Does anyone know the going rate for 16 year-old babysitter in southeast Michigan? I’m going to be leaving Clementine with a friend’s daughter tomorrow for a couple of hours while I’m in a meeting, and I’m not sure how much money I should get out of the bank. Would I be close if I said, twice minimum-wage and then round the total up to the closest $5 multiple, or is that way off? Seriously, we’ve never left her with anyone that we’ve had to pay before, and I have no idea how stuff like that works. The closest thing I have any familiarity with is leaving the dog at the kennel when we’re out of town.
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Would it be wrong to offer to pay her in Monkey Power Trio records? (I hear the new one is quite good.)
A reader who can’t apparently figure out how to leave comments just sent me the following note:
We paid $10 an hour for 2 kids(2 and 4), and our teenage sitter seemed a little surprised and happy about it. But I think she deserved it. I think we paid the same when we just had one. But back then we used a moonlighting daycare worker, so it seemed like we should pay more “professional” wages. Consider the age of the kid, age of the sitter, and whether or not the kid will be sleeping the whole time or demanding their attention. So, all this ammounts to… we don’t get out much.
Here’s some thoughts on babysitter wages:
1) If you pay too much, you might just inject her with avarice. A too-high wage will encourage her to seek out other babysitting jobs with similar or better rates or you’ll be meeting all her income needs and she’ll be less likely to work. You don’t want to encourage a price bubble in babysitting services. It’s not like she has a family to support, all the income you give her is discretionary for luxury and requiring her to have more leisure time to spend and enjoy it.
2) If you pay her twice minimum wage, I’ll fly out there and apply for that job. I’m thinking my resume can beat the 16 year old girl you have lined up. I can bring my 3 year old girl and they can play! Wheee!
3) If you pay the 16 year old female babysitter too much, her parents my become suspicious as to what’s going on. I know it’s silly but it just comes off as slightly distasteful.
In conclusion, be fair, don’t err on the high side. I’d say between $8 and $10 / hour with benefits (pop and chips, cable TV). At this rate you can save face with your friend and not encourage negative behavior from your labour force.
$8 per hr. is good for a hs student with one (easy?) kid; I would pay more for an older sitter or for more than one kid (e.g., we pay our college student sitter $10 to watch our two).
16 years old = $5.00 an hour. I don’t pay $10 or above unless they have a degree in child development or something like that. And I have two kids, 4 and 7.
Call me cheap if you want, you’d probably be right.
OK, the 16 year old watched Clementine tonight and, by all accounts, they had a great time. She watched her for a little over two hours and gave her twenty bucks. She said it was too much, but I told her to consider it a signing bonus. We agreed on $7 an hour from now on…. So, I guess we’ve found ourselves a babysitter.
Thanks for all your advice. It helped.
This comes from Ingrid:
I think you paid that girl more than I was making at the U of M.
I pay hookers less. :)
They’re probably giving you a “family rate”, Cammer.
two words:
BABYSITTER UNION
Mr. Maynard, you’ve been warned.
Theo,
Since when is your mom in my family?
I thought for sure that someone would remember that the subject of The Babysitter has come up here before.
I have a question? What would you ask for to watch an 8 and 9 year old from 8-5 every week day in the summer?
How much should I be payed as a babysitter?
I’m going to be babysitting two kids ages 8&9 and I’m a high school senior from Boerne, Texas. I’m going to be watching them 5-6 days a week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. So what’s a good estimate for the amount of hours I’ll be working. I was considering $7.00 an hour, but if I’m off let me know.
In Boerne, Texas I believe that illegal aliens can be found to do it for $3 an hour…. Baybsitting is “a job that Americans don’t want.”
I currently babysit and I think that I am getting ripped off. I believe that a babysitter should recieve minimum wage because they are taking time out of their day and work schedual to make sure that your kids are safe. I think that this set amount should only cover up to two children and after that an extra dollar an hour should be added. If the children go back to sleep then it could go back down to min. wage. I think that people shouldn’t be stingy when it comes to babysitting. Think about it, they are at your house making sure that your children are safe and having a good time. Also, babysitters have to deal with making decesions when it comes to children lying and telling them that mom and dad let them do something. If someone is coming to babysit for your children and they are certified in CPR and or other children areas I would concider to give them more. Think about it, the happy the sitter is with the pay the more they will want to come back, thus the more reliable the sitter will be.
I think sitters shold get about 5 an hour. When I was in highschool (i graduated in 2000) I used to baby sit 2 kids 4 and 7 for 8 hours and got paid $25. I got to eat all the food I wanted and she rented a video that we all liked. Half the time I was there the kids were in bed so I was aloud to do what ever play video games, watch t.v.,do homework, talk on the phone (not long distance) just so long as I was very attentive to the kids. Why should anyone pay more than $5 an hour for a babysitter when most of the time the babysitter does homework or watches t.v.children are asleep and they are getting. paied to do their homework and watch t.v. On the otherhand a person who comes over on a regular schedule and watches kids cleans up and is not aloud to sit around at all should be paied at least minimum wage but that is a nanny not a sitter.
excuse the spelling errors in the last post
I think your spelling is quite good for an illegal alien, actually.
5.00 an hour is a good wage for one child, and for 2 children 8.00 I also do not believe adults should get any more then kids.I paid a sitter 10.00 for 2 kids, as they were small and took more patience and was harder then older kids who entertain them selves better.
3.00 is just wrong. you would not work for that, why expect kids that will be taking care of your own precious children work for that?
I babysit two kids from 3:30 to 7:00 everyday, one entire night a weed from 3:30 one afternoon to 7:30 the next morning and then an entire weekend a month. I am also responsible for getting their homework done occasionally picking them up from school and taking them to a learning center 1 day a week, which all together is at least an hour and a half drive there and back, not including the 20 min drive home. I also give the youngest his bath at night and get him ready for the bus if i stay over night. I get paid 500 a month and everyone tells me i am getting ripped off….am I??
Roughly $12.50 an hour … if the kids are cooperative, there are no special needs circumstances, and you have “access” to the fridge … I think your arrangement is fair.
Should you ask for more money? Yes.
The sitting/bathing/homework/overnight in the home is one thing … but transport to the learning center opens you up to some risks/responsibilities and costs. For those 1-1/2hr trips plus your costs, I’d ask for an extra $50 … bringing your monthly stipend to $550.
Aside from that … I don’t think you’re getting ripped off.
I remember getting paid 4.50 an hour to babysit 5 kids ranging from 3 months to 11 yrs. (4 girls – 1 boy). It was the hardest job I’ve ever had. 4 days a week 8-5 and I cleaned and cooked. It was 1993. I have to say, it strongly motivated me to get a better paying job working at the local Walmart for 5.75 an hour…woo!
i think you calculated that as getting 500 a week including the one weekend i work a month. This is 500 a month for about 25 hours a week. This ads up to less than 5.50 an hour if you do not include the weekend i have got to work.
Last night i baby sat for 6 and a half hours and i got paid ten dollars. I am 14 and it was the first time i have babysat for this family, they planne dit in a rush so i didn’t get time to talk about my usual wage. Later i was paid and they found it a reasonable price. I took it and i was happy, but now everyone keeps telling me i have been ripped off. Have i been?
i am 23 and have a night job. i babysit a 3 year old and a 4 year old for my parents for the 9 hours they are at work and then i go to my night job.. i curretly live with them because i am new to the state and dont know my way around yet…they do not have me pay rent,and they pay me 80 a week to watch the kids.. my whole sch. is out of wack now im losing out on sleep i once had and im no longer able to do the things i normally do like exercise ect…is this a good deal??
$3 an hour is ridiculous. No one would work for that! Babysitters have a huge job- they look after your children! I babysit two girls for $9 an hour, then I babysit another family’s 2 kids for $10 an hour. But then again, I live in NY where babysitter salaries are a bit higher than usual. I think $7.50-$8 an hour for two kids is good for a highschool sitter. That’s a bit more than a highschooler can make at McDonald’s an hour in NY.
I am looking for someone to come into my home and babysit my 3yr old boy P/T, M-F. What should I pay?
I am 14. I have never babysat. I am babysitting the 4th grader down the street this summer, 4 days a week every week from 7 to 3. Everyone says to charge 20$ a day…is that too low? we’re in louisiana too so it’s not like it has to be a whole lot…the kid is also good friends with my brother so i don’t think it’s going to be a hard job…
I am a babysitter in ONtario, and I am only 13. I am paid usually six dollars an hour. One family pays me 10 dollars an hour. I only ask for 5. Usually people don’t pay $4 or they will come off cheap. Can I suggest 7 dollars an hour?
I believe that babysitters under 15 should work for free, as, quite frankly, their work isn’t very good. And, I would go so far as to say that babysitters under 13 should pay for the privilege. I would also recommend all parents to disconnect phone service while they have young babysitters in the home. It’s been my experience that, quite often, they just talk with their friends once the kids are asleep instead of cleaning the oven, scrubbing the floors, etc.
When ever I have a babysitter that doesn’t do a good job, I refuse to pay. If I leave a list of things for her to do after the baby goes to sleep, they better be done. I’m not going to pay someone to watch TV when there are toilets to be cleaned.
I am babysitting for a full weekend for a new customer. (Friday through Sunday) How much should I charge? I will be staying there for the weekend…
I’m 19 and I will be babysitting for two children ages 4 and 7 from 8 am to 6 pm three days a week this summer. I want to charge a fair rate. I have a lot of experience caring for all ages of children and have even cared for special needs children. I will need to pick up and drop off one of the children at a summer class. I’ll also be cooking and some housework. What is a fair hourly rate?
$8.00/hour minimum, plus .40/mile for errands.
I am a babysitter and have been babysitting since I was 14. I am currently 21 years old and live in Georgia. I now charge $8/hr and $2 for each additional child. Prices also can vary depending on the type of activities and the ages of the children. As a teenager I charged $6-7 dollars per hour, disregarding the number of children. If a parent has more than 3 children, I usually give a discount. The less “chores”, the less I charge. Also parents, I would reccomend seeking CPR qualified babysitters to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth. I hope this has been a help to most parents.
Thanks! I negotiated with the parents and we settled on $9.50 per hour. It seems that they were paying more for the previous babysitter.
Beats the heck out of the below-minimum-wage jobs at the theaters.
Hey Cleo Love Paste. How much do you pay for a “babysitter” to clean your toilets? And mark why should we scrub the floors and clean the oven if we are not getting paid for it or we did not use it/made a mess on the floor. I am 13 and I get paid $5 an hour to watch a 4 year-old and 2 11 month-olds. The mom is there but I am technically taking care of them. So if you think that a babysitter should clean your house, hire a housekeeper or pay the babysitter for giving you the service of cleaning your “precious” home.
They’re just kidding around, smartie33. I am sure Mark pays generously. He’s a multi-millionaire you know. A lot of people don’t know that about him. As far as Cleo Love Paste goes, I don’t know the person, so I couldn’t say much about them. But anyone who comes up with a screen name like that is probably best to just avoid.
Ok, now I’m just kidding around.
I pay as little as possible. If I’ve got someone watching my kids for $3 an hour, you better believe that I’m out there on the street looking for someone who will do it for for $2.90. That is THE AMERICAN WAY! And cleaning toilets is relaxing. They should pay ME to clean my toilets.
Cleo Love Paste, you should just set up a web page where potential babysitters can have a bidding war.
I am 12, live in Wisconsin, and I don’t know what to pay per hour. I am new to babysitting, and totally confused! I took the babysitting course at Red Cross. I babysat for my teacher’s kids they are 2 and 4, but she usually just gives me twenty bucks instead of something per hour. Now that I am about to babysit regularly, what should I ask per hour???
HELP
Kelly,
The NABSW industry standard follows the basic formula:
“To determine the standard hourly rate for babysitting, divide the number of children being cared for by the average age of children and multiply the result by the age of the babysitter.
In your case, that’s 2 \ 3 = .67 x 12 = $8.04 per hour.
After you’ve logged 100 hours of babysitting, the NABSW recommends increasing your rates by .067 percent and by .08 percent for each 100 hours after that. I’ve got a friend who’s 42 and has been babysitting since she was 11. She watches 3 kids whose average age is 2.5 and now gets paid $73 an hour. She works one night a week, two at the most, and is pretty much a total stoner the rest of the time. Just be careful not to get sucked in by the easy money.
Someone owes me 30k for last summer.
Man, my neighbor paid me $10 an hour to watch her kid, and that just meant drinking all her beer and letting the kid watch whatever crap on TV she wanted while I played her gameboy.
Of course, I was 27 and could tell the kid to listen to post-punk, so that was valuable at least.
Im only 14years old, i do babysitting.my average wages are beetween $3.50/hour and $7.00/hour.I fregrently babysit my 10 year old brother from 8.00-4.00 every day of the holidays(weekdays,and im not getting paid,should i be getting paid?
Your parents don’t have to pay you anything. Of course you could hold your younger brother hostage.
Seriously though, it’s nice that your brother has a big sister to look after him.
I am sixteen and babysit. my going rate is $5 an hour for one child, and an additional $1 an hour for every other child.
To put that in perspective, for what I pay my lawyer to do essentially nothing, I could be paying you to watch 196 kids.
I had really really hot nannies. I have no fucking idea how much they got paid. They were totally smoking fucking hot though. I miss being a kid.
Wolfgang, do you have kids now? If not, get some. Then you can hire some smokin’ hot nannies. There might even be a place where you can rent kids for just such purposes. I think there’s a place that will rent you kids to take to Cedar Point, so you don’t have to look immature hanging around down there. People just assume you’re a parent.
i babysat my boss’s kid and he’s always really hyperactive. i made him clean his room before we played and we played spidermn and he continued to jump on me and hit me until i finally got him to calm down. then i made him dinner. his mom gave me this stupid microaveable mac and cheese thing and i was like “this is absurd, why would you feed your kid this” so i made spaghetti with some panfried potatoes.
the kid kept yelling at me because apparently he never cleaned his room before and he doesn’t know ohw to clean so i taught him.
she’s paying me 5 and hour and i feel like i got ripped off.
she pays me 5/hour at work too and here the min wage is 7.15
i don’t want to piss her off or anything and get fired but i need her to at least pay me min wage for my job and i want to get paid the same for babysitting her crazy kid.
now since everyone here’s all grown up please give me ideas as in how to ask my boss to py me min wage without getting fired.
On several occasions, I’ve told babysitters, after they’ve watched my children, that I refuse to pay. Once I said it was because there was a broken chair in my kitchen. (It had been broken for months.) Once I said it was because I could tell that she was using the phone. It’s easy to find reasons.
You should just look for another job (and boss).
The key to making the money you deserve is to have absolutely no loyalty.
Yes Mrs.C, you have an excellent approach. It’s important to keep labor costs down.
im getting paid 3.07 an hour to watch 3 kids. ages 1,2,and 5. one of them has a condition in which i am required to give him 3 different medical treatments three times each day, and a different medicine with every meal. i work nine hour days. this is bullshit. my advice, id take 7 an hour and die happy.
Dara, don’t listen to this so-called “Ellie.” That’s ‘The Man’ talkin’.
Seriously, you should all be constantly looking for higher-paying gigs. That’s the way to get everyone into a bidding war over you. You don’t leave one job ’til you have something better lined up. Just handle it the way most people handle relationships, always be setting up the next, better thing.
Hi,
I am 13 and i am babysitting a 9 month old baby every Saturday. I live in a very rural town. How much do you think I should ask for?
THANKS
If that very rural town is Aspen, $50 per hour.
I’m 12 and i will have to babysit 2 kids ages 4 and 7 from overnight 8pm to about 7am so how much should I charge?
I started sitting twice a week from 3 – 5:30 or 6 every week plus any other nights I was needed year-round for three girls under the age of 3 when I was 15. I had basic CPR training. That’s it. I got paid $8 an hour, which was great… back then.
Now I’m 17, doing the exact same routine every week for the exact same family, except now I do search and rescue, I have Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers training, and I’m working towards becoming a certified nursing assistant. Not to mention that I’m a bit more mature and that I’ve been providing quality child care to this family and several of their friends for over two years. $8 feels a little low now, especially since I feel unappreciated, overworked, and ignored. I was supposed to be paid every two weeks, and now I’m really lucky when I get paid once in a month.
I feel like despite the great relationship I’ve built with the children, I have no other choice but to seek another job that gives me fair pay and fair treatment.
That’s my sob story. Parents – please take notes. Happy sitters are good sitters, and why on earth would you be cheap when it comes to your children? It’s really just a few dollars, anyways. If you want your kids to have the best experience possible when you’re away, treat your sitter right.
Give your sitter a raise after a while.
Child care isn’t easy. Put yourself in your sitter’s shoes, you know that being a mom is very difficult. While playing mom to another person’s children is quite different, it definitely presents its own challenges and often can be a little bit more difficult considering the lack of mommy authority/comfort/wisdom.
I am a babysitter in New York and I am 17 years old. I babysit for several different families, all of which (oddly) have 2 kids each. I charge $9 when the kids are awake and $8 when they are sleeping, sometimes i get $10, it all depends on the family i am babysiting for. Some families give $8 and hour even when the kids are awake. My minimum is $8 but if they ask me how much i charge i say $9, but will work for $8. I feel that i have to be grateful for any amount of money really because money is money. I dont want to feel like i am being used or taken advantage of, so my minimum that i work for is $8. I charge $8 when they are sleeping and $9 when they are awake, as i said because it works for me and the parents, not too much for them and not too little for me. Everyone is happy!
I think I will adopt Allison’s system in my business … only in reverse.
I will charge my clients who are awake and lucid and who do what I tell them to do …
$75 an hour.
And clients who are “asleep,” inept, who insist nevertheless to do what they are hellbent on doing … $100 an hour.
Like Allison says … everybody’s happy, my good clients get a deal … and my obstinate clients get what they were going to get anyway.
Leave it to a New Yorker to have a creative way to do billing!
So, Allison, what’s the incentive to put them to sleep? If you were a good business person, you’d give them lots and lots of caffeine…. Unless, of course, it’s worth a dollar an hour to you not to be bothered by them… In which case, why not put them to sleep upon arriving?
Now, theree’s something for the so-called EMU “junta” to think about!
Survey faculty in action and only pay them $X per hour they can keep their students awake and in perfect attendance. Every enrollee’s empty seat or doze during class will cost the prof/lecturer $X per hour.
That’s money they could use to fix P-H or buy a little green shrub for the new College Place “DMZ.”
I do not want anyone to get the wrong message. If i arrive and the kids are sleeping, then they are sleeping. if their bedtime is 8pm, that is when they go to sleep. i think it is a great way to make cash, especially if you are a student.
i just babysat somewhere around fifteen kids from 2:30 till 12:30 at night. i was intentially only supposed to be babysitting 2 kids. how much should i get paid?
I’d think you should get whatever some corrections officer would get at Milan for a shift … similar to adult miscreants … such a mob of kids should earn you $100 minimum!
And if you wrote the White Housee … you’d get a Medal of Freedom from GWB, like George Tenet … who by the way knows by tapping your phone that your boyfriend in Gaza is a Hamas terrorist. Does your boyfriend know you’re only 12?
I’m A Thirteen Year Old Male, I Just Babysitted A Close Family Friends 1 Month Old Baby. It Was For An Hour And She Gave Me Two Dollars. Now She Would Like Me To Babysit On The Weekends From 6-10. How Much Each Hour?
Will you be feeding the child? Will the food/milk be prepared? Baby goes to bed after feeding and will sleep till 10 for sure, unless ill. Will the child be dressed for bed when you get there?
I’d ask the parents to have the baby fed, diapered and ready for bed. That way, you can read him a chapter of any Potter book or slip an Einstein For Babies in the CD player … and the kid’ll be out in no time.
At 7PM your girlfriend arrives by cab and you can talk till 9:30. Oh, sure! Duh.
Seriously, $5/hour for a sleeping baby. Just be prepared to be a hero if anything goes wrong. On nights the baby is ill … I’d decline. Too risky.
If anyone ever tried to give me two dollars for an hour of my work, I’d wad it up and throw it back in their face. Ridiculous.
Holy crap, newbie! Two dollars for an hour?! Tell the “Close Family Friend” to set up a web cam trained on the crib and outsource her babysitting to India. That’s the only way anyone could do it for $2 per hour.
I’m just kidding. Honestly, I think you should report her to Child Protection Services. And while you’re at it, report your own parents for exposing you to family friends such as these.
I have a Republican Congressman that would do it for less that $2 an hour.
I live in Maryland and as far as I know, the going rate for babysitting a minimum of two kids is about $10+. I’m 16 and the cash I make is pretty easy. This past summer I babysat 5 year old twins (1 girl and 1 boy) sporadically. Most of the time, their mother was home and the kids and I just played outside or colored etc. When it was time to feed them a meal or give them a bath, their mom helped out with all of that. I made $12/hour when she wrote a check and she just rounded up whenever she gave me cash.
Hi I have a question.. I have started babysitting 5 children the youngest is 2 and the oldest 10.. They are dropped off to my home at 5:00 every evening Mon to Fri and picked up at 10 Pm mon, Tues, and Fri and picked up at 9 on wed, and Thursdays I feed them their supper and a light snack before they are picked up.. My question is I have no clue how much to charge the parents for baby sitting their 5 children.. If someone could give me some advice on this I would greatly appreciate it.. Thankyou very much
Question: i was asked just to drop some kids off at school in the AM and pick them up from school in the afternoon and take them home to there older sister. They live about 30mins from me. I am not sure how much to charge? any thoughts? please email me ASAP!!
Thanks!
I would charge .40 per mile each way … plus 1 hr. each time for pickup and delivery. $8 + 8$ plus mileage.
I have one arm. Should I charge the same as a “multi-armed” babysitter?
This is why I have to monitor your on-line activities, Steph.
My daughter does not have one arm. She has two. She also has a stupid sense of humor. Sorry if she offended any one armed people out there. She will be punished.
Daughters who are punished make GREAT baby sitters. They seem to understand that the responsibility of caring for a small child is a serious affair.
All unpunished babysitters (male or female) should be “smacked down” just for the sake of getting a “feel” for what it might be like if they EVER need a REAL wack!
Great work Steph. If you’re ready now to be serious … list your requirements here.
And now we’ll known why Steph has developed a limp.
My name is Walt. I am a clown. I entertain at childrens parties in New York State. I charge slightly more that other clowns because I have a large mole on my neck that I paint a face on. By turning my head a certain way and throwing my voice, I can make it look like it’s talking. No other clown to my knowledge can do this. I’m thinking about moving to Los Angeles and I’m wondering how much to charge for an hour-long performance. Here I charge about $150.
Um you must be the clown from Spawn! Dude It would be way to easy to really make you look clownish so I will take for granted your joking if not I will say a Prayer for you LMAO
Icharde eight dollars and thirty three cent’s an hour,figure I Baby sat a couple nights ago for a three year old and he paid me fifty dollars for 6 hours is that good???
I charge eight dollars and thirty three cent’s an hour,figure I Baby sat a couple nights ago for a three year old and he paid me fifty dollars for 6 hours is that good???
Mark … will you tell Michael Jackson (aka, clown:) ) to stop this nonsense.
WHAT NONSENCE i’m simply asking a question what is so wrong with that?! egpenet!
when i said he paid me I meant The parent!
thoguht you would of known that egpenet!!!!!!!!!!111
I think I just lost my mm.com jackass crown.
snuggle tight, mr. clown :) … neverland is a wonderful place!
all i have 2 say is…the point of babysitting is 2 watch your kids NOT CLEAN YOUR HOUSE!!!!!so unless you are getting paid a little extra for cleaning i suggest you not do it because that would be a serious RIP OFF!!! n if your wondering how old i am im 14 n this is just my opinion.so please dont start cursin n stuff at me. thank ya =]
I charge 10 dollars an hour for 4 kids. Picking them up after school, doing some laundry, and feeding them dinner. Between 4-5 hours a day and some weekends i may give the parents a date night. Works great for me, but the kids are beyond amazing so that helps too.
It seems like this is one of the most commented on posts of all time here, Mark.
Have you considered turning this into a babysitting blog?
Nite, nite, Dan.
It just pisses me off that I’m not paid a god-damned dime for babysitting all of you.
Nite, nite, Mark.
i am 11 and i know i am kind of young so i am doing it with my two friends and i have no clue what to CHARGE????? my friend and i are gonna take a babysitting class that teaches kids everything about putting them to sleep to changing diapers at the YMCA. i dont know if the other is thought i think she might. there are 3 of us so i dont want to only get like a dollar and if we split up we wont get jobs because they will think we are to young and irresponsible. please help me. i need a job i have $0 and i cant live without money but i dont usually spend it it’s just i like to know i have it in case i need something unlike my older brother who wont get a job no matter what my mom does to bag him
i meant beg him not bag him lol
Most folks won’t hire a “team” because they figure you’ll just be having fun and not do the job. If your “team” CAN get a gig … charge $3.00/hour each … but only ONE of you should be IN CHARGE and MAKE ALL the decisions. If the “team” doesn’t agree, don’t let them on the team. ONE is in charge! And make that clear to the customer. Also, the person IN CHARGE handles all the money, too. Good luck.
Have you ever seen the old Our Gang films where Spanky would climb up on someone’s shoulders, put on an overcoat and a fake mustache, and pass himself off as an adult? That’s what I’d do. The three of you should pass yourselves off as one very old, very experienced babysitter.
egpenet should be kicked off of this site the whole reason is just simply a question to be folled by answers from everyone ok. not a hate site clown:) means no harm he/she was just asking a question and mabey it came out the wrong way but he/she explained him/her self so just let it go jeezz
quest123 doth protest too much me thinks … ’twas humor intended, now humor upended.
I apologize if there was any true foul … such is the bane of the clown and hence his frown, I take it.
JUST LET IT GO!! msbey he/she couldn’t think of a name so they just named thereselves clown:) is that so wrong?
mabey*
maybe yes … mabey no
w/e this is a load of bull like get a life
I am 14 and babysit a 3 and 5 year old and am about to start babysiting a 3 and a 4 year old and i charge $5 dollars a hour ^.^
so i go to their house at 8pm, i watch 2 kids, 2 and 4, and when i arrive they are going to bed, and i sleep over nite, then when mom gets home at 12 the next day, i watch them so she can sleep, so im up with them at like 7 am, till 3 pm. so how much should i charge? i do this tuesday nite, friday nite, and saturday nite. i was only charging her 25 dollars a shift, but im shorting myself. what do yall think i should charge im 26 in florida.
Minus the valye you receive for a place to sleep (even though you are “on call,” and minus the three to four meals you get while “on duty,” I’d suggest you should change $50 per shift, PLUS mileage expenses should you take the kids out or NEED to get them to a doctor in an emergency.
when i was babysitting this one 11 year old starting saying i had a big butt and big boobs he made things drop so i hade to lean over and get he put a frog in my shirt so i had to open it and he saw my bra then he said he would call his mommy if i did not do a striping dace for him and take of all my clothes and im 20 years old and im getting paid 20 bucks hour so i did and we ended up havin fun so we had sex on the living room couch all neaked and his mom and dad walked in i got fired
I have two friends that make their livings writing for Larry Flynt. If you want to send me your contact information, I’d be happy to forward it along to the folks as Hustler. I’m sure they could always use a hand.
that is discusting mystery honesty you make me wannna puke
$20 an hour is a good gig.
This story is a fictional farce.
Baby Sitters of the World unite … ignore this latest posting and get real!
Taking care of someone else’s babies is no silly matter. But it can be lucrative if you show upon time, keep the boyfriend away and do a great job of keeping the babies happy, fed and clean.
A lot of us need child care and are very concerned about who we hire and what we pay. Do are good job, charge a reasonable rate for local services and be happy with that. Some families tip beyond that. Hoo haw!
I babysat all through high school and enjoyed every minute. I learned how to enjoy children and how to listen and interpret their needs.
Ignote the trashy postings and do your best to help the next generation grow up free of selfish and silly fantasies.
okay i need some advice…. i am 11 years old and just about to start baby sitting with my sister. she is also 10. i am babysitting my teachers kids. theey are 5 and 3 [1 boy and 1 girl] and they have dog. she is willing to pay 7.50 an hour… is that a good payment? wat is a good payment for us per hour… we are splitting the total amount of money. i am trained in the babysiting coure from the red cross. so hows much should i ask for?
i forgot to add that we live in greenwich CT so ppl pay more. ?/????
Red Cross workers are volunteers. If you are earning money from training you received from the Red Cross, you may be in violation of the terms of your training and subject to fines from the Red Cross (paid in blood).
If you intended to babysit for money, you should have sought certification from http://www.babysittingclass.com or any of the other fine, for-profit training and certification programs. These for profit institutions, will also tell you how much your services are worth and well worth the investment.
I suggest you start babysitting for free, immediately, and hire a good lawyer.
actually i havent started baby sitting yet but someone wants my service. and i havent started traiing at red cross yet but i wil keep it in mind about that. and im not rieciving money. well i can but if its a violation i wont. thanks for the information.
would that still be violation? if i didnt get paid yet and havent started the training?
I am thinking about taking a job as a babysitter with between 30-40 hourse per week. I am 22 in college with enough credits to teach in a daycare, cpr, and first aid training. There are 3 kids twin 1 year olds and one 4 year old I was thinking about suggjesting 8 dollars an hour since it would be in their home and the 4 year old is in p-k half of the day that is about 280 dollars aweek. Is that to much
Why are you all coming here? This is not a babysitting site. In fact, only 2 of 3,000 posts have been about babysitting. And yet you keep coming.
Google is broken. It sends me men wanting information on shaving their balls, and young girls wanting to know how much to charge for babysitting. How bizarre is that? Those, seriously, are my two biggest audiences (via Google). Is there someone I could write a letter to.
And, no, $280 a week does not sound extreme given your credentials.
And, Gigi, I’m not aware of any rule that says if you take a Red Cross babysitting course that you can never again charge for your services. I will look into it for you though.
And please don’t leave this thread. There are creepy men in neighboring threads looking around for personal grooming information they will not find, and I have no intention of helping them. I’m afraid they might get testy.
Ladies:
Red Cross class graduates are not restricted from charging money. Classes include diapering, safety, first aid and safe play ideas. 7.50/hour is quite decent.
Sunshine, if you can get $8 … go for it.
okay….thank you guys for respondind to me .. i very much appreciate it and my mom would of killed me if i had goten like sued or something. kk so thanks for the help and the reassurance
Gigi, such a cute name! I am comforted knowing that your mom would’ve killed you if you’d gotten sued, but allows her 11 year old daughter to surf the net without supervision. You know, if you say you’re 14, you can start a myspace page! Totally rad!
In 2002, Princess Superstar released her song “Bad Babysitter” which contain the lyrics, “I’m a bad babysitter, got my boyfriend in your shower, Woo! I’m makin 6 bucks an hour”
I think we can use this as a baseline and adjust for inflation.
I love this website. This is what I needed. I & my 14 & 16yr.old sons babysit a family members little girl, and essentially do it for free, for many reasons. However, that is about to change and thanks to Mark Maynard and all you great folks on my new years resolution. Start ACTUALLY CHARGING, no matter who it is. I try to cut family slack. But you give an inch, it feels like they take miles.
Now what I really want to know, is what do I charge parents to watch kids 6 & under for NEW YEARS EVE/DAY? What is the going rate? I tend to cut slack to ones that are working versus ones that are playing. I do enjoy the little ones, and my kids do as well. I also beleive that you do get what you pay for, so I make sure to attend patiently, and attentively. We watch movies, color, cook, and act silly. I am looking at keeping up to 4, who I do know. I believe I am pretty good. Help, I need your input!
My opinion, since I weigh in on this question every time …
Time and one-half on Holidays …
If you charge $8/hour, for instance, it’s $12 … $5/hour, for another example, it’s $7.50.
Another approach is charge a flat rate all the time … but charge extra for food, travel, games, movies and other expensees … and keep recipts.
Children are children. They are not prostitutes. They should not take money from adults. They should work freely, and their reward should be the satisfaction of a job well done. Nowhere in the BIBLE does it say anything about paying “babysitters”. It is evil and wicked to evil to even suggest it.
So, Gretchen, I take that you don’t think Joseph flipped one of the shepherd boys a gold coin from the wise men and took Mary out to dinner … or maybe moved out of the stable and into the new Marriott and ordered in … or toked on some Frankinsense and ate kibbe.
You are not mentioned in the Bible, either.
The babysitters in the Old Testament were called “concubines.” Concubines were paid by having sex with the fathers, thus baring more children and being guaranteed future employment in a beautifully symbiotic relationship.
I have to say, it is dreadfully difficult to find a good, Old Testament babysitter in this godless age.
If you want to meet a good’old Testament baby, there are a few spams I’ve been sent over the years that promise to delight … as well as sit.
I am 12 years old, and I get paid about $6/ hr and that’s only for 1 child, and I add $3 for any child after the first one. except I’m in Florida, so I might be WAYYY off for your area, but anyways, that’s what I charge.
Sounds good to me. Relatives in Florida say it sounds about right, as well.
Hi. I am 13 and am babysitting a baby that is 8 month. How much should I charge?
Much depends on the details … time of day, feeding schedule, duties, part of the country, economic status of the parents …many things.
As I weigh-in on this blog each time someone asks, I’ll asnwer here by saying that details aside … an 8-month old child is an 8-month old child and requires careful attention at all times. I suggest you ask from $4.00-$6.00 per hour.
Watch Out! If you’re in the city limits of Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor, the living wage laws classify babysitters as a type of “public health officer.” If you don’t pay them a “living wage” (as defined by the Davis-Bacon Act and various service unions), you could find yourself arrested and on trial for civil rights violations…
…ok ok, so that is all a bunch of hooey, but doesn’t it feel just a little to close to the truth for comfort?
Bebe,
The first time, charge a modest $5 per hour. But, before babysitting, you should save your own poop for several days. While babysitting, take your saved poop and smear it in like 20 diapers.
When the parents return home, say everything was fine but the baby had a bit of influenza and you had to change 20 diapers. Make sure they see and smell them. Say it was no big deal, and tell them how much you love to care for the cutest, smartest baby you’ve ever seen.
They will feel so guilty that you’ll be making $20 per hour in no time.
Oh, and once the baby is a year old, pretend you’re teaching it how to read.
Offer to do it for free. The important thing is that you get inside. Once in, you’re in control. Personally, I don’t like blackmail, so I’d be inclined to go the Homeland Security route. They pay well for tips, and it’s easy to find something suspicious… like a copy of the Koran or an envelope full of powder.
New-York-Babysitters.com had an article about this. I think they referenced a study that said the average babysitter gets paid $6.04 nationwide and $11.08 in New York City.
This was such fun reading all these posts! What a crack-up! I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. My brother wanted me to babysit his little hellions for $6/hr -3 kids! I laughed and told him I get paid $10/hr for dog-sitting! Needless to say I told him NO! Have a fantabulous day! LOL :))))))
Leash-up the kids! My little sister used to have a leash when we went shopping. Remember to take some treats and to teach them to sit on the curb at street corners.
Something babysitters need to remember…although you are all saying you work very hard for the money…minimum wage this and what not…remember…babysitting money for the most part goes UNREPORTED, no taxes are taken out, etc…so…if you are making $8/hour for ONE child…it is like getting paid $11 dollars for doing a regular job. I have hired babysitters…and the outragious prices some college kids are asking for is simply ridiculous. Yes, watching a child is difficult (I only have one)…but, when food is being provided FOR you, cable, internet, once kids are asleep…wash a few dishes…sit on the couch and watch tv…and what not…in the end you end up making MORE than you would in a regular job because of the sheer fact that the dollar amount is not taxed, etc.
Babysitters hate America!
Hey this is a cool way to figure out how much to get paid. OK I am 14 yo and live in Lewisville, Texas which is just outside of Dallas (in fact I can see Dallas from the sidewalk behind my house).
I’m just starting to do babysitting this summer. I’m not going to be laying around watching TV or talking to my boyfriend cuz I dont have a boyfriend (and thats OK with me too). Obv I cant drive yet cuz I dont have a license. What are some of the other kids who live in my area making?
Thanks guys!! :)
–Raye
Lewisville, if I am not mistaken, is designated a Level 6 babysitting market. It, of course, depends on how many children that you’re watching, and their degree of mobility, but being 14 in a Level 6 environment, you should be making upwards of $6.20 an hour. ($6.20 is your baseline. That’s how much you would be paid if you were watching a peer that was sitting still watching TV.)
Paw’s right … but NO LESS than $5.75-$6.00 for one child. If there’s more than one, add 50% to your hourly rate, etc. If there are chores or added duties … like feeding or cooking, etc. … OK … you charge extra at $8.00-$8.50/hour. 1 extra hour vacuuming or cooking, that’s an extra $8.00-$8.50 for THAT hour.
If this is a polygamous home and there are more than five children. You can charge whatever you want with the threat that you’ll call social services or the District Attorney unless you get paid … cold hard cash. Sky’s the limit!
I don’t pay nearly that well, but the works a lot more fun. Call me if you’re ever in Romulus and need a few bucks.
Romulus is a great place to celebrate an 18th birthday!
Rayna,
The economy in Texas is good, so I’d charge your babysitting customers $8.00 per hour ($9.50 if you can see Dallas from their livingroom).
It really all comes down to what you mean by “baby” and what “sitting” implies.
You all are going to Hades for this discussion. Those folks are going through a lot right now. They’ve all had their wives, err, I mean children, taken away from them. Cut them a break.
The babysitter should have to pay to sit those children, considering all the perks.
Hey! I was wondering what I should charge for my summer babysitting job. I’m going to be watching a 7 y/o and two 10 y/o. I’m probably going to drive them all to the zoo or pool or whatever else sounds fun b/c their mom says she doesn’t want them sitting at home. It will be from 8 in the morning til 5 in the afternoon a few times a week! What do u all think?
Oh yeah….I’ve had about 5 years of experience if that makes a difference
8 – 5 means feeding AND transportation to wherever. I’d recommend an hourly rate of $10 – $12 an hour (3 kids!), PLUS mileage at the going rate, which is over .40 per mile.
The higher hourly rate factors in the ages and the need to prepare them lunch and a snack, but not the cost of the food … only your effort and supervision.
If they are Mormons, they will be docile and disciplined, so not to worry. If they are city kids, they’ll be a challenge but they’ll be fun. If they are suburban kids, it might be wise to initiate a conversation about automatic weapons and the latest assault plans they have concocted in case their home is attacked by Visigoths.
You know, just to be sure you want THIS job.
I am a college student with 10 years of babysitting experience. I am CPR certified and a nursing student (I graduate in December). I am also getting married this summer. On top of all that I am going to watch 4 kids two days a week that live 1/2 an hour away from me. I have to be there by 10AM and get done at 8PM. The kids are 11, 9, 6 and 4. How much should I ask for compensation? The mom is someone I work with at a hospital. Let me know what you guys think! ~Ashley
RE: I believe that babysitters under 15 should work for free, as, quite frankly, their work isn’t very good. And, I would go so far as to say that babysitters under 13 should pay for the privilege. I would also recommend all parents to disconnect phone service while they have young babysitters in the home. It’s been my experience that, quite often, they just talk with their friends once the kids are asleep instead of cleaning the oven, scrubbing the floors, etc.
Please tell me that you’re joking. Yes, that makes all the sense in the world to make the babysitter pay you to babysit your kids. I hope I never meet anyone like you as I am considering a summer job of babysitting.
Don’t ask for much. The important thing is that you get inside the home. Once you’re in, look for blackmail material. That’s where the real money is.
Oh, Hanna! 1 out of 10 young women even THINK about getting work. If some young girl 12, 13, 14 wants to sit for you and her creds check out … so WHAT if she’s on the phone … PROVIDED your children are being supervised, fed and safeguarded! Sheesh!
Ashley … with your college loans and other obligations … you should be charging $10-$12 for those kids, PLUS errands running expenses and a kicker for meal times. ALSO, do eactly what Mark suggests … over time, do a room by room search and collect as much stuff as you can. Do they have a home computer … hack their bank stuff or the dad’s email … you’ll find lots of stuff to share with the mom on the dad’s email. G’night.
Hello again everyone! I look forward to people’s advice, however please do not suggest that I snoop through my employers things. This is very dishonest and inappropriate. Anyone who does that should lose their job not be rewarded for it. When you have children do you want a stranger rummaging through your things? I think not. Thank you! ~Ashley
Ashley: To dissuade snoopers, I have mousetraps and other assorted nasty boobietraps set throughout my home … closets … drawers … etc.
So many that sometimes I forget they are there. Ouch!
Anyway, you need leverage in life to get ahead. And another word for leverage (at least in economics) is RISK. Unless you want to babysit the rest of your life … ya’gotta go for the gold!
Hi I’ve been reading this post with some interest for awhile now but I’m curious. My mom told me that I couldnt babysit until I’m sevnteen because she worries that what happened to her might happen to me and I’ve told her she’s wrong. Right now I’m 15. I’m curious about how you suggest I convince her different and that 17 is too long to wait to start babysitting because I’m old enough now. See when she used to sit for her cousins’ in Ann Arbor the kids were actually a bad influence on her and they convinced my mom to do things she shouldn’t do. Anyone experience things like that? She won’t tell me what it was exactly, but I know it must not be good. My dad won’t tell me either but I don’t know if he knows and we never see those cousins anymore because they moved somewhere else before I was born. But we live in Ypsi and I know two moms’ on the street have asked if I could sit for them and I’ve said no because of my mom.
How about compromising on 16? That seems reasonable.
As for your mom’s experience, I’d leave it alone. Some things are best left buried in the past. The important thing is that she cares about you, and doesn’t want to see you get hurt.
I agree with RT.
I’m a guy and babysat when I was 14 for a neighbor and then built my business until I started regular dating as a Junior at 16.
As for family influences … avoid your Mom’s experience by NOT sitting for relatives. They usually expect you to sit for nothing, anyway. Talk about taking advantage! The outside world, away from family, is ALSO filled with temptation. So, what’s a person to do? She’s gotta cut you lose someday. Good luck.
I am getting a summer babysitter for my three boys for the first time. They are 6,9,12. I was thinking of $8 hour for about 40 hours/week. Plus, I need someone who can drive them to swim class, etc. So, I might pay some extra for gas.
First, do you think this is a fair amount?
Second, do I need to set anything up for taxes since I am paying someone…and so the babysitter can report it on their taxes? If so, what do I have to do?
Ok I’m sixteen, and I’m about to babysit my neighbors son for about three and a half hours. He’s four, but will probably be awake most of the time, and I have to feed him dinner. Do you think seven dollars an hour is reasonable to charge? I live in Michigan.
Oh and I know first aid and all that good stuff, and I’m way experienced, helped out at day cares, have two younger brothers and have been babysitting since i was 13.
Working Mom: You do have to withhold, but you’ll have to issue a 1099 if the total gross income paid to the sitter is over $600, I believe. You can download a 1099 blank from the IRS website. I think the form is self-explanatory. Keeping a copy of th form will allow you to take the corresponding childcare deduction to may qualify for.
Like Mrs. Robert Frost said, “Good rcords make good neighbors.”
J.L.: $7 an hour is great, especially if you have to prepare and serve a meal, then clean up. If you are simply popping in a Swanson’s TV dinner or a DiGiorno’s pizza … then you are making out like a bandit. When I babysat in High School, one kid I sat for and had to feed just LOVED TV dinners. I’d set the TV tray within 2 feet of the TV and he’d be happy as a clam. Got my homework done and he was hynotized by Popeye, Snagglepuss and all the other critters. Sounds like a good gig.
Now let’s see. How much are you going to spend on your night out? Well, there’s a nice meal for two- say $80 each for a modest dinner. The show or game- $120 each for average seats. Car parking- probably $40.
TOTAL- $440.
You now want to pay as little as possible to someone to take care of your kids. Sounds like child neglect to me.
Not sure where you’re from, Trev. Here in the rustbelt, an SPVC – a “six pack and a vial of crack” – can be had for about 25 smackers, and televisions babysit.
Hey, Paw, maybe we can create a rule of thumb based on Trev’s comments.
Say a couple goes out and spends $100 for dinner and a movie, etc. They have one child (any age) that needs a sitter. Pay the sitter, as a rule of thumb, 15% … in this case $15 for the evening. That’s the base.
Each additional child is $5 for the evening. Each additional task (serving but not preparing a meal, doing dishes, etc.) another $5 that evening.
I think those numbers would work OK for a working family here in the midwest. ther parts of the country might be more or less.
15-20 of what a couple spent going out. If it’s a girls’ night out, each single mom uses the same formula individually. If Guido the handsome waiter takes you out, Guido should ALSO offer to pay your sitter … same percentage range of what he spends on you.
I am 16 years old and live in Tennessee. I have been babysitting two boys (9 months and 3 years old) for $5 an hour (10 hours a day). It also takes me 25 minutes to get there on the interstate. The 3 year old doesn’t behave and the 9 month old needs a lot of attention. I wasn’t going to say anything about my salary, but yesterday she only gave me $25 because the baby was sick and she took it to work. I feel like I am being ripped off.
HELP!!!!!
I want to thank everyone at Mark Maynard.com for giving me an idea for a new film series called “How Much Should I F the Babysitter?” I may start a blog so you can follow the production.
Laura:
Well, it’s your livliehood at the moment, so I hesitate to tell you to be firm … but, in my opinion, you have been ripped off to some degree. After all you DID on have one child to sit for that day.
$5 is really not very much. Is that all the woman can afford? I mean, is she poor? She should be paying $7.50 to $8.00 just for inflation skae. OR … she should pay you from door-to-door. In otherwords, give you gas money. Gas is $4 a gallon here in Michigan.
Talk to your boss and ask for the gas money first. That’s a start. If she says, NO, ak for a raise. If she says NO to that … seek employment elsewhere.
I am almost 24 with a degree in Elementary Education. I am working on my masters degree full time. I was offered a position 2-3 days/week, 8-5, essentially year round with a 21 month old, 4 year old, and 7 year old (all boys). The mom said they paid their current sitter $12/hr. During the summer I would be driving the 2 older ones to camps and during the school year I would only have the youngest most of the day.
On her job listing she said she would pay $10-15. I don’t know what the credentials of the current sitter are, but given my experience, would it be warrented to ask for more, especially since I will be driving the kids? I would not be comfortable asking for pay for milage (in their car).
If you could convince the mother and me that while working on a master’s degree full-time you could focus on the care and feeding of three acyive little boys this summer … more power to’ya.
During the school year, while taking care of only one, I might see you squeeking by.
The baby sitting, transporting to camps and other oversight of three little boys is unpredictable, at best. Your professors’ demands will NOT be unpredictable and will most probably be INflexible.
If you really need the dough … go part-time to school and put the focus on the kids. Why are children always an afterthought in our culture? Beats me!
If you just wanna bang out the degree and get to work earning real money … don’t take the job with the kids. They deserve better.
Maria:
BTW … $12/hour PLUS gas and other expnses directly related to the care and feeding and nurturing of the kids is appropriate.
I still say, hit the books.
Just to be clear: I go to school at night, after the time I would be done watching the kids. My school life has nothing to do with this job.
“Why are children always an afterthought in our culture? Beats me!” Pretty self-rightous don’t ya think??? I went to school to learn to give children a proper education. So in the most educated was I can say it: BITE ME!
PS-I hope you enjoyed the typo, I meant to say “most educated WAY I can say it”
If you have read any of your sociology or psychology texts, you’d understand more about how our society has historically treated our children with the back-of-the-hand. We have NOT learned in the West to put our children first.
Whether as a teacher … or as a mother … I wonder with this sudden flare if you are thinking of THEM or YOUR OWN needs. You are absolutely entitled to think of yourself and your needs first … but where does that leave the kids? The woman’s kids? The kids in some future classroom of yours?
It is a fact that children are an afterthought in our culture. If you can devote your full attention to these three boys, do the mother justice, still get your studies done, and take care of your OWN needs for sleep, etc. … WOWZA! More power to’ya.
IMHO … I do not think it is possible. My opinion. Sorry.
I am 18 and I live in northern Indiana and I babysitt for a bipolar kid(with ADHD,behavorial problems etc.)the kid has the maturity level of a 9 or 10 year old. His parents are filthy rich (I know for a fact that his father makes an upwards of 300,000.I babysitt(or kidsitt)him, wash dishes, and watch the kids friends half the time.
His mom is very stupid and frequently (2-4times/wk) will cancel or change times that she wants me. I get paid 10$/hr and desire seeking a 5$/hr raise. I have kidsitting this kid for about 4yrs and all other people they try to hire for him quit b/c he is too crazy so I more or less have a monopoly. IS 15$/HR REASONABLE?
Yes.
Here’s why. While you may have a virtual monopoly because other potential sitters can’t deal with the circumstances … you really have a monoply because you have accommodated yourself to his needs, his friends’ needs and the needs of the family. It is an “earned” monopoly, which is perfectly proper to “exploit” for your own gain.
I propose that you consider speaking to the mother about incremental raises. Tell her you appreciate the trust she and her husband have in you, and that you know how difficult it has been for them to find others to sit for their son. Tell her that you are at an age where you need to take more responsibility for yourself … clothes, gasoline, other expenses … and that you propose an incremental raise … from 12 to 13.50 for this summer … and from 13.50 to 15 in the fall (September) when your school expenses begin.
I will bet $1 right now she will give you the full $15 immediately as a “gesture” of their appreciation. If she hesitates, go to the husband with the same deal. The Dad may be even more eager to keep the peace and settle with you.
A $3 per hour jump is a JUMP. But I think you can make a good case, even if you do it in steps. And keep the kid in mind during your negotiations. Obviously, you have an edge with him and he likes having you around. He is the ace in the hole. Without you there, it’s bedlam. So, your third alternative is to back off. Allow the lava to spill over into their driveway … and then return to the rescue.
If your assessment of the available sitter pool in the area is accurate … you’ll get a call back within hours. Good luck.
Nick, I cannot stress this enough. You HAVE TO nail this guy’s wife. This is not a suggestion. This is an order. It will not make you more money, at least at first, but it will give you the psychological edge.
I’m a little confused here. The area of the country I live in (Del Rio, Texas) most jobs available are at minimum wage (even things that require a degree – I do have a four year degree in business). So I’m supposed to pay the babysitter more than I make? For my part time job I am getting paid $20 a day before taxes for two hours a day of work – plus I need a half hour to drive each way – so it’s $20 for three hours of my time. The child care center here has a sliding fee scale – for my family’s income, we’d pay $17 a week for 9 hours of care. Of course, there’s no availability so we are looking to hire an outside sitter. But according to what everyone is saying, I’m supposed to pay them all my wages – and then some! Should I just quit my job? There’s no way I can pay someone more than I am getting paid – and I haven’t even taken out taxes or gas to get to work! How the heck can anyone work and have kids??
We’re going to need a bigger tent for all of us who acnnot afford to raise a family in America.
You need to find a younger person to pay local scale rates for a sitter. Or, you could start a babysitting pool among families in need.
Hand out ten white cards to each member family. Each card is good for one hour of sitting. Adults and older kids may sit. Kids cash in their cards for “benefits” within their own family, like excuse from chores or movie money.
Works great! Meantime, I’ll check the web for a bigger tent.
WOW!!!
I just hired a 15 year old sitter for my 9, 8, and 18 month old girls. I need her 3-4 days a week from 10am-5pm. It will be her 4th week and I have paid her $100.00 per week. Today she told me she wants 10 an hour. She does not clean or make the girls pick up. When I come home our house is a disaster. I feel like all I do after my work is come home and clean so that the next day the same thing will take place. Our fridge is full every week and we have over 500 channels to keep her entertained. She has never had a job before.
500 channels! Wow!
As an experienced babysitter with years under her belt, I’m actually quite shocked at the postings above. It seems besides the occasional $8-$14 hourly pay, the average is $5. Which is appalling. The point of a babysitter is to be able to provide you with that ability to have your night out or to just get out before you go crazy. In truth your actually having your babysitter take over as a parent. I was 15 and watching two new borns at once. Bottles, diapers, and overall comfort. You can’t honestly tell me you would ever pay someone $5 to handle that job!
Now I can start to understand if shes from “church” or a family friend but still the only way your getting away with that is because shes not been enlightened.I’ve worked for multiple families that have spent years paying a flat rate of 15 dollars for 4-5 hours of work to their previous babysitters. Its stealing!
A friend of mine is a nanny for two families and makes no less then $300 per week per family, and in her spare time she will baby sit for another family, charging a $10 an hour. It doesn’t matter if you have 3 kids or 1. I’m not saying that should be standard but at least $8-10. If you have one kid, maybe $7. Now I’m not cold blooded insisting on the price take it or leave it. If the family can’t afford it I’ll make a deal and go from there.
And when you start getting into over night or late hour jobs, things become difficult because parents don’t want to pay you for the time you sleep, but let me tell you if I’m not getting paid for having to sleep on the couch or the guest room, I sure as hell would want to be in my own bed at home. So don’t act like its an easy job because its not.
Always round up!! You have no idea how pathetic it makes you look when your searching for those three one dollar bills, I’ve even have a employer ask his kid for the money he was given for chores, just so the parent didn’t have to give me that 5 dollar bill. Its rude. Its cheap.
If you have an experienced babysitter she will know how much to charge you, that is if she has a spine. If you don’t and your letting the girl down the block handle your kids, at age 13, shame on you. Do you honestly think you should allow your kids to be in the care of someone that young?
Don’t ever discuss money in front of the babysitter! Its rude and you will accomplish nothing by it. Don’t try to change the price later because your going out so much its starting to rack up. You want your time you pay.
Congrats to those babysitters making well over $10 an hour. In some cases its well deserved and some cases not. I made over $10 when watching the newborns, highly deserved. Watching a 9 year old who does nothing but play video games, you should be ashamed. Go down to $7.
Employers need to realize its not just a night here and a little money they can take to the arcade. Its a serious job for some. And just because your older don’t think you can try and manipulate your babysitter because you will start to get that busy signal and you will be looking for someone else to watch your kids. You want the time out, you pay.
I’m currently a nanny to 3 kids ranging from 1 to 9. We have the standard hour set for the nights out and the weekly during the day price set, not to mention the over the night price.
How much would you pay an 11 yr. old who comes to help out with 2 or 3 kids while I am still in the house? She is coming to entertain or help with homework while I cook dinner or do other things around the house.
Ana Hughes, if you’re Howard’s granddaughter, I think you should set the 11 year old helper up with a full college scholarship.
Seriously, I’d say it really depends on how much of the actual work of babysitting you delegate to the 11 year old. The greater her contribution, the greater her take of the loot should be. If you’re gonna be zonked out on meds on the couch in front of the TV while the 11 year old watches the kids out in the back yard the whole time, I’d say she deserves the bulk of the cash.
HAHAHAHAHA!
sorry that is too funny….
What I’m saying is…If you’re like me, the kid deserves most of the cash, and if you’re like me, the kid won’t get it.
I am a 25 year old who has elementry education courses behind me, CPR and First Aid training and certification. I have been babysitting since I was 11.
I am about to babysit two children (10 and 7) from 5 pm Friday to sometime in the afternoon on Sunday. I will have to cook, drive and administer medcation. I live in a midsized town (not a city). How much should I charge? I hear that you should charge more if you have to spend the night with the kids. I usually babysit for very low income families and rate of pay is a bit different for them so I have no idea how much to charge help!!
as a 15 yr. old babysitter, i can tell you that your at least a little off. i honestly don’t know what the minimum wage is, but the average rate for teen babysitters is 5-8 dollars an hour for one kid, and an extra 50 cents to $1 for each extra kid.
as a 15 yr. old babysitter, i can tell you that your at least a little off. i honestly don’t know what the minimum wage is, but the average rate for teen babysitters is $5 an hour for one kid, and an extra 50 cents to $1 per hour for each extra kid. for low-wage families, it’s best to charge just $3-4.00 an hour for one kid, and 50 cents an hour for each extra kid.
I am 24 and my fiance and I are expecting in November. I have a few babysitters to interview this weekend. How much should I pay. One is 19 and will be watching the baby 6 hrs a week in two 3 hr sittings. And the other is 27 and will be watching the baby 24 hrs a week in two 12 hr sittings. I make a fair wage myself, I don’t want to rip anyone off, but if I pay the sitter what I am making I might as well stay home. Should I do hourly or a weekly salary?
“…if I pay the sitter what I am making I might as well stay home.”
Might as well stay home?! Whatever you are doing to earn a fair wage is likely much easier than being trapped in a house with an infant. Speaking from experience, your babysitters will be working harder than you. Pay them whatever you can afford to without having to take away from what you enjoy. Trust me, losing a little extra money is far better than losing your sanity. If you break even on child care, you’re ahead of the game!
This isn’t the time to think about economics. This is the time to think about you.
I just moved down to live with my mom. Instead of me going out getting a regular job, such as back at Texas Roadhouse as a food server, I am stuck having to babysit her 6 year old twins (my half brother and half sister) everyday. 3-8 on weekdays, 8-8 on Saturday, and 11-7 on Sunday. I get paid $150 a week working 45 hours, which adds up to less than $3.50 an hour. She definitely has money and knows I am not okay with the price I am getting paid. Any suggestions please on how I could try to talk her into paying me at a higher rate? This is ridiculous.
I’m 19 years old. I love in Orlando, Florida. I’ve worked at three daycares, which I made 8 dollars an hour for being the head teacher in the 2 year old room. I have about 20 different clients that I babysit for. I’ve worked with every age from newborn to 16 years old. I’m cpr/first aid certified, and I have many credentials that involve childhood education.
I usually get 10/hour for any number of children. The parent needs you to babysit for a reason, they have to work. I know most people say they need to pay a lot because it’s their children, but it’s expensive. They can’t afford to be paying so much money for decent childcare. It’s very hard to them, and a lot of times, it’s killing them to leave their child at home.
But, parents need to realize.. you’re a teenager.. you want to do stuff with your life as well. Sometimes, it sucks for you to be sitting at home on a Friday night when all of your friends are out.
So here is my opinion.
If this is a GOOOD family friend that you have known for a while.. and it’s not everyday.. and it’s just randomly.. you should do 5$/hour.
If it’s a family member, you should do it free sometimes.. and then ask for pay other times. If it’s at night time, ask them to have the children fed and ready for bed or already asleep and you can be there just for supervision. If it’s like 8-2 am.. you really shouldn’t expect more than 20 dollars. I do this all the time with my family members. As long as it’s not ALL the time.
If you are in high school or below, you shouldn’t expect anything out of 5-7$/ hour. Lets face it, you’re not qualified.. you’re doing this for some random cash to buy materialistic things with.
And also, I never mind cleaning up around the house while the kids are sleeping. I’m not there to sit around and do nothing. I’m there to help the family out. You shouldn’t expect extra pay, BUT if you are really happy with your babysitter.. you should throw in random little things to make them know how much you appreciate it. Maybe money.. but even taking them somewhere with the family. Like, out to eat or to a theme park or anything like that.
That’s just my opinion. I’ve been babysitting for 7 years.. and it’s really not that hard of a job. If you’re good with children.. then you shouldn’t have that much of a problem. Kids have to respect you for them to act right.
Hey, Jenny:
As I understand it, you are living in the same house with your Mom and these kids. Are you being charged rent or utilities? Are you chipping in on the phone bill? The food? Your clothes? Car keys?
Given all that, I think the money is fair … low on the scale, granted … but fair. This is your family, your blood. Be grateful, be happy, be generous, do the best you can.
i will be my first time baby sitting and i don t known what i shoud be payed it would be from 7 to 10 so help give me some ideas?
ryanspace@hotmail.com
I happen to come across this site when I was googling how much i should be getting paid for babysitting. im 21 and i have a cpr/first aid certification and i’m in my third yr of my education degree, have been baby sitting autistic children since the age of 12 and lots of experience with newborns. I have a lot of gigs but my main job is watching a 5 and 8 yr old overnight from 6pm – 7 am. I get paid $100 for two nights in a row and the boys go to bed at 8. When i get there i sometimes help with homework and give them a bed time snack. after they go to bed, i do homeowork or just watch tv. now i know i have a pretty sweet gig but the downfalls: i have to drive 35 min to get there, the two boys are well….BOYS and their really old dog wakes me up two to three times in the middle of the night to go out (it’s a really old dog).
The reason for me explaining all this is that i think i have a pretty good deal going on right now. my advice is for the parents. The dad is a single parent with full custody and appreciates what i do with the boys. I was appalled when i saw that parents were giving lists of housework to do for their sitters. I understand that if you leave the house one way you don’t want to come back to chaos but for crying out loud…..if you want housework done, get a maid or pay 5 dollars an hour on top of the babysitting wage. If you want to keep a sitter that is good with entertaining your kids and making sure they are safe, be a good employer and don’t take advantage of your sitters age and lack of experience (as far as making them do chores and stuff making them think that that is normal). its DISGUSTING!
I just wanted to say that this is the funniest comment thread ever, and OEC’s 6/28/07 comment as the highlight.
i pay my babysitter 8$ an hour for my two children 1 and 3 but the whole time she is here she eats my food and talks to her friends online or on the phone and calls longdistance and raises my phone bill when i pay her at the end of the day if it comes to an odd number like 42 dollars i give her 50 and at the end of the day she always complains and tells me her mom has no food and is taking all her money and makes me feel sorry i dont give her anymore money and i had to let her go but now she is complaining because the last job i paid her for i gave her 20 and bought her dinner which was 20 so in total she got 40 and she had been eating all day 2 and stolen my i pod and chocolate milk mix and is telling me that her mom is on disability and now is threatening me because i was going to contact her mother and talk to her mother about what she has told me about her mother spending all her money ? was 8$ enouph especially since i didnt find out until after that she has stolen items from me
I like how no one realizes this post is from 2006. I am sure that you’ve found a babysitter by now.
i am a babysitter a i watch 3 kids of the ages 4,6, and a new born and they never uped my pay like they said they would when the baby came because i am only getting 5 an hr. an i am thinking about quitting so i think when u have a babysitter u should atleast pay them good money expecially when they drop every thing they r doing for u and babysit!!!
another thing is u may think that u r paying them enough but u got to think if your kids listen and do what they r told?
It doesn’t matter how old your babysitter is! If they can take the responsibility and watch your children who cares how old they are. I am 13 and get paid 8-10 dollars per hour. I think that is a perfect amount per hour.
It is amazing the disparity in amounts people pay and receive as sitters. The amount is largely dependent on the area in which you live, the number of children, and the experience of the sitter. Nevertheless, except in places with the highest cost of living, double minimum wage is excessive.
In your case, in Southeast MI, you should be able to get a good sitter at $10.00 per hour or less.
I’m 14 years old and I baby sit 2 kids, a 6 year old boy and a 7 year old girl. I baby sit from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM. I get payed $10.00 a night. Am I getting ripped off?
YES! You are getting SOOO ripped off. Five and a half hours, and only tewn bucks to show for it?? That’s like a dollar eighty an hour. If I was you, I’d shoot your employer. You should ask for…I’d say eight bucks an hour. That’s like over forty bucks a night. Dude – you are SOOOO getting ripped. Demand a raise, or fricken stop working there.
I am an 18 year old senior graduating in a few weeks. I have been offered a babysitting job for an 8 year old boy from 6:30 am – 1:30/2:30 pm. He asked me what I would like to be paid this summer and I had absolutely no clue what the “charge” is. He will be at my house so I will need to provide the food. His father said he would buy a pool pass, but I am unsure if the pass is just for his son for for us both. He also has asked me to help the child work on his reading because he is struggling. He said that he pays his daycare provider $50 a week, but he said the pay rate can be negotiated.
HELP!?!?!
Eight hours a day, five days a week does NOT equal $50. $50 won’t even buy you enough rope and duct tape to keep that eight year old kid in tow for a week. What’s more, you are required to lay in a supply of Where The Wild Things Are, Where The Sidewalks Ends and a slew of Raffi CDs? And to top it off, you’ll need a Red Cross Lifesaving refresher course! Yikes.
I’m afraid that Day Care remains the best “deal” for the Dad, but the worst deal for the child. Unless the Dad can afford more like $50 or $60 per day for one-on-one day care and tutoring, I’m afraid you’ll have to keeep looking for a real job, which, according to Germaine Greer, babysitting is not.
I have just started to babysit for a set of parents who are currently going through a divorce. They have two children (8,5), both of them are autistic. The youngest child constanlty screams and tells me to go away. It is very difficult. She tries to have them in bed before I come over so I essentially have nothing to do except my homework. The mom leaves around 9 and stays out until 3 or 4 in the morning. I do not know what to charge her. We agreed on 7.50 an hour but she sugested a flat rate. Currently she only pays me $60 a night. I usually complete my homework for college and then just watch the television. It is not worth much less than that to me. I might be able to go down to $50 a night. What do ya’ll think?
I watch two girls 5,7 while their mom is in the basement I’m 11 and get paid $5.00 per hour.
I need some input on how much you think I should ask for or be payed for in this situation. I am a recent college graduate and unemployed still. My neighbor in Atlanta, asked me to house sit for 6 days while watching their daughter that is in 8th grade and taking care of their two dogs. I would have to spend the night at the house and make sure she got to the bus stop safely each morning. While she is at school from 9:15-4:00 Monday-Friday I would have my free time. When she gets home from school I need to help her with homework and cook dinner. Meanwhile, I will be watching their 2 dogs feeding and letting out morning, afternoon, and night . We have been family friends and neighbors for years so h ow much should I ask for? I am torn because my whole weekend will consists of this and more. I would love to hear anyone’s input!!
I am 18 and watch 3 kids age of twins 4 and the older is 6. I was geting paid 10 an hour for at least 1 year. This women had two babysitters one left because of school and now it is just me. I work at least maybe 5 days a week and sometimes saturday and sunday. Weekdays i watch them 2 30 to 8 30 or more and weekend if she want to go out with her husband 5 to past midnight. Now i was working today january 5 10 and she came home gave me a check of 100 dollars then tells me is ok if i lower your pay to 8 an hour. I mean i got really upset because i go over and beyond for these parents. I pick up the kids at 2 30 at two different school andwait then once a week bring the older child to reglion go pick him up have all 3 boys have a snack then have them play make them dinner clean all the dishes play and play and play read them books let them on the compter so on give them dinner give them a bath let them watch some tv then put them to sleep and read a goodnight story to them … you know i mean 8 dollars an hour would get me no where in life.. i am going to start college in 4 mouths..she really upset me do you think i should get paid 8 per hour or 10 per hour and i do alot more for these kids. SHe’ll call say tomorrw with out me knowing off guard and say can you come at 5 and i always say yes. it pisses me off because i clean her house take her dog out fold her cloths … never did my homework their pay so much attention to her kids more then anything should i just talk to her like an adult????? please give me a answer?????
wha i want a job at fredhgf9w8esgfrywef
I’m a lonely 53 year old man. Will anyone babysit me?
I ask for 10 dollars an hour.
I’m also 23 and in my last year of early childhood education.
I have a clean police record, great references, and cpr and first aid training.
I would ask for more, depending on how many children there were and if the parents expect me to do things like dishes or laundry while I’m there.
Parents, remember… you get what you pay for. If you want someone responsible, qualified and with experience to look after your children, then be ready to pay them properly. That means minimum wage or above.
Just because your sitter is young, does not mean you should pay them less than minimum wage. You should still make sure though, that they have some experience and that they are honest and trustworthy.
You’re leaving your child(ren) with someone else. To not pay them properly implies that you don’t care how well they take of your kids.
I would not leave my children with anyone under 16 to be honest. & I would want my sitter to be CPR and first aid certified.
I’ve found that migrant workers will do it for considerably less than minimum wage. You just have to know where to look.
Should I pay more or less for a babysitter with truly horrible hair extensions?
If hair extensions were gold, Ypsilanti would be like California early in the gold rush years. I can’t walk through the park without seeing a little tuft of fake hair making its way out of the mud, or wrapped around the base of a stop sign. I’ve never lived anywhere with so much unattended hair. I know that doesn’t help you, Somgmammoke, but I thought that I’d share.
i am a mother to three and do u know that starting salary for any employee is
only 7.30 in the untied states so not many people can afford to pay that much
to a sitter thats crazy and if u hire a 13 teen year to watch your kids u should pay them they did take care of your kids why would a parent have a 13 teen
year old watch there kids and expect them not to act like a teenager is crazy its self they are children themselves and still need to be guided to
How much should I pay the babysitter if I want for her to fall in love with me?
BETH,
13 year olds quite like myself can be very mature and great babysitters, especially if they have worked with kids before so before you count them out ask about their experience and training. when i was little i always like younger sitters because they would conect with me and actually play with me instead of bossing me around.
my sister is 11 and she is staring to babysit now that is to young!!!!!!!!!
I think that, in light of increasing income inequality, this problem will become even more important.
How did you end up here, Mr. Larson? I thought that you were about to earn your PhD and make a fortune on the open market. Don’t tell me that you’re having to make ends meet as a babysitter.
I say, “be thankful for $5, a lot of girls never make it home alive from babysitting at a stranger’s house”. It works!
Mark, please start a “how should I kill the babysitter” thread immediately.
i think about 200 ,000 dallor a month or year if i baby sit how u like dose fresh bootty aplezz hahahahahaha
I’d offer 3,000 ShSo (Somali shillings).
Sadly the Zimbabwean dollar was suspended, or you could offer a rate like $40/hr (Zimbabwean dollars), and then at the end of the night, give the sitter a (US) penny and generously say “keep the change”!
I would pay quite a bit for a fresh dose of booty. Fortunately, I think I’ve got a lead.
http://markmaynard.com/?p=5690&cpage=1#comment-202419
Sorry, I know that was in bad taste.
I our babysitter 1 minute in bed with Hasan for every hour she works.
Man, I feel bad for babysitters in other states, out here in Cali the minimum for two regular children is 15 an hour. Infants, special needs, twins/triplets etc. can get you up to 20 or 25 an hour. I wouldn’t leave my kids with anyone for only 5 dollars an hour regardless of their age. I would say 10 minimum per hour for a teen, college age and above at least 12.50 an hour.
hi im 15 years my name is donaizia i am a baby sitter
and will baby sit any body baby i charge 50 dollars for each kid
I’m 18 years old. My boyfriends sister asked me if I could babysit 4 of her 5 kids. One is 8, another is 1 and a half and the twins are just shy of 7 months. She offered me $500 to babysit the 4 kids for 1 week while she vacations in Florida, after hearing $500 i jumped of the offer thinking it was i good deal, but after some thought i realized i would be getting paid under 3$ an hour for 4 kids.. How much should i ask her for without sounding greedy?
im 16 and getting $70 a week to babysit an infant, everyday from 3 to 7.
I’m a 16 year old babysitter. I have been babysitting kids for the last 3 years but havent got paid . This time Im getting paid to watch 3 kids. Their ages are 9,7,4 . How much should charge a hour ? I have to babysit from 9am- 4pm . I was thinking $45 for one day ?
Hi I’m Madison I am taking on 2 different babysitting jobs and by the way I’m almost 14 my first babysittin job I got 15$ for watching 3 kids 4-5-9 now I hve a 4-7 should I go with 7$ or 5$ an hour???
PLEASE HELp
So. I am 13 and I just got my first babysitting job. I do not really know what to expect. I have done counseloring at a kindergarten center over the summer, but have never babysat. What do you do If the children cry for their mom? And also is $7 an hour too much for two kids?
i get paid $20 a day to watch a 3 yr old n a 5 yr old for 22 hours a day. no perks whatsoever. no cable, no junk food, and im the only one who cleans anything. if i got paid by the hour, it’d be $1.10 p/hr. i’m getting seriously screwed over, but i feel the kids are safer with me there… any advice?
Hi! So I am a nanny for 3 very rowdy children (6,7,8), i am 17 years old and a senior in high school. I have my babysitting licence and i am CPR certified. I have been babysitting for a family for four years and when I first started we agreed on 8 dollars an hour, and that was okay for a while because i was only there a couple of times a month and i didn’t really need extra money at the time. However, in the past couple of years my responsibilites have increased (i now am over there at least 3 days a weeek and i drive the kids to their various actitvites everyday) and so i guess im just wondering do you think im being under paid? i dont want to sound greedy its just all of my friends get paid larger wages than me for less kids and i don’t recieve any gas money at all.. i am going to college next year and i obviously want to save as much money as i can before i head out in August. is it wrong for me to want more money than i make? i dont know.. what do you guys think?
I have no idea how much to pay a sitter. I need someone to be at my home 6 am. I need them to wake my kids (ages 4 & 5) and take them to school. The school is within a short walking distance. My kids get themselves dressed and eat breakfast at school. I literally need a sitter to watch them while they sleep and take them to school (2.5 hours). Since my daughter is in Pre-school, she needs to be picked up at 11 am and watched until my son gets out of school at 3:15. By the time my sitter picks up my son from school, my husband will be home; so they wouldn’t need to watch them past 3:30 (4.5 hrs). The total baby sitting hours will be 7 hours.
It’s not that I don’t want to pay a sitter good money. I would love to pay a sitter $100 an hour if I could afford it; but the fact is, I need to work to make money. Not to pay a sitter more than I make. At the same time, I would like to be fair. Any suggestions?
Stop having children, fucknuts
I guess it depends on the person babysitting and the child. There are lots of jobs that pay way more than they should and many that pay less than they should. Child care is a big responsibility, it is easy to say it isn’t when you aren’t the one babysitting. They pay maids $8-10/hour just to clean,why should a babysitter have to clean AND spend every minute watching your child for $5? Whether they are sleeping or not the babysitter is still responsible. Responsibility costs money too.
You will just have to discuss the pay rate with the babysitter.They are using their car so it incurs expenses also like gas money and such.
I’m 17 and I get pay $20 for 7-8 hr and I’m not liking it but I’m just to scared to ask for more make it seem like I’m ..
This was a powerful post worthy of intense scrutiny, particularly in the context of increasing inequality.
Perhaps modern monetary theory can help solve the problem.
Clearly there are people who feel very strongly about this subject. It should be expected, given the current discussions of inequality heating up the internet recently. It has been said that servers must now be installed with special fans.
How will modern monetary theory react to this extremely important discussion.
Only time will tell.
I used to babysit my little sister but now, I got an offer to Go to a neighbors and babysit there twins who are 2 years old, I don’t know what price but I was thinking 7.00$ an hour. Reason with me, is it a good price? I’m 16 btw