What is a fair price to ask for babysitting?

Question

I babysit in my home, I currently ask 15.00 a day for this, per child. They bring the child's food and drinks. With the prices of everything else going up, I am debating going up on my prices as well, is 20.00 a day fair? I read to the children, take them to the park, have educational activities for them to do and so forth and so on. Most of my kids are here at least 10 hours a day.Some more. I only watch 3 at this time and will not babysit more than 5 at a time, no babies. Just 2-4 year olds and 1 seven year old in the summer too. So what do you pay for childcare? and is 20.00 ok? I contacted some local daycares and they ask much more, but I am not a daycare, so to speak. Thanks for your help..

I wanted to add, I am cpr and first aide cert. :)

Ref:to Thefunn I live in a small town in Virginia and people around here cannot afford to pay those astronomical rates, our factories have shut down and there are many unemployed. I wouldn't feel right trying to charge so much to folks who can't afford that. And if I did charge those kind of rates, I wouldn't have any children to babysit because no-one would bring their children here, they couldn't pay that.

Answer 1

I think you could definitely up it to $20! My daughter has been going to the same sitter since 8 months old, she is now 2 1/2. My sitter asked $20 a day. She has her at her home, about 8 1/2 hrs. a day, all week (5 days). I try to provide most of her food and drink, and the sitter is very good about doing activities and things with her, just as you do. I don't mind paying $20 a day at all, sometimes I feel like I should be paying more, cuz she's well worth it! You are right, daycare is much more expensive. Here it is now $34 a day for my daughter's age! I'll gladly pay the $20 any day... So yes, I think it would be no big deal to up your price to $20. With the amount of time you have them, and all you do, it is quite fair.

Answer 2

I take care of 3 kids (6,4, and almost 3) in their home and get $250.00 a week. that is for 5 days. Mon. - Fri. i have an extra 6 year old for an hour in the morning and a few hours after school (I get $20 a week for this.) A few weeks ago I had 2 extra girls (my bosses friends kids (mon I had both girls) i got $40.00. then tues/wed I had just 1 (the other was in school) and got $20 each day. Durring the summer I have the extra boy (6) His parents bring food here for the kids to share (they share the food thats here as well). I get $20 a day. Like you I do crafts, teach them, bring them to the park, among other things.

I have had a total of 6 kids at once but will NOT have any more than that at any 1 time.


I live in Lake Placid NY.

you don't say how many kids you have. that plays a big deal in this as well.

Answer 3

$20 a day is extremely reasonable. My two boys go to a center and I pay $32/half a day and $56 a full day. My teenage who sits for me sometimes makes $4/hour. Both my boys are under two, so they are a little more work. I would pay $20 a day for each of my two boys and do not mind providing food, since I make my won baby food. My boys are only part-time now. When they are fulltime, I wll be paying $272/week. My teenage who is at my house right now will get $36 by the end of the day.

I live in a medium size city in wisconsin. When I paid a home daycare, I paid $3.50/hour.

Answer 4

I think you should charge $20.00. I would have to pay $200.00 to put my 2 year old in daycare for 5 days a week. I would love to pay only $20.00 a day. So I think you should go for it. With the fact that you are cpr and frist aid crt. I would raise it!

Answer 5

As a benchmark, around here, a babysitter or nanny gets $10/hour. Given that you have three kids, it's fair to cut that price somewhat. However, given that it's in your home, you have expenses that exceed what a babysitter would have, so you deserve a bit extra for that.

A center, because they have lots of kids, can charge less/child.

I think $20/day is reasonable.

Answer 6

I think 20 a day is great. Where i live it is 3.00 an hour per child so for the ten hours you watch a kid it would be 30.00 a day so you ahev a good rate if you go to 20

Answer 7

Where do you live? My daughter is 4 and I pay $160.00 dollars for full five days. Why dont you try checking with your state day care rules, and 20 dollars is a good fee. I would not be complaining. I would rather pay that than 160.00 a week and even if she doesnt go I have to pay half, and If she goes for one day I pay the full amount.

Answer 8

woah woah woah.....firstly, i used to be a daycare worker, secondly I am a babysitter quite often after my 40/hour a week job. I ask for $15/hour (which is never considered unreasonable) and sometimes even receive $20/hour (depending on the families salary).

you are only asking for $20 a day!!!??? that's absolutely crazy...i mean, i suppose in a good way if you are a parent, but wow.

considering how i babysit for sometimes 4-5 hours and walk away with $80/100 that's unreal to me.

i think $20/day is absolutely reasonable, but no offense I would never send me kid to someone who was only asking that. that seems very very odd to me. where are you from anyway. I live in boston, and you would never ever find that!

Answer 9

20.00 is very reasonable!! I don't pay for childcare.. I'm a stay at home mom, but have lots of friends that pay much more than that so you're giving a good deal! Good luck to you

Answer 10

$20 seems reasonable to me. Depends on the number of hours you babysit.