Babysitting Cost

Updated on November 15, 2007
D.M. asks from Gladewater, TX
8 answers

My 13 year is about to start babysitting for the first time and we're not sure what to charge. She will be babysitting a boy (6) and girl (8)at their home. The hours will be from 7:30 am until about 2:30 or 3. This will be while school is out for Holidays. Her first day to babysit will be this coming up Monday so a response soon will be greatly appreciated.

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R.B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi there! I think she should charge a flat rate for the week ($150 is fair and she'll think she hit the jackpot!).

Since the children are 6 & 8 there will not be any diaper changes, bottles to feed, and she'll probably have an easy time just playing Legos, watching movies, playing Barbies, etc.

Hope that helps!!

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Here is what I learned over the summer. I have two girls- ages 6 and 22 months. When I used my sitter (she is almost 16) in the summer she stayed about 6 to 7 hours and I paid her 25.00 per kid. (Her mom does in home care and these were her drop in rates, so we followed that) When she watches them on "date night" or other evenings we pay her about 8.00 an hour. I found that 8-10 is the going rate. For your daughters situation and the ages of the kids I would say 6-7 an hour, maybe 40 per day? If it was to be for a full week, you may just need to come up with a weekly rate. My previous sitter was 14 and she charged 6 per hour and $1 more per hour for each addtl child. I always tell my sitter to let me know if its not enough, Im kind of new to the babysitter experience. Hope that helps and good luck to your daughter in her first job!

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K.M.

answers from Dallas on

D.,

My babysitter is 13 yrs old as well. She charges $7.00 per hour for one child and an additional $3.00 per hour for each additional child. So we pay her $10/hr. My kids are 8 and 3 1/2. I think it's a lot but she is worth it because I feel safe leaving my children with her and they adore her. She also interacts with them the whole time she is with them so they love the attention. Since your daughter will be doing multiple days I would charge them a flat rate that would be fair for both parties. For four days (I'm assuming she won't be watching them Thanksgiving day) at 7 hours/day that is $280.00. Maybe charging $180-$200 for the week would seem fair.
K.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.

answers from Dallas on

This is just my 2 cents but when I worked at my kids preschool last year watching 8 one year olds, I got paid $9 an hour. It was alot of back breaking work along with changing diapers.

Plus, at 13 and having not been a babysitter before, there will probably be some things she will have to learn "on the job." I have used a new babysitter before and she had alot to learn. I liked her and still use her and she's really great now. But I definitely had to spell things out for her a little more than for someone who's done it for a while.

It's my opinion she ought to ask for $7.50 - $8.00 an hour. The kids she'll be watching are going to be very self sufficient. The younger the kids and the more experience she gets she could start upping her price.

Just my opinion.

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

I would have her charge $50 a day for up to 7.5 hours, anything after that is $6/hr

Hope that helps a bit!

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S.R.

answers from Dallas on

Boy you guys pay your sitters well. I run a home child care business and have a substancial amount of experience I hate to say this but she almost makes as much as I do and I do this for a living, not to knock the 13 year old trying to make a little extra money but it seems an awful lot to me. I think it might be best if she set a flat rate for her services either daily or weekly, just so there is no confusion, and she wont have to keep track of the hours. Good luck to you guys. Happy Thanksgiving.

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D.O.

answers from Dallas on

I'm assuming she will be watching them 3 or 4 days next week, considering that Thursday is Thanksgiving. For 3 days, I would say $125. For 4 days, I would say $150. :)

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D.H.

answers from Dallas on

I have a sitter after school for my kids. She is 22, responsible for driving and all activities after school for a 4 yr old and a 2 year old. We pay her $10/hour. She originally suggested around $8. But we felst she was worth more for her experience (she is a teachers aid at a preschool) and her driving.

Just for comparison for a 13 year old.

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