We always use my mom, we have 3 kids - 8, 6, 3 - what is the going rate?

We are trying out my niece, 14, her first time baby sitting?!?

Thanks so much

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Mary
SAHM -love my kids!! all three

Well, I don't let anyone under 18 babysit my kids, so I may not be the one to ask. Are you sure 14 years old is old enough to handle 3 kids?

Holly

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Forgiveness is love in its most noble form. -Anonymous

I personally wouldn't have an issue if a 14 year old babysat my children. Of course, it varies on the maturity of each child.

On the going rate, the few times that we have had a babysitter, we have paid $8-$9/hour for 2 children. When asking other people what they pay, I hear that is actual on the low end. But, I would suggest asking around and see what your friends pay their babysitters.

Good luck

How much should I pay?
How much to Babysit????

Here are a few threads about this. Hope this helps.

I'm not the OP, but I've known lots of 14 y/o who are capable of handling 3 kids.

And obviously, an 18 y/o + is going to command a higher rate of pay because THEY can go work anywhere else and usually make more than minimum wage.

If the babysitting "gig" is just for a night out (1-6 hrs). I would say $25-35 depending on what the sitter will actually have to do. If she gets there after dinner and baths (except for the older one) and is just expected to entertain them for a while, then I would pay low end. If, on the other hand, you expect her feed the kids (even if you cook it/have it delivered), bath/get them ready for bed, etc. then I would definitely pay on the high end.

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Jesus love me--you he only tolerates!

This is something you need to ask your friends and neighbors. I think rates are very different from place to place.

My daughter gets paid $8/hr. She never set a rate. That is just what the families she sits for pay.

This is what I would suggest.

I also suggest asking around. I have 2 kids so $7-$8 an hour is about what I pay. The general guideline around here is $5 per hour per child and then $2 per hour for each additional child. So, $9 an hour for 3 kids would seem about right. Age of your kids and how much attention they need (will they be entertained or just sleeping?)

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'd rather pay a higher rate and know that my kids are safe. What if something happens to the kids while the 14 yr old is babysitting? She cannot drive, has no drivers license or a car! (I know, I know-- she could call 911-- not the same thing)

I just think 14 years old is too young to babysit THREE children. IMO.

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Forgiveness is love in its most noble form. -Anonymous

Believe the question was how much to pay the sitter.

My son gets $8/hour when sitting two middle-school age boys - plus pizza! This was when he was 16-17 years old. Babysitting pays a little better than his part-time job at the mall (min wage $7.75) and he gets to watch TV and play video games, board games, and football.

cj/

I am not sure what to pay I just wanted to input that when I babysat in jr high in 1974-77 I got 75 cents and hour for watching two children. LOL

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I usually give my babysitter $15-20. I have three kids as well, but we go out late so our kids are fed and put to bed before we leave. this seems to be the norm in my area though.

Well, 14 is probably ok for 3 kids IF this were not her first time babysitting. IF she were not family, it might be different too. If she has spent a lot of family time around the kids, 14 should be okay. But, if she were a relative stranger (say a neighbor had recommended her to you), then I would not feel comfortable having a FIRST_TIME 14yo babysitting 3 kids.

As for $$, I would not know---my kids are 14 and 17 now and I have never, ever had to pay for a babysitter for the. I always had family, or very good friends be with them the rare times I or DH were not there.

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Have the courage to be yourself.

wow I started babysitting 3 kids when I was 12. It was for a neighbor whom lived there my "whole" life. Her kids at the time were 6,5, and 1.

The going rate was $1.00 per hour per child, and I was content with that.

I think it depends upon the maturity of the child who is doing the sitting and the length of time you intend to be gone coupled with the time-frame involved (late night, early afternoon, early evening, morning, etc).

If I had a son and he were interested in babysitting, I don't think I would have a problem with that either--again it depends on the maturity of the sitter.

Now, my youngest dd is 16 and has NO desire to babysit...she works under the table cleaning houses (by choice), and that is fine with me, because I think that all babysitters should be CPR certified (at the minimum), and it is a LOT more hassle now to sit than when I was young--more apt to be sued for something nowadays.

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SPJRNTGADL!

Its very difficult (here anyway) to find an 18+ Y/O who can babysit. They are usually busy working, school, etc.

We used a 13 y/o boy neighbor (his mom was home in case he needed help) and we paid him $30 for 4 hours.

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Jill
jatalamo@aol.com
Mom to Joey (8) and Gianna (6)

A good friend of mine uses my 13yo dd (she'll be 14 this week) to watch her 3yo ds and 6yo dd. She pays her $8/hr.

I get off easier -- I pay her in pizza!

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

My 12yo son watches my other son for free too but we usually buy them a pizza at Costco ($3.00 coupon in their coupon book right now!) or even frozen pizza works!

Cell phones are a wonderful invention.



I guess I'm not answering the question about how much to pay. I still think I'd ask around your town and see what the going rate is there. It really does vary (as you can see!).

thanks - I did ask around - it VARYS so much - my niece is good with my kids and I have close neighbors that can keep an eye out - thanks for the input!!!!!!!1

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Mary
SAHM -love my kids!! all three

I just have to ask this---what would it help if your child was seriously injured and the babysitter could drive? It's not like the sitter can drive and perform first aid/CPR while driving. And how long would it take for the sitter to get the other 2 kids in the car securely? Do you really want a sitter--of any driving age--emotional/upset driving your child to the nearest hospital?

Most people stand a better chance of surviving a serious accident/trauma/illness if 911 is called and Paramedics respond with the tools and medications to sustain life.

We have two kids 7 and 9---we have three babysitters who alternate depending on their availability. One of the girls is 14 and two are 15. They've never needed a car--Luckily DH and I are able to come and go at work, pretty much at will.

During the school year--we pay $6/day for the 1.5 hr after school.
This summer we are paying $100/wk. We don't expect a lot from the sitters. We feed the sitters, pay their way if the kids go to the local pool, movies, or other outing. The kids walk to the local pool--or DH or I will pick up/drop off sometime. We have two parks within walking distance.

For a night out--we pay $20. Of course, our boys are old enough to do most stuff by themselves--they just need supervision and sometimes help with somethings.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

We pay our sitter $10/hour for my 2 daughters.

Kathy