Anonymous wrote:The rare occassion on which I've had to pay a babysitter, it was $5/hour/kid. I try to avoid babysitters and use grandparents or family swaps instead b/c I think the price of babysitting is out of control.

5 dollars? WTF? And you think that's out of control? Please tell me that's a typo. Otherwise, you are the cheapest person on Earth.

$20/hr.
This was several years ago, one elementary-age kid.

Sitter 1, in her 20's, teacher, daughter of a colleague.
Sitter 2, in her 20's, entry level analyst who works with a friend of mine in her day job.

No chores, etc. Interact, hang out kids.
We provided dinner.

Anonymous wrote:I pay $14 an hour for one baby. I think this is pretty high considering the babysitter has to do absolutely NOTHING but sit in my house while my baby sleeps (I feed, change, and put the baby to bed before we leave). However, I really like our babysitter and do not want to go through the trouble of finding someone cheaper.

If she’s not doing anything why don’t you just leave the baby alone? You Can’t because you need somebody at the home who is responsible for making sure your baby is OK and in case of an emergency. You’re not paying your babysitter for the amount of work but for their time to be at your home responsible for your child.

The rare occassion on which I've had to pay a babysitter, it was $5/hour/kid. I try to avoid babysitters and use grandparents or family swaps instead b/c I think the price of babysitting is out of control.

how does one find a babysitter? i am new to the area and don't know anyone - how do you find babysitters?

I am a cheap person and love a good bargain anyplace- Anyplace except my kids. I think it is best to pay a living wage for your babysitter so that s/he can be happy. I think $16 for 2 kids is reasonable. I pay $13 for one child and my sitter pretty much just plays with my child. If my child is asleep my sitter does some chores around the house for me.

I have a 9 mo old. One sitter gets $15/hr, the other $12/hr. Both are in their mid 20s. They just entertain my child until bedtime and then give her her last bottle. One sits for me occasionally during the day and gets the same rate as she does in the evening. So I don't think $16/hr for 2 is excessive.

I pay $14 an hour for two children under 5. Our babysitters are college students who sit for us regularly.

I pay $15/hour for two kids. This is for either my former nanny, or a young woman who is about 24 years old. I have never had a high school student babysit.

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I have three kids 3,4 and 6 I pay no more than $10 an hour for a sitter for about 6 hours. For one New Years Eve the sitter came at 4pm and stayed until 1pm the next day I paid $120.00.

I pay $15 for one child (3 yo). She is actually pretty active so they work.

I pay $14 an hour for one baby. I think this is pretty high considering the babysitter has to do absolutely NOTHING but sit in my house while my baby sleeps (I feed, change, and put the baby to bed before we leave). However, I really like our babysitter and do not want to go through the trouble of finding someone cheaper.

what do you pay your babysitter? My friends think I am excessive, I pay 16 an hour, but I have two children. Granted they are usually already fed, or I order pizza. I bathe them and do not require bs to put them to bed, just entertain them. I pay 20 if is on a holiday like new years. I really do not find this excessive.