Comments on: How Much Should You Pay Your Babysitter? A Guest Post

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:36:07 +0000

Sorry, Rivka, but that’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely NOT up to the
employer to dictate how the employee will spend their wages. What
you’re saying is that when you go to get a job after college and
you have the exact same experience as someone who is 5 years older
than you, the older person (who will do the exact same job)
should get more pay simply because of age, and, according to you,
you (as the younger person) should be paid less, because you don’t
has as much use for the money as the older person. Just silly.

Pay should be based on the job that is to be done — NOT on the person
doing the job. If you give the job to someone, then you are saying
that they are capable of performing the job, and they should be
paid accordingly, whether that’s $5/hour or $50/hour. Don’t hire
someone younger (or older) just with the intent to pay them differently
because of their age.

By: Me

Me — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:09:14 +0000

I would *hire her (the girl that charges $5) not hit her – dang autocorrect!

By: Me

Me — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:06:42 +0000

I am a mother of 5 children and just recently I decided that it shouldn’t be about the number of kids, but the age and qualifications of the girl. Many of the girls I get to babysit are under 16, and I don’t believe they should be paid more than minimum wage – or even minimum wage. If McDonalds wouldn’t pay them that much for doing much less work (my kids are usually asleep 3/4 of the time) then why should I? I understand that it’s my children we’re talking about and of course they’re worth more than that to me, but if I had to pay more, I’d never get out with my husband, and that ‘s not good for our relationship and therefore also not good for our children. Paying a girl $10 an hour to sit at your house while your kids sleep most of the night spoils her for others who would like to hire her. Now she believes she deserves more. Daycare providers who get a degree barely make $10 an hour in some states. I love the girl that said she does it for $5 an hour no matter what because she likes doing it. I’d hit her and probably pay her more than that – but at least I’d know she wasn’t complaining behind my back to her friends about how cheap I am. I pay $5 for 12 and 13 year olds, $6 for 14 and 15, and $7 for 16 and up – I feel like at least that way I compete a little with the McDonalds job they could get instead and hate a whole lot more.
One last thing is that I have a 10 year old daughter – for one, she is a great help to the babysitter – so I often feel like that relieves a lot of the work she’d have to do. The other thing is that when my daughter starts babysitting, I really hope people don’t spoil her by making her believe a 12 year old should get $10 an hour for ANY job – childcare or not. She gets $20 every once in a while and feels like she’s living like a king. I don’t want anyone to pay her more than $5 an hour – that’s all she needs, and frankly, it’s all she deserves!
Lastly, someone mentioned something about them being there for if something happened to your kid. Yeah, they’re there, but if something bad were to happen, you know it wouldn’t be the girl taking card of the problem – she would call me and I would rush home to the aide of my children. She wouldn’t know what to do – and I’d expect her to call me – I wouldn’t want her to try to deal with it on her own. If I wanted someone like that, I would have to pay out the nose for her because she’d be overqualified to sit in front of the tv while my children sleep – just in case.
I know this is a huge rant, and maybe it’s just my way of justifying paying less, but I’d like girls out there to see that they really aren’t qualified to be asking any more than minimum wage – especially when a lot of them don’t have very much experience.
I had a babysitter recently tell me her rate was $8 – now granted, she’s 17, so she deserves a bit more, but once when she came to my house, she sat in one room and read a book while my kids made a mess with popcorn all over the floor in the other room while watching a movie – and she left the mess! I know that it’s not much more than my aforementioned rate, but I just don’t think she does $8 an hour work! She has decided to have babysitting be her kid instead of going out and getting a regular job. I don’t blame her! If I could get paid $8 an hour to feed some kids, put them in bed, and then watch tv for 3 hours, I’d want that job more than mcDonalds too! This rising generation is too spoiled! They believe they’re owed all this stuff for doing nothing…

By: Rivka

Rivka — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:54:40 +0000

Sally – I have to disagree with you here. Sorry about the super late response but I’ve only just seen your post!

The idea behind paying less has nothing to do with whether or not you trust them more – it’s more of a matter of what kind of money a 13 year old really needs. If you start paying an 11 year old sitter $12 off the bat, that 11 year old may not appreciate the money as much when she’s a 19 year old college student. I make $12 an hour babysitting. I usually babysit for about 3 hours a time and we often take the dogs out for walks or spend time with their guinea pigs, so I get a little more. *WHAT* is an 11 year old going to do with $40? Stash it in a bank and save it? Hardly likely. It’s much more a matter of not spoiling the kid and what money amount seems age-appropriate. My mom occasionally gives me $30 or so nowadays to go see a movie and get lunch (I live in LA, movies are expensive here); she would never have given me half that amount when I was 10. (I’m 19 now.)

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:09:59 +0000

I thought all these comments were very interesting.

I am a 17 year old female,im extremely energetic, nice/sweet, tons of fun, very responsible and respectful. I have alot of experience working with kids, i babysit alot (i have 22 younger first cousins) and work with kids as a camp counsellor at YMCA for Summer,Winter and March Break Camps.

I thought $5 dollars was reasonable whether they have have 1 kid or 10 kids, i still keep it the same. Whether they are asleep or not i keep it at 5. The only time i may charge more is on new years just because hours are alot longer. I dont charge more if child is under 3…I always tell parents to pay what they feel is appropriate. Parents know their children best, they know their financial situation and what they can afford.

I have often babysat for free…yes FREE. Most parents love that idea. If your kids are very well behaved sometimes i dont charge or i give them a break and make it free for a night. I understand sometimes times are hard and money is tight.

The truth is i dont care what im paid..I do it cause i love working with kids and it gives me lots of experience.My camp counsellor position at work i would do it for free thats how much i love working with any chance. Im very reliable I was an on-call one year (meaning i get last minute calls such as 10 minutes before camp starts)I was ALWAYS there and i never said no, i love my job. I need money for university so unfortunatly although i would love to I cannot work for nothing or else i would.

When i went to camp every morning i always had kids yelling my name, i was greeted every morning with at least 10 hugs.

Im not a babysitter that will just sit around and watch your kids play..trust me im a big kid and would deffinatly be laying on the floor playing cars, flying around like superman or digging in the sandbox. Whenever i babysit i always bring my bag of fun or as my campers call it ‘The Best Babysitter ever kit’ lol… I spend most of my money on my campers or the children i babysit. Parents are often shocked to hear i put most of their money actually back into their kids. I always bring a bag full of fun activities such as playdoh, different games, outside toys,crafts, colouring books etc. I bring whats appropriate for the child/childrens age. I do often take kids to the park, swimming, to museums or random events that may be on (depending on age, and ALWAYS with the parents permission..I am never more then an arms length away from your child especially in a pool)

I have also been certified in CPR and First Aid Training. Aswell as taking a Babysitting course when i was younger.

Its hard for me to picture myself charging more but its hard to say when your trying to save money for university to become a teacher one day down the road.

Do you think i should be payed more? or do you think my five dollars is appropriate?

I would love to hear your answers, Your welcome to email me at arebidoux@sympatico.ca :)

By: Anne A

Anne A — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:40:48 +0000

My 13 year old daughter is a back-up babysitter for a family with 2 young children (4 & 7) and the mother had stated she paid $8.00 per hour. My daughter would have been happy with anything and was very pleased with this. My daughter has only babysat about 3 times for this family and usually at short notice as they are stuck. My daughter is very responsible and mature for her age and even volunteers at the YMCA as she is a fabulous swimmer and helps other children learn to swim and overcome their fear of the water. When she babysits she always does the dishes and last time she even bought the kids something specially picked out by her at the dollar store as she adores these kids. She evens brings her own nailpolish and paints the little girl’s nails. She pays attention to both children so they don’t feel left out and does not favour one over the other. The mother made a comment “oh what do I pay you” – is it $8.00 as there’s another girl who is a lot cheaper that lives back behind us? I was there and said “yes” but was really taken back on her comment and should have asked what she pays her other babysitter. I drive my daughter there and back as the kids are usually in bed and the other parent working. Was this a rude comment or what especially when she advised in the first place she paid $8.00 plus my daughter helped them as they were stuck?

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:35:46 +0000

I am 16 and i’ve babysat for almost 4 years, but I’ve never charged because I always babysat a family friends little boys. They would pick me up from school and help me with hw and such. But they’ve moved and one of their friends asked if I could babysit for them. I’m CPR certified and I’ll be making about $4 a day/$100 a week. I feel that I am being cheated. Seeing as how it is an all day job(8:30-5:30) and its during summer. I’ve looked on-line and most say I should charge $8-$11, most of my friends charge $10. I wouldnt charge $10/11 because I know thats to much for a single mom (which she is) and she could easily find some one for cheaper. But I still feel like I should charge more…maybe $115 a week? Most daycares charge $130-ish I’ve heard. I feel bad for asking but I know I should be getting more than $4 an hour!

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:15:57 +0000

I am 19 and a babysitter of one child that is 2 almost 3.I babysit Tues, Wed and Thurs from 2:30-4:30 and on Fri from 2:30-3:30 and I make $50 a week. All I have to do is put on movies and make sure he is not getting into anything. I think its pretty good pay for sitting and watching movies! On nights that I have to babysit till after bed time I get paid more. It really all depends on the child and what you have to do.

By: AllieZirkle

AllieZirkle — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:06:19 +0000

Just popping in to say I’ve linked up your article to a meetup.com mom’s group I’m in. :)

This topic continues to be relevant in my life and I’m so glad to have you as a resource!

~Allie

By: Lynette P

Lynette P — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:55:45 +0000

I guess I have to add my voice to this discussion. My daughters have done a lot of babysitting for Christian and non-christian people recently. I am sorry to say that they have told me that the non-christian people are far more generous in pay and far less demanding. They have worked for moms in our church who are making between 30.00-50.00 per hour (no joke!)
And they are asked to watch 3 kids…make lunch…mop floors…do laundry… pull weeds…paint bathroom walls!!!, and I don’t know what all—for way less than minimum wage! I suppose they should have made it very clear what they expected in pay and responsibilities, but it was rather hard for them to tell our own church people a set amount….besides—they never told our non-christian neighbors either. They simply knew what was appropriate and paid the girls a decent amount with-out even asking their rate.
Some of these rates mentioned here seem exhorbitant, and I wouldn’t even expect a teen to get that much, but to pay way less than the going rate for your area and pile on all kinds of responsibilities just because the kid is a member of your church is unacceptable.
Thanks for letting me unload.