What is the right age for girls to start babysitting? And how much do you pay?

Question

I would like my neighbor's daughter to babysit my 7-year-old son, but she's only 11. This is new territory for me since I moved and am so used to having my mom or other family members watch him. And I seriously cannot remember at what age I began babysitting. Also, how much do you generally pay a sitter?

Answer 1

My daughter was 12 and she took care of a 5 year old boy. But then she was very mature for her age. She had a little brother that her and her sister would watch a lot. But to me the normal age now a days would be 16 before I would let any one watch my kids
A lot of them can't even take care of themselves let alone take care of another persons pride and joy.
I would check with her parents and see how reliable she is before making a quick decision..
Now a days whatever the standard wage rate is. Me I would pay $3.50 an hour..Depend on the teen and how responsible she was.
Reading everyone above me and the prices they are quoting, if i had to pay 6 to 10. dollars an hour {**** I would stay home } I would never be able to afford to go out. Any of you people live around Surprise, AZ I'll babysit for you at those prices and I am a grandmother

Answer 2

Depending on the ages of both of the kids and how long you will be going away. 7 and 11 sounds too close in age. Generally for an older kid like 7 you will want someone older, so that they do not act like friends as opposed to caretaker.
If you had a 3 year old and you were having a 13 year old babysit during the day for 3 hours while you ran errands, a wage of $4 an hour would be reasonable.
If you had a 1 year old and you were having a 16 year old babysit a wage of $5 an hour is good.
And, if you were going away for a night you would want to go with 16 or older and $6 per hour.

In your situation I would recommend going with someone older. Not because the 11 year old is not responsible enough, simply because they are too close in age.

Try looking at local highschools, or colleges for students going to school for education. If you are able to find someone that is going to school to become a teacher you will be able to get a great match for you babysitting needs.

Answer 3

I started babysitting a 3 year old when I was 10. It all depends on the maturity level. I would say the 7 year old would be OK with an 11 year old. Just for a little bit. I mean how bad could it be. As far as paying them I would just buy pizza and rent a movie that she wanted and maybe put 10$ on it. At 11 how much money do you really need? lol Good luck

Answer 4

Ok. As an experienced mother of 2 and experienced in hiring babysitters....
It all depends on the babysitter. Some girls are ready to start sitting at 12 or 13, and some not as mature and need to wait a couple more years. It really depends on the girl, how long your going to be gone and all the circimstances surrounding ...
I dont know what states are typing in 6$ an hour for a babysitter, but where I'm from that is way to much to pay a young girl to just watch over one child. Especially if your child is older like 7.
I would say pay about 4 an hour for just keeping a close eye on your kid. If you expect housework done or have another kid, that's a different story, but 4 an hour is plenty to just simply watch after him.
Also, to decide if the girl is ready for the responsibility, talk to the girl's parents. They know how mature their kid is.

Answer 5

If the girl is mature and especially if she has younger siblings she has been helping mom care for since their birth, I think 11 is fine to start sitting. I would try it at first in small amounts of time, during earlly hours and let neighbors know you are trying out a new, young sitter, let the sitter know she can reach you on your cell phone or call the neighbor is she has any questions. I also think it is good to know the family, especially the parents of the girl. At 7 your child is old enough to tell you what went on while she was there sitting.

Answer 6

I think 11 is way too young to babysit. But if you are in the house and working on laundry, etc. then that I would say is ok. But that is too young to leave a child along with. A 7 year old and 11 year old could spell trouble if left alone, I think. I don't know the maturity level of the 11 year old, but they are almost too close in age to be more like friends home alone than a babysitter/child relationship.

Answer 7

I would have a 14 year old watch my 2.5 yo and 1 yo but that is because she watches her 4 younger b/s. It really depends on the girl as my niece is 15 and isnt comfortable staying with our kids.

Why not use the 11yo as a mother's helper instead and get someone older to really babysit when you leave?

I pay $7 and am in seacoast NH and have 2 kids. But some pay $6.

Answer 8

Well I started babysitting at 12 .... and I babysat for a family of 4 ... I can't remember how much I got paid BUT I think it was 20 bucks for the evening .. It was right across the street from where we lived and my mom was home ...
Now on the other hand .. I am a mom .. My 2 older kids have started to babysit .. My 17 yr old (who Does NOT drive) has babysat since she was 13 ... She gets paid no less then 5 and as much as 15 per hour ... Depending on the day and times ... She babysat once on Easter Sunday ... They paid her $15.00 per hour since it was a Holiday ... She started with one family and then word spread ... Now you have to "reserve" her in order to get her for the evening ...LOL... My Son who is 12 babysits for his siblings (when older sister is out)... He has also babysat for friends kids once ..He likes us to pay him 5 per hour ... and that is a great rate ... (but our friends paid him 8 per hour) ... So it really all depends ... But i would not go below 5 bucks AND if you have more then 1 kiddo you need to add 2-3 per kid after the first 5 bucks ...

Hope that helps ... Ya know it all goes back to how mature and responsible the babysitter it ...

~~Melinda~~

Answer 9

i imagine a strong age should be 16. the easily criminal age for babysitting is 13, yet in my opinion, at this way of gentle age, you're merely getting into youngster-hood and some thing ought to take position. i do not see some thing incorrect with babysitting kin, like brothers, sisters, or little cousins, yet when I were a figure, i does no longer have self assurance everybody with my newborn it is lower than the age of 16, on the least.

Answer 10

I think 14ish is a good age for nightime babysitting, and maybe a little younger for daytime hours. I think 11 is a little young..... I was 13 but that was in the 1970's, and times have changed. My brother, in Texas, pays his babysitter 7.00 an hour (and one of his girls is 11, and she is being watched with a younger child, by this sitter!)