Anonymous
05/28/2025 22:11
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
It is a contract and terms should be made up front. Or, adults will take advantage.
Ah yes. Reasonable adults totally expect a 10 year old to have an escalation clause and 5 year price sheet
Anonymous
05/28/2025 21:35
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
Oh please. Teens and grown adults make avg $13/hr at McDonald’s. And I guarantee it is far harder and less pleasant work than eating pizza, watching a movie, and tucking a couple kids in bed. Babysitting is probably the cushiest, easiest teen job there is
Not in Montgomery County. Minimum wage is $15.50 for the smallest employers and most pay a bit more.
Child care is a safety issue too and that should command a fair wage. This isn't 1985.
Now that OP's daughter is turning 16, she can get many jobs that were previously off limits due to times (like no working past 9pm) by state child labor laws. She has so many more options now. If families want to keep her, they should be willing to pay competitive rates.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 21:05
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
I’m a PP and remembered that years ago we offered the middle schooler around the block $20 per day to come feed our hamster when we were gone. This involved a scoop of food and changing water and probably took less than 20 min per day total. Please have your kid raise rates without guilt.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:48
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
It is a contract and terms should be made up front. Or, adults will take advantage.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:44
Subject: Re:How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all. Upon reading all the replies, I agree the approach of individually responding with her new rate when she's next contact by each client makes the most sense. FWIW, I believe the minimum wage was $10 or so in VA when she began, and part of selecting that rate was my feeling that a middle schooler new to babysitting probably shouldn't be making more than an adult in a minimum wage job, potentially supporting dependents. Of course, she probably should have updated the rates sooner, so we'll consider the input on how much her new rate should be!
Worst case a family drops her but there will be more to replace. $15 an hour for a 15 year old given what minimum wage is, is reasonable.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:39
Subject: Re:How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Several years ago, the typical rate in Atlanta for high school aged babysitters was $25 an hour.
I was charging 20 an hour in NYC circa 1999 as a teen so that's not that surprising to me. 8 an hour for sleeping time if they wanted that for continuous care into the weekend.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:24
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
My 12yo gets $40 for 3 hours as a Mothers Helper. That’s just over $13 an hour.
She’s going to start babysitting after July when she turns 13 and I don’t k is how much she should charge. $13 sounds weird but $15 seems high for a 13year old sitter.
She’s going to start babysitting after July when she turns 13 and I don’t k is how much she should charge. $13 sounds weird but $15 seems high for a 13year old sitter.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:20
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
So your house cleaners and landscape guy can never raise their rates? GTFO.
OP, she lets them know when they reach out to book with her. She can mention that her rates have been the same from the beginning. If anyone pushes back, she should stand her ground. She should also charge at least $14!
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:06
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
My 16 yo with very little babysitting experience charges $15 and no one blinks. Definitely up her rate to $15.
When the older families text for a booking, she should tell them that her rates have gone up. If that works, she will see the kids on Saturday. Guarantee you that no other 16 yo will babysit for them for $12/hr. Your DD obviously has other clients. If you have a neighborhood listserve, post a message from her advertising her availability for the summer and her rate.
When the older families text for a booking, she should tell them that her rates have gone up. If that works, she will see the kids on Saturday. Guarantee you that no other 16 yo will babysit for them for $12/hr. Your DD obviously has other clients. If you have a neighborhood listserve, post a message from her advertising her availability for the summer and her rate.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 20:04
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
Oh please. Teens and grown adults make avg $13/hr at McDonald’s. And I guarantee it is far harder and less pleasant work than eating pizza, watching a movie, and tucking a couple kids in bed. Babysitting is probably the cushiest, easiest teen job there is
Such an odd hill to die on
In fairness there have been posts saying paying a babysitter $12 is taking advantage of them. And that they deserve $15 MINIMUM
They can easily get 20, 25 and up, so it is not so much about what they “deserve,” it’s a market in which their availability is valued. I am more than OK paying a responsible teen twice the minimum wage to supervise my children, who are worth more to me than a McDonald’s burger.
Anonymous
05/28/2025 19:58
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
Oh please. Teens and grown adults make avg $13/hr at McDonald’s. And I guarantee it is far harder and less pleasant work than eating pizza, watching a movie, and tucking a couple kids in bed. Babysitting is probably the cushiest, easiest teen job there is
Such an odd hill to die on
In fairness there have been posts saying paying a babysitter $12 is taking advantage of them. And that they deserve $15 MINIMUM
Anonymous
05/28/2025 19:36
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
Oh please. Teens and grown adults make avg $13/hr at McDonald’s. And I guarantee it is far harder and less pleasant work than eating pizza, watching a movie, and tucking a couple kids in bed. Babysitting is probably the cushiest, easiest teen job there is
Such an odd hill to die on
Anonymous
05/28/2025 18:55
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s weird to send a mass text updating her rates.
The next time a family reaches out she should reply with a friendly message “Thanks for reaching out! I’ve updated my rates to $15/hour starting this summer. Let me know if you’d like to continue, I would love to see the kids on Friday!”
This
Anonymous
05/28/2025 18:52
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
Oh please. Teens and grown adults make avg $13/hr at McDonald’s. And I guarantee it is far harder and less pleasant work than eating pizza, watching a movie, and tucking a couple kids in bed. Babysitting is probably the cushiest, easiest teen job there is
Unless otherwise stated, all DCUM discussions are for the DC metro area. The minimum wage is $12.41 in VA, $15 in MD, $17.50 in DC. But for VA, it's for the entire state. NoVa wages are higher. For a teen, I would go with $15 an hour. It's reasonable.
She welcome to get a crappy minimum wage job flipping burgers, dealing with rude customers, and smelling like grease. And pay taxes on that minimum wage as well.
Why are you spamming the thread with this? Obviously there's a population of well-to-do families how can afford to pay a babysitter $15/hr. It has nothing to do with the adults who need to work at McD's because they have no other option. Teen girls from neighboring families, whom homeowners have seen grow up, will always be more trusted than a random adult. Hence why these teen girls can command at least minimum wage or more for babysitting than other people. Know your market and take advantage of it!
I also think babysitting gets a premium because you're generally asking for availability for a limited number of hours during prime time.
Prime time for what? It’s not like these teens have another source of income or options (that they are willing to work). Prime to for them blowing their parents money while they are out with friends?
Anonymous
05/28/2025 18:38
Subject: How does teen babysitter tactfully raise rates?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s rude. Babysitting is like a contract. Some families pay more than others. You either agree to the terms, or you don’t. End of story.
I think it’s rude to take advantage of a teenager!
Oh please. Teens and grown adults make avg $13/hr at McDonald’s. And I guarantee it is far harder and less pleasant work than eating pizza, watching a movie, and tucking a couple kids in bed. Babysitting is probably the cushiest, easiest teen job there is
Unless otherwise stated, all DCUM discussions are for the DC metro area. The minimum wage is $12.41 in VA, $15 in MD, $17.50 in DC. But for VA, it's for the entire state. NoVa wages are higher. For a teen, I would go with $15 an hour. It's reasonable.
She welcome to get a crappy minimum wage job flipping burgers, dealing with rude customers, and smelling like grease. And pay taxes on that minimum wage as well.
Why are you spamming the thread with this? Obviously there's a population of well-to-do families how can afford to pay a babysitter $15/hr. It has nothing to do with the adults who need to work at McD's because they have no other option. Teen girls from neighboring families, whom homeowners have seen grow up, will always be more trusted than a random adult. Hence why these teen girls can command at least minimum wage or more for babysitting than other people. Know your market and take advantage of it!
I also think babysitting gets a premium because you're generally asking for availability for a limited number of hours during prime time.