Babysitting: $$$ w/ kids awake vs asleep

FolanMama

On the odd occasion that DH and I go out, we always put the girls to bed first and have a friend come over just to sit, watch movies, ect with the kids asleep 100% of the time.  Often times, they never have to lay eyes on the girls.

Until now it's always been a friend so we've never had to pay (just bought them dinner as a 'thank you').  We want to start going out more regularly and will begin using a 'real' sitter weekly... but I'm baulking at the $15+/hr price tag to watch movies and just listen for the monitor.

Would you negotiate a lower price for 100% sleeping kids vs. days where they will be fed dinner/bathed/put to bed by the sitter?

punkfiction_v.3

lol nah - they on the rare occasion we pay a sitter - the girls are always asleep. and we pay the going rate here plus tip. for her to play on the web and watch our tv lol

mommyhd

I used to babysit a lot. If I watched kids during the day, I actually got paid less. It wasn't hourly, it was per day, per kid. If I babysat at night, I got paid $10 an hour. Usually the parents would be gone about 5 hours so that was an easy $50! I preferred to babysit at night

AmyGer

is it really $15/hour?  Wow, when I babysat $5/hour was good!

lovemytwoboys

No!

There are still a million things that could happen, whether your daughters are asleep or not. If you do try to pay less for having already put your girls to bed, good luck finding a qualified, responsible sitter.

ETA: It seems like $10 is closer to the going rate around here, so unless you live in a much higher COL area, I would think you could get away with less than $15/hr.

naturelle25

I would still pay full price, especially now b/c Lilly will still get up at night.

lpennie16

its worth a try

When I used to nanny, I charged  a different rate for awake vs. asleep. I thought it was only fair since I was just sitting on my butt watching tv while the kids snoozed.

ggbean

I wouldn't. For one you don't know if the kids are going to get up, and secondly evening hours (especially on the weekend) are prime real estate for babysitters. Why sit and watch kids (sleeping or not) when you could go out with friends, especially for a reduced rate. That's just my opinion. 

FolanMama

AmyGer:

is it really $15/hour?  Wow, when I babysat $5/hour was good!

Around us it is   I just hate to add a quick $60-$75 to a night out for a college girl to watch my Sex and The City movies.

ToBeMrsT

I think they should be paid the regular rate since they are at your house making sure your kids are safe rather than being somewhere else.  What if your kid woke up and was scared or sick or what if something like a fire happened----  you hire a good babysitter and pay them what the going rate is to make sure that your kids are ok if this happens.

ggbean

FolanMama:

AmyGer:

is it really $15/hour?  Wow, when I babysat $5/hour was good!

Around us it is   I just hate to add a quick $60-$75 to a night out for a college girl to watch my Sex and The City movies.

Yeah that is a lot. Just think of it as a charitable donation to her educational future. LOL

FolanMama

ToBeMrsT:

I think they should be paid the regular rate since they are at your house making sure your kids are safe rather than being somewhere else.  What if your kid woke up and was scared or sick or what if something like a fire happened----  you hire a good babysitter and pay them what the going rate is to make sure that your kids are ok if this happens.

Ok see your logic, but really, on the very off chance that my house caught fire, I wouldn't expect her to run any slower to get my kids out of their beds b/c I paid her $10/hr vs $15.

Ugh.  I guess I'm just being stingey b/c we've never had to pay for a sitter before and I am having a tough time swallowing such an expense.

FolanMama

lovemytwoboys:

No!

There are still a million things that could happen, whether your daughters are asleep or not. If you do try to pay less for having already put your girls to bed, good luck finding a qualified, responsible sitter.

ETA: It seems like $10 is closer to the going rate around here, so unless you live in a much higher COL area, I would think you could get away with less than $15/hr.

Just to clarify, I would be using the same qualified sitters from sittercity.com with a background check; I would just be asking for a 'sleeping kid' rate, if you will.  I feel the quality of the sitter is not being compromised.

lovemytwoboys

FolanMama:

Just to clarify, I would be using the same qualified sitters from sittercity.com with a background check; I would just be asking for a 'sleeping kid' rate, if you will.  I feel the quality of the sitter is not being compromised.

That makes sense. I guess what I was trying to say is that a qualified sitter (who has experience, is responsible, etc) isn't going to to take a "discount rate" just because your kids are sleeping. 

jsugrin

I refuse to spend $50 for someone to hang out and watch my TV so DH and I have date night on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  Not only is lunch and a matinee cheaper but if I'm paying someone to watch my kids they can entertain them during the day

jillybean222

We are fortunate to have family close by and they sit for free most of the time, but when we use a paid sitter, the girls are in bed first and I hate the $12-$15 price tag!  I feel like they should pay me for the relaxing experience!!! 

I have friends that have no family close by and not vey much "extra" money so I go there once in awhile so they can enjoy some time out without their DD.  I love going there b/c I don't have to think about my laundry mountain or if I ran the dishwasher or finished cleaning the bathroom...nothing to do but relax!