Pay babysitter more than requested?

[Anonymous]

A beloved daycare teacher is babysitting my 2 kids this weekend. She requested $15/hr, which seems low to me. Any tactful ways to offer more? I was thinking $20/hr but asked her in case she wanted more.

[Anonymous]

You already asked her if she wanted more?
I wonder what she’s getting paid at the daycare if she only asked for 15/hr.

[Anonymous]

We did. We had a preschool teacher come babysit and she requested the same hourly wage she makes at the school, which was $12 an hour. She is certainly young, but $12 an hour! No. I can't remember what we decided, but I think I told her she needs to charge AT LEAST $15 an hour and then I added an extra $20 on top of what we gave her. This was for maybe 4 hours total. She was so wonderful and sweet I couldn't scam her.

I currently pay the 13 year old down the street $12, if that helps you. I'd think $20 is good.

[Anonymous]

Just pay her more at the end. If she demurs, tell her she’s worth may more than a random teenage babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. just round it up to whatever you want at the end.

[Anonymous]

I just give a huge “tip” to bring it up to what I think is fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You already asked her if she wanted more?
I wonder what she’s getting paid at the daycare if she only asked for 15/hr.

Sorry. I didn't phrase it well. I asked her what her rate was. I was thinking we'd pay $20/hour. But if she requested, say, $25, I would have paid it, so I didn't want to create awkwardness by lowballing her. Of course I created awkwardness in another way. :-/ No good deed goes unpunished!

And yeah, daycare teachers are paid so poorly for such an important job, and she's REALLY good. I really hope she gets decent pay at our daycare.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll figure out a way to add a tip or round up. Good ideas.

Our prior babysitter was also from the daycare and I basically had to slip cash into purse because she didn't want to accept payment, so we excel at awkward babysitter experiences! Haha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll figure out a way to add a tip or round up. Good ideas.

Our prior babysitter was also from the daycare and I basically had to slip cash into purse because she didn't want to accept payment, so we excel at awkward babysitter experiences! Haha.

I think your idea of at least 20/hr is smart, OP.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Tip or round up.

Babysitters are always more apt to accept a job from families that pay well and/or tip.

Mom of 2 teens who babysit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just give a huge “tip” to bring it up to what I think is fair.

This

[Anonymous]

When I quoted $15 as a babysitter, the family said something like "I asked around, and the norm/standard in our neighborhood is $20/hr" which was appreciated.