babysitting rate

[Anonymous]

My 14 yo is babysitting tomorrow from 7-11 PM for a family with three kids (aged 3, 4, and 10). She'll be putting them to bed and watching a movie with them. She's only ever babysat for us or for relatives, so isn't sure how much to charge. She'll get herself there and probably back. What would be appropriate?

[Anonymous]

$50

[Anonymous]

I pay $10/hr for high school girls but I only have 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

$8-10 an hour.

[Anonymous]

DD, age 16, charges $10/hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$8-10 an hour.

Agreed. I pay a 13 year old 8/hr for two kids plus we always tip/round up.

[Anonymous]

Your 14 yr old daughter is going to get herself home at 11 at night? Unless she's babysitting next door, I am SHOCKED.

I am the least helicopter-y parent out there, but as a mother I would not allow any of my three daughters to do this, and as someone who's hired babysitters no matter their age, we BRING THEM HOME. Even if my boyfriend just walks them down our driveway and watches until they've gotten to their house at the end of the block. We don't pay and then say "Okay bye" and put them out late at night by themselves.

Please reassure me your daughter will be babysitting either next door or across the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your 14 yr old daughter is going to get herself home at 11 at night? Unless she's babysitting next door, I am SHOCKED.

I am the least helicopter-y parent out there, but as a mother I would not allow any of my three daughters to do this, and as someone who's hired babysitters no matter their age, we BRING THEM HOME. Even if my boyfriend just walks them down our driveway and watches until they've gotten to their house at the end of the block. We don't pay and then say "Okay bye" and put them out late at night by themselves.

Please reassure me your daughter will be babysitting either next door or across the street.

(OP here) It's a visible block away. But I do see your point.

[Anonymous]

We lay $9 / hr for three kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lay $9 / hr for three kids.

Pay

[Anonymous]

Depends on where you are; varies widely between neighborhoods. Our 14-yr-old in NW DC charges $10/hour for 2 younger kids. I don't think she would ask for more if there were 3 kids, especially if the older one was 10 and probably spent more of the evening occupying him/herself.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't pay less than minimum wage, which is $10.50 in DC. That's not a legal requirement, FWIW, just what I would do. So I'd charge at least $10 an hour. 3 kids are a lot to manage.

[Anonymous]

3 kids, 4 hrs? Not less than $15 per hour.

[Anonymous]

I ask for $50 flat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ask for $50 flat

seems steep when real work (putting them to bed) will be done in about an hour.