HELP me decide how much to pay our babysitter (long)

CMW

So my DH works owns his own business and works from home.  Most of the time he can get his work done during naps, during the evening (when I'm home) and on the weekends.  We have a friend that stays home with her three children who is willing to watch the babies when DH is OOT or needs to go to meetings or pick up materials and can't bring the babies. 

We have gone round and round about how much I should pay her.  First she said $10 for an afternoon which DH and I feel is just not enough.  DH and I decided we would just pay her $5 an hour (under the table) which is a GREAT deal for us and I know would be helpful to her as well.  Well today the babies were there a whole day so I paid her $45. 

I just checked my email and she sent a very nice email saying this is just way too much and would feel better if we just paid $20 for a full day.  

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!  We are not rich people, but neither are they!  I know if we took the babies anywhere else we would pay FAR FAR more.  I don't know if I should stick to my original plan and pay her the $5 an hour or pay her what she is asking.  

PS the woman is an ANGEL.  Jaxon had a terrible rash a few weeks ago (damn LUVS diapers) and she sat with him laying on his belly accross her legs naked for FOUR HOURS so it could air out!

mega6_vancouver

I agree with you on how much to pay her but if she feels that its too much well there isn't much you can do.  So pay her what she asked and then come mothers day and other holidays you could get her something special from you and your family. I know you want to help her out too so try that maybe. 

macchiatto

Ditto the pp. She sounds like an amazing find!

KellyOsu23

Pay her th $5 hr.

The is 2.50 hr per kid per hr.

We pay are babysitter $8hr for 1 baby and we live in a LCOL area... and shes in highschool too so we can get by cheaper...

Just tell her you insist.

Or you could offer to watch her 3 for a switch?

MrsSweetpeaMagee

maybe compromise and pay her 30?  Tell her the 20 is what her fee is and the 10 is your tip   We are currently in the same situation trying to figure out what we are doing for the fall... so I understand how hard it is!

ncsubride

I would pay her what she wants and sneak in some special gifts every once in awhile as an extra thank you.

april062604

i think i'm moving. ?it's about 15-18$ an hour here. ?ugh.

ES-6-26

Well when we took our one baby to a girls house for care during the week it was 120 for the week, which is a little less than 25/day.  That is cheap, no doubt!

But I agree - if she feels it is too much, well, give her what she wants for a few times, then give her a $50 GC to Target or somewhere.

MNheidi

I'd pay what she asks and then give her "bonuses" around Mother's Day, BDay, the holidays - gift cards to a salon or starbucks, etc.