How much to pay babysitter?

BennyL

Hi ladies - we have an amazing sitter who will be watching the boys if DH and I need a break. She is a college student and a close family friend so she she says we can pay her 'whatever'. What would be a fair hourly rate to keep 2 little ones? TIA?

12bailey18

When it was just DS we paid $10/hr. But now that there's two we would probably do $20/hour. Or if she says 'whatever' maybe just a flat rate depending on what time and how long she was there, etc. 

Bran_ham

Our babysitter is college aged too and for just DS it's $8.50 and when we added DD it was still $8.50. She comes over at night though and the kids are usually asleep so she isn't dealing with both kids at the same time. Even still she babysits for other mom I know for the same rate for multiple kids during the day time. She's quite the deal.

CaitlinJ22

12bailey18:

When it was just DS we paid $10/hr. But now that there's two we would probably do $20/hour. Or if she says 'whatever' maybe just a flat rate depending on what time and how long she was there, etc. 

thats nuts! I paid $10 for one child and I pay $12 for two kids. I always round up and pay them for at least 2 hours even if they arent there for that long.

OP-just bc its a person you know, I would still pay fairly. I think when you find a good sitter you need to keep her!  

rosesandpeonies

between $15 and $20 is the going rate here for two little ones.

jordanebeaulieu

Our sitter charges $10 an hour for the first child, and then an extra $2 an hour for each additional child. I think $12/hour for two children is very fair.

sweetpea2003

I pay $12 an hour.  I only use college aged and older sitters.  My "#1" sitter is a 30 year old Kindergarden teacher who is single and just likes to make some extra money. She is AMAZING with my kids and always straightens up the house and kitchen before we get home from our dates.  She gets $12 and we round up (She babysat for 4 hours last night and we paid her $50).

BrendaLou1969

I thought minimum wage was the going rate, I'm glad I saw this post.  Now I won't look like a cheapskate when I go looking for a sitter.