Is 3 dollars per hour cheap to pay a sitter for one child?

Question

I moved to a new town and couldn't find sitters. My daughter is very well behaved and was very hurt that we had problems finding sitters. She loved all the teenagers I had in. I paid 2.50 an hour for a full work shift (I work shift work). That is the same price I paid her last sitter in a dayhome. The girls were hard to come by so i raised my price to 3 dollars an hour. The girls want more money.... one girl asked for 50 dollars a day. I am a single mom working and I have one child that is calm and have had no complaints about her from sitters ever. (the last sitter said she was the best kid she ever babysat). I don't get it. The girls are all in dance or karatee or at sleepovers. I can get sitters, but it is hard One girl left for a job with 4 kids (a doctor's family) and they were paying her 100 dollars a day. Mine comes to 20-25 dollars and I leave a couple bucks so they can walk for an ice cream. The odd time I came home for lunch breaks... maybe that was uncomfortable? In canada.

I asked aroudn at work and they pay 2.50-4 dollars an hour. But they have older kids or husbands that helped out with the shift work... no day homes or daycares here do weekends or shift work

Answer 1

I don't know how that translates in USA money or if you are asking in American money. I think $2 per kid per hour is fair, maybe $3 for the first kid and $1 for each additional. When I was a teenager and babysat after school every day for a single dad who worked 2nd until 1or 2 AM, I was lucky to make $100 per week for one kid. So that would have been about $2.50 to 3 per hour.

How I see it if you are paying them under the table and not claiming it on your taxes, pay them the lower amount. If they want more, tell them you are going to 1099 them and get a tax credit for yourself. Of course, I dont know how that works in Canada though.

Answer 2

What is the average pay in your area? Where I live $12 would not be over the top, and is considered the norm($10-$15 an hour). Depending on what you require from your babysitter will determine price. A good babysitter has experience, cpr/first aid cert., references, etc. These people are generally paid more than a teen that has never babysat before, and does not know cpr/first aid. I personally think a good babysitter is hard to come by. There are many ways to save a dollar, but quality childcare is not one of them. I babysit often, and I'll be honest, the parents that pay more, get better service. If I feel I'm being cheated on pay, I will do the bare minimum. If I'm paid well I often do arts and crafts, fun games, do a little cleaning, etc. While in houses were I am not paid well I will play with the kids, and put them to bed. If you reconsider your pay I would go with another babysitter. You already told this girl what to expect in pay. I also guarantee that if you all of a sudden pay less she may not come back, and she'll let other babysitters know that you didn't pay well(word travels fast in childcare). I think you are doing a good thing paying well. Childcare is not easy, and good babysitters are not cheap. Other babysitters are not going to try and rake your friends over the coals, they will simply line up to work for you if your current babysitter can't go it anymore.

Answer 3

I don't think it's cheap at all, when i got a sitter for my son, the sitter was only charging me $2.00 an hour, and she was an adult also watching other kids plus her own! Two dollars an hour may not sound like much, but it sure adds up in a week !!!

Answer 4

I know around here (Idaho) its about $20/day at a daycare. But since you're looking for abnormal hours its going to cost you more. If you're going to use someone on a regular basis you'll probably be able to negotiate a better price, but if the hours aren't stable a teenager will probably be better off in the long run with a job at McDonalds where they might make less per day but work more days overall.

Answer 5

To tell you the truth, I babysat for around $5 an hour for 3 kids ages 1-5years old so I don't think you are being cheap.

Answer 6

honestly, no! to me that seems very reasonable. girls these days are just so spoiled, they want money to get their hair and nails done, go shopping and buy a 200 dollar shirt their boyfrined will tear off them, and dont get me started on electronics.... i know its tough, but try to find a good girl. one good place to look is church. being a single mother is tough. i know because my mom was a single mother and my brother and i gave her all sorts of he--! good luck! and no matter what dont ever forget your principles.

a woman across the street from me asked me to watch her 3 year old boy so she could get a job. i told her i would have wanted 50 dollars a day just because this boy is such a hard kid to deal with, but if your little girl is well behaved, you shouldnt have to pay that much for a sitter.

Answer 7

I paid $10 an hour when I had 1 child. I also tipped when she worked on extra days (like weekends). You want to feel comfortable that someone is taking good care of your child when you are not there. If you compenstate well, you get some sense of security that way.

Answer 8

You should pay at least $5.00 per hour. $3.00 isn't the worst, but you could raise it a little. Babysitters would go for $5.00 or more, but don't pay too little! Or too much! Whatever is comfortable for you, and what you think is the proper amount they should be paid.

Answer 9

I am a teenager who babysites and i think that is a good amount if your child is well behaved.If your child is not you might want to raise it to mabey 4 or 5.Keep trying to find the right babysitter theirs one out their that is write for you.

Answer 10

I would say it is, maybe $5.00 would be better, because
even thew babysitting seems like not much of A job, it
is, someone is carring for you're child, and watching
every movement it make so it does'nt get hurt.