how much to charge for babysitting?

needstoknowmore · #1 02/27/10, 10:47 PM

I have been asked to babysit and they want to know how much i will charge. i have no idea. i am an adult least i think so im 40. the baby is not yet 3 months. they know i do have things to do but are things i can take the baby with me to do. its only one day a week. i havent been paid for watching kids since I was a teenager. i can use the money and know they dont have much, so just want to be fair. Any suggustions much apprieted! thankyou!

cc-rider · #2 02/27/10, 10:57 PM

How many hours a day are they thinking? Do you go to their house, or are they bringing baby to yours? Is this going to be an ongoing, every week thing, or just for a few weeks?

Chixarecute · #3 02/28/10, 08:02 AM

From $1 to $3 per hour. Parents supply all diapers & formula. Make sure you have a current infant car seat & know how to install & use it in case some of your "things to do" involves going in the car. What about a crib or pack & play? Get paid each time. Remember "back to sleep," and consider getting certified for infant & child CPR.

vancom · #4 02/28/10, 08:06 AM

my daughter is 18, and babysits two toddlers every now and again. She is paid $10.00 an hour.

cc-rider · #5 02/28/10, 08:16 AM

A "once in awhile" thing would pay more per hour. An "every day of the week until the kid starts school" thing can't charge as much. I think the $3 or up is more on target. Good info about having a car seat and the certification. Around here, you can get certified for free in babysitting classes.

What is "back to sleep", though? (Can you tell, I haven't had a baby in the house for nearly 3 decades now????)

TheMartianChick · #6 02/28/10, 08:27 AM

If you were babysitting for 5 days a week, I would say that you should charge $120 per week. For one day per week, I would just divide that $120 by 5 days and charge $24 per day. In my area, the going rate for a baby in daycare in $165 per week.

springvalley · #7 02/28/10, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

A "once in awhile" thing would pay more per hour. An "every day of the week until the kid starts school" thing can't charge as much. I think the $3 or up is more on target. Good info about having a car seat and the certification. Around here, you can get certified for free in babysitting classes.

What is "back to sleep", though? (Can you tell, I haven't had a baby in the house for nearly 3 decades now????)

Around here I would be charged $3/hour for my 3+ year old and $4/hour for my 5 month old. That would be in their home and I would provide all the diapers and formula. If she's bringing the baby to your house, I would go by this as well. Depends on your area and availabilities though.

As for "back to sleep", it's a catch phrase meaning you put the baby on it's back when you put it down to sleep.

CountryWannabe · #8 02/28/10, 09:31 AM

The local daycare charges $200 per week (7.30-5 M-Fr; 7.30-noon Sat) and parents provide diapers and formula. If you want to drop off for a few hours it is $8/hour - assuming they have space. I do not know if they have "part time" hours or not. If so, I would assume it would be somewhere in between the two rates.

I would probably go with around $4-$5 per hour if they were to bring the baby to me and it wouldn't interfere with my own schedule too much. If it were only on a very occasional basis or if I were to have to travel and stay at their home I would charge more.

Mary

bubbahead · #9 02/28/10, 11:48 AM

I was in a similar situation 2 years ago. It was for 9 hours on Saturday, my house, and I could tote the baby with me if I needed to go some where. It did not interfere with any of my plans, so I considered the money a little bonus.

I charged $20. Today I would probably charge $25. If the parents don't have much and you enjoy doing it, I think that would be a fair price for all concerned.

needstoknowmore · #10 02/28/10, 12:51 PM

Thanks everybody. It is only one day per week. not sure exact hours yet. I would have to travel with the baby as I take care of my mom a few hours everyday and also have older kids to drive around when needed. They would provide all milk and diapers. They know what I have to do, and are fine with me taking the baby with me. Will talk with them later today and try to get everything worked out. It will only be for until I find full time work, but for now I can do it and its the only day they don't have covered so mom can go back to work.

Charly · #11 02/28/10, 03:59 PM

Overland Park, KS checking in here and babysitters here ring in $10 an hour, plus I know many parents that throw in bonuses. Wish I were made out of that kind of money. I know a lot of the kids charge $7-8 per kid too. I remember when I was a kid...

I babysat for .50 and hour, made dinner, cleaned, and did whatever else was needed done around the house. Now the kids get $10, pizza brought in and watch movies while the kids sleep.

I remember I wanted a horse so bad. I saved babysitting money for 2 1/2 years until I bought my own. I was in high school. The deal with my parents was, I pay for the horse and they would pay for the feed. I think I won

Joshie · #12 03/01/10, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chixarecute

From $1 to $3 per hour. Parents supply all diapers & formula. Make sure you have a current infant car seat & know how to install & use it in case some of your "things to do" involves going in the car. What about a crib or pack & play? Get paid each time. Remember "back to sleep," and consider getting certified for infant & child CPR.

You're kidding, right? I was paid about a dollar an hour when I was a teen. I'm 45 now.

Child care centers charge around $120/week and up around here. Parents provide all supplies: wipes, diapers, formula, toys, place to sleep, etc If they provide the sleeping arrangements then you'd have fewer problems if something happened and you discover that the crib has been recalled. If you're going to transport the baby in your vehicle I'd make sure that they provided a wonderful car seat and that they show you how to install it. I'd also have them sign a waiver saying that it's ok for you to transport their child. What if you have an accident?

Chixarecute · #13 03/04/10, 05:51 PM

a) op said the child's family wasn't well off, she could use the money, she wanted to be fair
b) I live in a low income area, our local childcare center charges $3. per hour for short term stays for infants - most people around here make from 7.50 - 12.00 per hour - they can't afford $5-10/hour for childcare. The center rate goes DOWN the older the child is.
c) I know in urban areas it is higher, much higher. I have a nephew in southern IL who was anxiously counting the days to get their oldest out of childcare & into school. At the time (boy is now 9), so 5-6 years ago, they were paying $1200 per month for the two children in a childcare center, probably 40 hours/week. My nieces in SanDiego were very good and in high demand, they earned $15/hour for 2-3 kids, and had their pick of the best jobs.

To put it in a different perspective, some folks pay much more to the teenage boy who mows their lawn once a week for 1-2 hours than they pay the teenage girl to watch their children for an entire evening.

Chixarecute · #14 03/04/10, 05:56 PM

You might also ask the parents put a label with contact info on the child's car seat that you will be using. In WI a sitter was transporting another's child. There was an accident, the sitter died, the child was injured & couldn't be treated until the parents provided permission, and the sitter couldn't provide that info. Fortunately, one of the hospital staff members was able to ID the child so they could make the call & begin treatment. They are called CHAD stickers in WI - every Child Has An Identity. Local police, fire, or health dept. might have something formal, but an address label with cell phone number will work too.