Fair rate for young babysitter?

[Anonymous]

My 12.5yo (rising 7th grader) and her friend want to put flyers in the neighbors’ mailboxes for summer babysitting. What is a fair rate for such a young babysitter? I was thinking $6/hour, but split between the two girls, that amounts to so little. Is $8/hour ok?

[Anonymous]

You think someone wants to hire two 12 yr olds who have no experience? They should market themselves as mothers helpers, not babysitters. Then $8 for both is fine if they put their phones away while with the little kids they're watching.

[Anonymous]

Are they babysitting together? I think I might worry that they’d be more wrapped up in socializing with each other than watching my child.

[Anonymous]

$10 for a mother’s helper. No phones. No distractions. Good manners.

[Anonymous]

Totally fair price! And people will likely pay more. I have 4 kids and I loved using young sitters during the day for a few hours when I wasn’t far from the house - they’re the perfect age to be playful and fun with the kids.

It was the 90’s so obvi diff times but I started babysitting when I was 11 (6th grade) and the first family I babysat had a newborn, toddler and preschooler. I ended up babysitting weekly for them for 5 years and we are still in touch. Very special!

[Anonymous]

I agree with marketing as mother's helpers. If doing it together, $10-$12 total with a 2hr min sounds good.

[Anonymous]

I paid $15/hour for two 12 year olds to come play with my PK son while I finished some work. I was in a different floor and it was great!

[Anonymous]

They are still both very young so it might be best for them to start out by watching children of your relatives or close friends so they can gain some personal childcare experience first.

It may also be beneficial for them to also take a Teen Babysitting course along w/a CPR/First Aid course as well.

I wish them the best! 👍🏽👍🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they babysitting together? I think I might worry that they’d be more wrapped up in socializing with each other than watching my child.

+1

This.
At this age I probably would have done this.