What's the going rate for babysitters these days?

[Anonymous]

We haven't used a babysitter for a few years bc grandparents are local, but we have a need coming up. Our high school neighbor and her friend will be watching our 7yo and our friends' 6yo and 8yo. What would you pay??

[Anonymous]

For 3 kids and 2 babysitters, I'd pay minimum wage per hour to each girl plus leave money for them to order food/snacks or ask them what they want and you order it.

[Anonymous]

I’d do $15 each and of course have dinner and snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d do $15 each and of course have dinner and snacks.

This but make sure to tip as well.

[Anonymous]

We do $25/hr for our sitter so id do $30-40hr total from 2 families

[Anonymous]

$30-$40/hr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d do $15 each and of course have dinner and snacks.

This but make sure to tip as well.

No tip, what? This is under the table money. You don’t need to tip in addition. This is two teens watching 3 kids. They are already getting a “tip” by getting a full wage each the work one could easily do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d do $15 each and of course have dinner and snacks.

This but make sure to tip as well.

No tip, what? This is under the table money. You don’t need to tip in addition. This is two teens watching 3 kids. They are already getting a “tip” by getting a full wage each the work one could easily do

It just depends on how much you want them to engage with your kids. Are they just there to be warm bodies with pulses? Then minimum wage is fine. If you want more, pay more.

[Anonymous]

Do you want them to babysit again? Pay well.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t tip when paying cash to a sitter. I do round up though to the next hour.
One sitter should be able to watch 3 elem
age kids. I’d pay $20-$25 for that.
Because there are 2 of them I think $15 each per hour is fine.

[Anonymous]

We do $15/hrs but round up to the nearest non-$10. So if it's for 3 hours, we pay $50. It functions like a tip, but it really just plays out that way because i rarely have $1s or $5s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d do $15 each and of course have dinner and snacks.

This but make sure to tip as well.

No tip, what? This is under the table money. You don’t need to tip in addition. This is two teens watching 3 kids. They are already getting a “tip” by getting a full wage each the work one could easily do

It just depends on how much you want them to engage with your kids. Are they just there to be warm bodies with pulses? Then minimum wage is fine. If you want more, pay more.

Minimum wage requires actual work. You think you can show up at any job and just sit there? Babysitting is the easiest job they will ever have. I think can manage to play a board game, make some popcorn, and watch a movie for $15 each…for 3 kids without overextending themselves.

[Anonymous]

Ask them what their usual rate is.

[Anonymous]

Wow, babysitting is so expensive now! I used to pay $14 an hour for my twins. They are now 16 so it wasn’t too long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d do $15 each and of course have dinner and snacks.

This but make sure to tip as well.

No tip, what? This is under the table money. You don’t need to tip in addition. This is two teens watching 3 kids. They are already getting a “tip” by getting a full wage each the work one could easily do

It just depends on how much you want them to engage with your kids. Are they just there to be warm bodies with pulses? Then minimum wage is fine. If you want more, pay more.

Minimum wage requires actual work. You think you can show up at any job and just sit there? Babysitting is the easiest job they will ever have. I think can manage to play a board game, make some popcorn, and watch a movie for $15 each…for 3 kids without overextending themselves.

When my dd babysits, she plays with the kids the entire time. She brings toys and books from our house, which they love. She manages their behaviors, getting their teeth brushed and in pajamas and to bed on time is rarely an easy endeavor. It’s not always an easy job—if one kid is defiant, if someone gets sick, being clear headed and making good decisions if there’s an emergency.

A lot of parents these days have phoned in actual parenting and it shows. You can tell the “iPad kids” from the ones whose parents teach them routines and hold them to expectations.

Just saying—it’s not just lounging on a couch eating popcorn.