My teenage niece might be babysitting for us soon. I have a 4yr old and a 2yr old. It would be evening to go out and catch a movie....I wil have already gotten the 2yr old to bed....My 4yr old will prolly just sit/lay on the couch and watch TV?movies with my neice. So about how much is reasonable?
2007-08-17 03:52:21 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
If youare going out for 3-4 hours (dinenr and movie) then $20 is probably good. That is $5 an hour.
2007-08-17 04:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by cwrayvoa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even with family, it's best to pay the going rate in your area. Adult relatives and family friends are a different matter. My mom doesn't charge me to watch her grandchildren! However, if she were providing daily care for them, I would pay her (no way she'd accept, but I would find other ways to compensate her).
With a teen, find out from other moms in the area what they pay. Where I live, teens make between $5 and $10/hour to watch kids. Don't pay less because she's family. She's a teenager, and this is a job for her. My mom's family was poor, but my grandmother would still pay the older kids for watching the younger children. Yes, she'll probably not have to do much, but what if the 2 year-old wakes up screaming for you, and the 4-year-old goes into demanding monster mode, as they sometimes do? What is there is an emergency she has to handle? It's a lot of responsibility, and she should be paid what you would pay a non-relative for the same job.
Have a great date! Also, make sure she knows if it's OK for her to eat your food (that's pretty standard) and use the phone if the kids are asleep. If I had a sitter over and my kids were asleep or sacked out on the couch watching a movie, I'd want her to keep an eye on them in the same way I would. That means a short chat on the phone is fine, and she can read a book or something on the couch while your 4-year-old watches the movie. Unless she's been dying to see Finding Nemo, of course.
2007-08-17 11:11:59 · answer #2 · answered by Kellie W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, your niece (being that she is a teenager) probably doesn't look forward to babysitting your kids, i'm sure that she could be doing a lot of other things on her night. BUT, being that you're family, and I'm assuming you asked her, she is somewhat obligated. So don't try to be cheap and give the least amount possible, because you never know when you might need her services again. Just put yourself in her shoes, how much would you want if you babysit 2 kids?
I would say a 20 dollar bill would be sufficient, after all, it's just one night right?
2007-08-17 11:00:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
how old is your niece? I would say about $5-6 an hour or like $15-$20 for the night. if she's younger then she will apreciate anything if she's around 17yrs I would pay her a little more like $7. I know my sister pays her 14 yrs old babysitter $5 to watch her 2 year old. but she usually only leaves her alone for about 2-4 hours at a time.
2007-08-17 15:31:29 · answer #4 · answered by Butterfly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on what all she has to do. I would say about $5 an hour is reasonable.. just because that pays her to give up her weekend night and you never know what kind of trouble little cousins might try to give her. I would say if you are only out for 2 or 3 hours just roundit up and give her $20 thats what my neighbors would give me when they had 2 kids asleep and a baby (almost a year) who woke up on an off but really required no care. Ask around and see what your friends pay their baby sitters because even though she is family to her its a job and I wouldn't pay her any less than you would a reg baby sitter
2007-08-17 11:28:13 · answer #5 · answered by Devin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is your niece? If she is 13 - 15 I would say probably around $10. It's not like you're asking her to babysit overnight. If she is older then she will probably expect more due to the fact that she may be missing some "socializing" with her buddies. You know how teenagers are, right?
2007-08-17 10:59:47 · answer #6 · answered by deepthinker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would give her any were from 10 to 20 dollars.If she is only watching the 4 year old and making sure the 2 year old is ok safe in bed.
2007-08-17 10:58:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My cousin babysits my kids a lot. I always try to give her $20. I know she's family and it's not that hard since one is in bed. But, she is a teenager and willing giving up her time to help you out. So I would say $20.
2007-08-17 11:11:23 · answer #8 · answered by demure_143 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give her $15-20 for the evening.
Don't bother with hourly wages/rates as she is family. Just hand her some pocket cash and supply some popcorn/healthy treats for her and your son. (Tell her if you come home to a sleeping 4 yr old, that she will get a tip!)
2007-08-17 10:56:39 · answer #9 · answered by vegface 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would pay $5 an hour at least that is what i charge my sister for watching her 11 month old.
2007-08-17 11:03:04 · answer #10 · answered by favorite_aunt24 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋