyCow's picture

Submitted by HappyCow on Fri, 04/21/2017 - 12:02pm

Luckily for DH and I we rarely need a babysitter due me having divorced parents who are more than happy to take her for the night or sometimes a whole weekend (awesome) However, tonight we were given tickets to the Orioles Game and I have asked our 16 year old neighbor to sit for DD9 since it's last minute and both sets of parents are occupied tonight.

My question is for the time from 5:00 to around 10:00 what is a fair rate? I am also providing pizza for her and DD9 plus letting them buy a movie on demand. I was thinking $10 per hour? Does this seem fair? DH was thinking $40 for the night but it is 5 hours and I would like to use her again if necessary and don't want to be know as the cheap parents who pay crap.

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HappyCow's picture

Submitted by HappyCow on Fri, 04/21/2017 - 12:46pm

I tried to ask her but she is so shy that she just told me it didn't matter. I just want to be fair. According to my other neighbor with 3 kids she was told that she doesn't babysit at all. I am really happy she agreed to help me out tonight since we are in a pinch. She is a really sweet kid and DD9 is super excited that she is watching her tonight.

stepadvice's picture

Submitted by stepadvice on Fri, 04/21/2017 - 1:49pm

I admit when I was a teenager 15 years ago I charged anywhere from $10-20 an hour. It depended on the family, how many kids and their ages. I lived in a middle class area and that was the going rate. My mother was pre-school teacher and the parents always asked her for a recommendation for a babysitter and suggested me.

I miss babysitting the money was really good for something I enjoyed. Especially when the kids were really well behaved.

not2sureimsaneanymore's picture

Submitted by not2sureimsanea... on Fri, 04/21/2017 - 1:58pm

We paid ours $10 an hour, and then we slip her a $50 on the last day of the year that she would be with us (she babysits for us between her college semesters.)

Acratopotes's picture

Submitted by Acratopotes on Mon, 04/24/2017 - 7:31am

I think the 10 bucks per hour is fair to watch one kid - from there on wards it's an additional 5 bucks per kid per hour for non diaper kids and 10buck for diaper kids....

Maybe you can talk to the girl lol and tell her this is her new price list for people.... obviously she does not want to watch the neighbor 3 kids, with reason....they are probably brats... that will be 20 bucks per kid per hour then