Babysitting?

Question

Hello! I have a question. I am 18 years old and for the past two months, I babysit once a week for a family with two children. One is two, the other is four. I am there 9-5, so I don't need to put them to sleep at night, but I make them breakfast and lunch, put one down for a nap, and basically keep them busy all day. Is 5 dollars an hour enough? I feel that the children require a lot of supervision, as it is a hassle to get them to clean up after themselves, and they frequently argue with each other. Anyone with prior experience in this?
Thank you!

Answer 1

It depends on a lot of things, such as the minimum wage in your state, how much you could bring home at another job, what the going rate is for local day cares, how long you've been babysitting for them, etc.

It sounds to me, though, that you don't feel it is enough. Your job is challenging, and you feel that you're not earning as much as you think you deserve. That's definitely normal and fair to think that way. If you don't feel that you're being paid enough, you may start feeling some resentment, which will make dealing with the children even harder (especially on the 'bad' days).

I suggest you research some of the day cares in your area to find out how much the going rate is. If your pay is well under that, and you've been with the family for a while, bring it up with them. If you get paid basically what they would pay at a center, and/or you just started with them, you should probably consider quitting the job. Give them at least two weeks, though, to find a replacement (it will help if you ever need to use them as a reference).

Best of luck!

~Kyanna

Answer 2

I would definitely ask for a raise, especially since you are 18. Your time is worth more than that. Also, 8 hours is a long time compared to a lot of babysitting jobs.

I usually charge 6 dollars an hour for the first kid, and then add one or two for each kid after that, up to about 10 per hour. So 7 or 8 is a totally reasonable amount. However, you kind have to 'read' each family. I don't really have a set-in-stone rate - I adjust it by family sometimes. It depends a lot on how troublesome the kids are, which you can usually tell right off the bat. Also, if I get the feeling the family's money is a bit tight, I usually give them a lower rate than I might otherwise have (naturally, you wouldn't tell them this).

For my current job, I earn $12 per hour, which was volunteered by the people I'm working for. This is top dollar for babysitting, in my area. I work 3 days a week, from 2-7. I take care of 2 kids, ages 1 1/2 and 4, as well as doing some housework (sweeping, dishes, etc), making the kids' lunch, and cooking a complete dinner for the entire family. I also sometimes go to the grocery store with the kids if I need something to make dinner that they don't have.

Answer 3

I read one of these and they said they're daughter charges $10 an hour? Unless you're babysitting for a doctor or lawyer $20 an hour between two kids is absolutely NUTS! I had someone tell me they would charge $6-$7 an hour for each of my kids that are completely not demanding and are both under 3.. $12-$14 an hour? I don't even make that much an hour. I would think $3 an hour for each of the kids is very reasonable. Maybe you could ask for an extra dollar. I think that is suffient since you're not providing them with anything. Everything is there. You're just supervising. Good luck girl!

Answer 4

I'm about the same age ill be 18 in a week and i also have a child of my own. and i also baby sit a child who isnt mine. I would say 5 an hour is just fine. i make a set rate with the person i baby sit for but they also have set hours so if you feel you are in this same situation try doing it that way. take what you make a day or would make a day hourly and then add 10 or 15 to that. I end up making more doing it that way then by doing it hourly. my hours are 1-6 so sometimes ill get him at 230 to 4 but i still get paid as if i watched him all day

Answer 5

I'd ask for a raise if I were you... that's about how much I made as my summer job and that was several years ago. Ask for about $6 - $7 an hour, perhaps even $8 an hour if you cook meals fo them. (If you ask for too much higher, they might just look elsewhere.) You're going to their house and there's nobody else's children there as well.
For help with the other problems:
Try redirecting them or making it into a challenge (Who can clean up the fastest? Who can pick up the most toys?) Also, if they're fighting, first give them a verbal warning and if they continue then give them a time out where they have to sit in a time out spot for the length of one minute per age (2 min. for the 2 year old, 4 for the 4 year old) and have them tell you what they did wrong and apologize to you and to the other one. Encourage them to be nice to one another and to help the other one out.

Answer 6

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and 9 month old, and have done a lot of childcare. I generally both pay and charge $2 hr an child. When I have someone what my kids then I generally round it accordingly. But it also depends on where you live and what the standard rate there.

Answer 7

It just depends...my sitter only charges $10/child..period. No matter how long the child stays. I think that is dirt cheap. Personally I would charge at least $50/day to care for 2 small children for an 8-hour day.

Answer 8

I'm a day care provider and also a mom... I think that $5 an hour is pretty good.... around here that's a little over the going rate for a professional provider!

Answer 9

no i don't have any experiance in babysitting, but i also would like to for money! and no 45 dollars total is not enough!! you should ask for a raise like about 10-15 dollars an hour; especially if the brats are hard core! thats my recomandation!

Answer 10

i have no idea.. $5 an hour seems ok.. when i babysit tho its usually my baby cousin and it doesn't matter how long it is but they give me $50- $60 every time.. sometimes its only a few hours others its for 7 hours.. but you could ask for a lil more.. but its babysitting usually its like $4.00 and hour for kids.. if i babysit other children thats what it is