Anonymous
06/17/2024 21:18
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Anonymous wrote:My differentiation:
Mother’s helper - you are around the entire time. They are tasked either with entertaining the kids or a specific task (folding laundry, going through toys, etc.). You handle all tantrums, fights between kids, meals, etc. They can maybe change an easy diaper but not a blow out. Basically any of the harder “caretaking” tasks go to you. $10-$15/hr.
Babysitter - you aren’t there, so they are handling everything that arises from safety to meals to using good judgment. $20/hr minimum.
+1
Anonymous
06/17/2024 21:06
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage in DC is $17.50. I think $18-20/hour for a high schooler watching two kids is reasonable. If she's a ninth grader you can offer $15 and plan to go up a buck each year if she works out.
OP here. How would you differentiate between mothers helper and babysitter?
A "mother's helper," is between age 10-12 and does not babysit and pay is $10. Generally they play with children while the mother does what she needs to do but mother is always there. A high school student is too old for a mother's helper.
I don't think you need to worry about minimum wage for a neighborhood babysitter with minimal experience.
Anonymous
06/17/2024 19:15
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
$10
Anonymous
06/17/2024 19:12
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
My differentiation:
Mother’s helper - you are around the entire time. They are tasked either with entertaining the kids or a specific task (folding laundry, going through toys, etc.). You handle all tantrums, fights between kids, meals, etc. They can maybe change an easy diaper but not a blow out. Basically any of the harder “caretaking” tasks go to you. $10-$15/hr.
Babysitter - you aren’t there, so they are handling everything that arises from safety to meals to using good judgment. $20/hr minimum.
Mother’s helper - you are around the entire time. They are tasked either with entertaining the kids or a specific task (folding laundry, going through toys, etc.). You handle all tantrums, fights between kids, meals, etc. They can maybe change an easy diaper but not a blow out. Basically any of the harder “caretaking” tasks go to you. $10-$15/hr.
Babysitter - you aren’t there, so they are handling everything that arises from safety to meals to using good judgment. $20/hr minimum.
Anonymous
06/17/2024 12:56
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
OP, do you actually need/want a babysitter or mother's helper? The way you phrased it, that she approached you, makes it sound like you are really only hiring her as a favor.
Anonymous
06/17/2024 10:58
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Anonymous wrote:Casual babysitters are exempt from minimum wage in DC, and it's sort of absurd to invoke it in this situation.
OP, for a 14 or 15 year old, I'd pay $10/hour for a mother's helper (you are there) or $15 for babysitting when you are not there. I'd also round up any hours worked.
I have a 14 year old kid and this also what I'd counsel them to "charge."
You’re not getting a babysitter for $10/ hr. Going rate is around $20/hr.
Anonymous
06/17/2024 10:47
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Casual babysitters are exempt from minimum wage in DC, and it's sort of absurd to invoke it in this situation.
OP, for a 14 or 15 year old, I'd pay $10/hour for a mother's helper (you are there) or $15 for babysitting when you are not there. I'd also round up any hours worked.
I have a 14 year old kid and this also what I'd counsel them to "charge."
OP, for a 14 or 15 year old, I'd pay $10/hour for a mother's helper (you are there) or $15 for babysitting when you are not there. I'd also round up any hours worked.
I have a 14 year old kid and this also what I'd counsel them to "charge."
Anonymous
06/17/2024 10:42
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage in DC is $17.50. I think $18-20/hour for a high schooler watching two kids is reasonable. If she's a ninth grader you can offer $15 and plan to go up a buck each year if she works out.
OP here. How would you differentiate between mothers helper and babysitter?
I wouldn't. But I think of mother's helper as a trial period (having the kid around while you're in the house, you can see if she's capable of running things for a few hours while you're gone). If you're thinking of mother's helper as a longer term arrangement, like you'll continue doing that 8 hours a week whether or not you ever use her as a babysitter, then maybe offer $14-15 for that and more for actual babysitting when and if you graduate to that.
Anonymous
06/17/2024 10:33
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Anonymous wrote:Minimum wage in DC is $17.50. I think $18-20/hour for a high schooler watching two kids is reasonable. If she's a ninth grader you can offer $15 and plan to go up a buck each year if she works out.
OP here. How would you differentiate between mothers helper and babysitter?
Anonymous
06/17/2024 10:28
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
Minimum wage in DC is $17.50. I think $18-20/hour for a high schooler watching two kids is reasonable. If she's a ninth grader you can offer $15 and plan to go up a buck each year if she works out.
Anonymous
06/17/2024 10:25
Subject: How much for a high school aged mothers helper or babysitter?
I have two well-behaved kids ages 3 and 4 (who also play well together). A high school aged neighbor approached us about being a babysitter/mother’s helper. She has some babysitting experience with other families, but they’re farther away. This is in DC proper (ward 1 if it matters).
We’ll probably start off with mothers helper and then move to babysitting. How much per hour for each scenario?
We’ll probably start off with mothers helper and then move to babysitting. How much per hour for each scenario?