Nurses rarely get lunches and breaks! Do you get your information from Grey's Anatomy? Yes, nurses get OT, which can be REQUIRED, as do all the so in demand nannies. I ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN $35/HR PER KID AND TRIPLE TIME AFTER 8 HRS AND $500 FOR AN OVERNIGHT IN ADDITION TO OT PAY, IF THERE IS A CHANCE MY SLEEP COULD BE DISTURBED. I ALSO WANT SPECIAL GROCERIES, A CAR, GAS, INSURANCE AND TO BE PAID FROM THE TIME I LEAVE MY HOUSE.

RN's start at $25/hr in a large metro area, with no food, cars, extra pay, etc. I once took care of an entire floor alone, due to call offs and was given a $5 Starbucks card.

My normal rate is $25/hr and when I get asked to babysit on the side I keep the same rate and don't charge more for extra kids. I've had 6 kids before and honestly it not more work with 6 vs 2. IF they were all babies then yes 6 is hard, but kids older than 3 will play with each other and have a great time. And serving 6 plates of food is hardly more work than making 2.

Anonymous wrote:I am always amazed at nannies wanting more per hour for additional kids. You get paid for your time and need to do what the job requires during that time. I am an RN and certainly don't get paid more for a high census vs. a low census day, even though I am doing "more work." Just do what you are asked to do during your time there.

You have a job which is regulated. Your get breaks and lunches, it's easy to fight for overtime. Benefits are more common. It's comparing apples and oranges.

Most nurses are intelligent enough to know that there is an average, but also a minimum and a maximum. Childcare in someone's home is different. You are paid based on the average number of people; if the average drops, nurses might be let go. Nannies and babysitters negotiate based on minimums and maximums, not averages.

I am always amazed at nannies wanting more per hour for additional kids. You get paid for your time and need to do what the job requires during that time. I am an RN and certainly don't get paid more for a high census vs. a low census day, even though I am doing "more work." Just do what you are asked to do during your time there.

You were paid $250 for an evening of babysitting 5 ten year olds?

I kind of think that's highway robbery. I would be ashamed to ask or receive that much.

I can completely see getting $25-30 an hour, but $50/hr is absurd.

If I were any of the parents I would never use you again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why people think you are entitled to more money for more kids. You give the same amount of time, and in fact its easier since the kids play together, 5 is easier than 1.

Obviously, you are stupid. The more kids, the more work! You really believe someone should keep five kids for $10/hr?

NO, $10/hr is too cheap, but $15 is more than reasonable for babysitting. It's not rocket science!

5 kids in the same family for 4 hours (for me)= $100

5 10 year olds (presumably friends, ie. more likely to cooperate to misbehave than a sibling group)= $175+

With that said, I only sit for children after I meet them and only if I can then expect mostly neutral to good behavior. There's a world of difference between a 5 sibling group, with the normal sibling spats, and 5 preteen friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why people think you are entitled to more money for more kids. You give the same amount of time, and in fact its easier since the kids play together, 5 is easier than 1.

Obviously, you are stupid. The more kids, the more work! You really believe someone should keep five kids for $10/hr?

NO, $10/hr is too cheap, but $15 is more than reasonable for babysitting. It's not rocket science!

OP again. Each parent paid separately so $50 each was a steal in their opinion (my normal rate is $20/hr for 2 kids).

Yes, these kids are easier than infants or toddlers, but the challenges are different. I'm constantly having to make sure they aren't getting into stuff they shouldn't (going through the moms closet and playing in $500 shoes) or looking up bad stuff on their iPhones. I had activities and things for us to do so it wasn't like I was watching a movie with them, we were playing outside and doing crafts.