Babysitting rate 3 children

[Anonymous]

What is babysitting hourly rate for 3 children (5 and under)? Northern VA. THanks!

[Anonymous]

$15-$20 an hour for a high school or college age sitter.

[Anonymous]

Wow! Good to hear. My college sitter told me $25/hr which I thought was insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$15-$20 an hour for a high school or college age sitter.

I wouldn't watch three for $15-20. Especially not 3 under 5.

[Anonymous]

20 years ago i was charging 20/hr on college breaks. Up to 2 kids. Bethesda.

So it's 20 years later and you want to pay less than that for 3 kids??

As a high school teen my parents would not have let me work for you. I would not let my own teen do it anyway -- too many very young children for too little money.

[Anonymous]

I would not leave my very young kids with anyone but an English-speaking adult who is fully certified in CPR (current year). If taking the kids to the pool is involved, then water lifesaving certification as well. It costs what it costs. I am sure you figured in all those expenses when you decided to have 3 kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think $25-$30/hour. I’ve always paid $25/hour for two under 5, so for THREE under 5, I would think it would be more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20 years ago i was charging 20/hr on college breaks. Up to 2 kids. Bethesda.

So it's 20 years later and you want to pay less than that for 3 kids??

As a high school teen my parents would not have let me work for you. I would not let my own teen do it anyway -- too many very young children for too little money.

20 years ago minimum wage was only $5.15. Your parents wouldn't have let you work for 4 x minimum wage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$15-$20 an hour for a high school or college age sitter.

3 5 and under for $20/hr. You are dreaming! High school and college students aren't stupid and know that can ask for, and get, what they are worth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! Good to hear. My college sitter told me $25/hr which I thought was insane.

Then don’t pay her and find someone else. Or pay her and be glad you have someone.

[Anonymous]

Teens aren't stupid and their parents aren't stupid.

3 kids under 5? will they all be asleep by the time the sitter arrives? Then $20 will do. If sitter must do playtime/bath/bedtime, then $25 or more. Desperate immigrant teens and grandmas will do for 20$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20 years ago i was charging 20/hr on college breaks. Up to 2 kids. Bethesda.

So it's 20 years later and you want to pay less than that for 3 kids??

As a high school teen my parents would not have let me work for you. I would not let my own teen do it anyway -- too many very young children for too little money.

20 years ago minimum wage was only $5.15. Your parents wouldn't have let you work for 4 x minimum wage?

PP again. I had no idea what the minimum wage was when I was 18, 19+... I had always done babysitting and that is what seemed fair. I ran it past my parents and they agreed. I was always booked up for neighborhood jobs on my college breaks when the employers knew I was coming back home. I helped with lunches or dinners and took the kids out with me when I walked the dog for them. I made a lot more when I babysat on New Years Eve. A lot.

I was dependable and energetic and smart. Those parents got a good deal.

[Anonymous]

Times are tough. People are desperate. OP will find someone cheap. Too bad. I can't stand the thought of desperate workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Times are tough. People are desperate. OP will find someone cheap. Too bad. I can't stand the thought of desperate workers.

I would not say $20/hr. is desperate. Remember the fight for $15? There are people who make less than $15/hr. and who consider $15/hr. to be a living wage.

[Anonymous]

^^
That may be ok for flipping burgers, but we are talking about the care of babies and children here.