TTM about babysitters

stephl3055

So DH and I are attending his company's Christmas party on 12/13 and I have all the questions about babysitters.  We are hiring one of LO's teachers from her daycare, so I know the person and trust her 100%.  LO also adores her.  This is the first time anyone will watch LO besides us.  My questions are mostly about how the whole process works.  Sorry there are so many  

1. We've already contacted the babysitter and she is willing to babysit on that day.  She has a care.com profile (that apparently she doesn't use anymore) and her going rate is listed as $10-20/hour.  That's quite a range.  Do I ask her what she charges, or do I offer an amount and she if she takes it?  If it matters, she is 18 and has worked at the daycare about a year.  But she's been babysitting for a few years.  She is CPR certified and all that jazz.  She will be watching LO for about 6 hours (LO will be asleep about half of that time).  
   
2. How far in advance should she arrive since this is her first time watching LO?  She knows LO but has never been to our house, so I will need to show her LO's room, what to give her for dinner, run down what a typical night will look like, etc.  
3. Since she will be there so long, do I tell her to help herself to whatever is in the fridge for dinner?  Do I order a pizza?   
4. I'm going to type up a list of our phone numbers (and tell her she's free to text us throughout the night) and LO's pediatrician.  Is there an other information I need to give her?  

mancila60

1. I would ask what she normally charges because I agree that is a huge range. I would think meeting in the middle at $15 an hour would be good.
2. I would say she needs to arrive about 30ish minutes before you need to leave the house. If you need to leave at 6 then tell her be there no later than 5:30.
3. I would tell her to help herself to anything to eat or drink. Knowing she will be there so long and having such a young baby she may bring her own food. Or you can tell her she is welcome to order food for herself and have it delivered.
4. We always leave out medicine we feel it is ok to give like gas drops and give instructions on that. We also do a run down of which position he sleeps best in. And then we leave instructions or verbally tell how to work specific items in our house (baby proofing items) just in case. And always ask if they have any questions about anything before you leave.

megs1409

Agree with the PP.  Just be aware that if you have alcohol in your house and a babysitter that's not 21, you want to be careful how you word the "help yourself."  I mean hopefully that wouldn't happen, but we had a teacher from daycare who is 18 babysit and I told her to help herself to what was in the fridge and our snack cabinet.  I later realized there was SO much beer in the fridge and vodka in the freezer as we had people over the night before.

 

To answer your other questions, we pay $15/hr and have her arrive 30 minutes before we go out.

stephl3055

megs1409 said:

Agree with the PP.  Just be aware that if you have alcohol in your house and a babysitter that's not 21, you want to be careful how you word the "help yourself."  I mean hopefully that wouldn't happen, but we had a teacher from daycare who is 18 babysit and I told her to help herself to what was in the fridge and our snack cabinet.  I later realized there was SO much beer in the fridge and vodka in the freezer as we had people over the night before.

 

To answer your other questions, we pay $15/hr and have her arrive 30 minutes before we go out.

No alcohol in the house, but thanks, that's something I wouldn't have ever thought of.  

dovetail223

I agree with PP that you should ask her what she charges.

We use a 17yr old next door and pay her $10 an hour (her rate). I also usually tell them they can order a movie on demand if they are going to be there late.

Fwiw I think you could get the intro stuff done in 20 min maybe 15. She knows you LO already and likely isn't an idiot...so you are just giving her a tour of the house and where you put stuff, etc.

Hope you have a great night out!!

muffyvonmuff

I pay $10 an hour (no tip) our girl is from care.com she is 20. 

I have found she doesn't fully retain everything I say so maybe Im just picky but since its her 1st time I would write out the timeline of your typical night in case she forgets.  Along with the numbers.

I tell her to help herself to food.  Sometimes she does, sometimes she orders takeout with her own money.  

I also pre prep his dinner on his plate and stick it in the fridge so she doesn't have to cook anything.  And lay out his PJ's night diaper so its all set for her.