Non-Family Sitter Question

ayersfam20

We have only ever had friends or family watch Abbie so we have no experience with paying people to sit for her.

She had an 8th grade buddy at her school last year and they got along really well.  This girl was very polite and mature and DH and I like her a lot. She will be a freshman in high school in the fall and she e-mailed me to say she would love to see Abbie again and to please call  her if we need her to ever babysit.

We would like to take her up on it, but have NO idea what to pay her.  I know she does not have babysitting experience, Abbie is almost 6 so is very independent and she would not be having to put her to bed or anything. Also, she does not drive so I assume I would pick her up and drop her off.  How much would you offer?

Thanks!

 

MMS2007

Our sitter doesn't drive, so we pick her up and take her home.  We pay her $10/hour.  I was told by some other moms this is the going rate in my area (kingwood).  I'm happy to pay it though, our sitter's so good with our kiddos and they love her.

good luck.

mom2ll

We have a 13 year old girl that comes and plays with the kids while I'm home.  I may run out for 15-20 minutes, but here 95% of the time.  We pay her $5 an hour (her parents set the rate) and the drive her both ways.  However, I do offer to pick her up and drop her off when it makes sence.

TXBELLA

I had a Mother's Helper a few weeks ago for a week. It was a 13 year old. I was here 99% of the time-only went out once to the post office nearby. Her mom dropped her off and picked her up a few times, the other times I went to pick her up and drop her. We paid her $6.00 an hour. 

almond1123

I was hoping I wasn't the not the only one thinking $10 for a 13yo that I'm picking up and dropping off was a bit much.

mom2ll

almond1123:

I was hoping I wasn't the not the only one thinking $10 for a 13yo that I'm picking up and dropping off was a bit much.

We offered $8 and her parents said NO. She has a 16 year old brother with a "real job".  He makes $8 and pays taxes.  We agreed that $5 for a 13 year old is fair.

ayersfam20

That was my dilemma too.  $10 seems like a lot to me if I'm picking her up and dropping her off and she's not feeding, changing diapers, putting to bed, etc.

But then I think if she's here for 2 hours, $10 seems like so little money and it's easier to hand her a $20 than to give her $16.

I will probably offer $6 and hour and see what she says.  Maybe have her there for at least 3 hours instead of just 2.  Plus I will probably have pizza delivered for the 2 of them as well.

Thanks for the responses!

almond1123

bpaullo:

almond1123:

I was hoping I wasn't the not the only one thinking $10 for a 13yo that I'm picking up and dropping off was a bit much.

We offered $8 and her parents said NO. She has a 16 year old brother with a "real job".  He makes $8 and pays taxes.  We agreed that $5 for a 13 year old is fair.

I like her parents.  Too bad I'm far away.

PAGAS

$5/hour seems like a steal.  I was getting paid that when I was thirteen, which was 20 years ago!

I would pay $8 to 10 / hour.

TexasHarmony

ayersfam20:

That was my dilemma too.  $10 seems like a lot to me if I'm picking her up and dropping her off and she's not feeding, changing diapers, putting to bed, etc.

But then I think if she's here for 2 hours, $10 seems like so little money and it's easier to hand her a $20 than to give her $16.

I will probably offer $6 and hour and see what she says.  Maybe have her there for at least 3 hours instead of just 2.  Plus I will probably have pizza delivered for the 2 of them as well.

Thanks for the responses!

$20 for 3 hours plus pizza sounds like a gravy job to me.  I was babysitting by that age and I would have been over the moon to make $20 in 3 hours and get pizza for dinner.