What do you pay a sitter?

TwiMom

Hi!  I have one little one, 10 months old, and I'm just wondering what the "going rate" is for sitters these days!  If you don't mind posting what you pay yours I'd like to get a good idea of the range!  Thanks!

mben1119

Its going to vary based on where you live and the age/experience of the sitter. My area is about $10 / hour.

Netty_3

I pay $12.50/hour.

Fianschneid

Like pp, I would say it depends on your area and who your sitter is.

Our sitter is in her early 20s (laid off teacher) and is $10 an hour. I consider this a bargain.

memali26

Depends what kind of sitter. For a high school/college student watching both of my kids so DH and I can see a movie, I'd probably pay about $10/hr.

If you're talking about daycare pay, the rates would be very different. I provide in home care for a LO and her mom pays $4/hr, plus a little extra to cover meals. 

melissa0726

I recently overheard my 17 year old sister and her friends talking about babysitting rates, and they generally won't do it for any less than $10 an hour.  They would expect more for multiple children and very young children (18 months and younger). 

ldcoffel

We pay $10/hour. If it was daycare it would be different.

hayleydeee

Around here (for and adult to watch our 3 kids) it's about $25 an hour. We don't get a sitter often! 

Daycare is about $50 for 4 hours.  

TwiMom

Thanks to all!  I should've clarified that I just was looking for an occasional sitter, not daycare.  But seeing your posts brought up some good points about how even just sitter to sitter can vary in the same area depending on age and experience!  

PansyPants

We have a date night sitter who is a full time day nanny for a family of two. She's also been a nanny for 10 years to two other families and has a degree in child psychology and music theatre. 

We live in Rhode Island and pay her $15 an hour. LO is already asleep when she arrives and stays asleep until morning, they've actually never met. We over pay but I'm paranoid and wanted the most qualified person in the area despite how easy the job is. I could pay my 12 yro niece to watch tv while we're away (she lives three streets away from us) but I'm terrified of the "what if's".