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Can't decide if it's worth the money...$15/hour for mother's helper?

babypuplovebabypuplove
in Stay at Home Moms

So, we have a lead for someone I know through a family friend.  She has worked for them for many years, and they trust her completely, so I trust her completely (and I've met her; I was their nanny while in grad school, and we crossed paths once in a while).  

Anyway, for the brief moment I was looking on Craigslist, we were looking at paying someone $10-12/hour.  She charges $15/hour.  We're only talking about six hours a week total, and we will only do it for 2-3 months, but I'm just not used to paying people to watch DD (we have a lot of family here), so to me, $90/week seems crazy.  BUT, she is trustworthy, and I wouldn't have to worry about DD like I would with a stranger.  And it is only temporary.  

DH and I are planning to discuss it tonight, but $90/week, is approx. $360/month, which is over $1000 if we're talking almost 3 months.  Is it worth it for two short mornings per week?  

By the way, I called the pre-school/MDO program, and DD isn't in. Surprisingly, every person has paid their deposit, so she is still wait-listed.  :( 

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Re: Can't decide if it's worth the money...$15/hour for mother's helper?

  • HarrietNJMommyHarrietNJMommy

    $15/hour is a babysitter rate, NOT a mother's helper. I would not pay that kind of money for a mother's helper.

    If you're talking babysitter, then yes, I'd pay $15/hour, although it does seem steep for just one child........

    GL!

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  • brightningbrightning member
    imageHarrietNJMommy:

    $15/hour is a babysitter rate, NOT a mother's helper. I would not pay that kind of money for a mother's helper.

    If you're talking babysitter, then yes, I'd pay $15/hour, although it does seem steep for just one child........

    Ditto

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  • ashleywebberashleywebber member
    As a former babysitter and nanny in a higher COL area, I think $15/hr for a Mother's Helper (I assume when you say that you mean you will be there and she will assist you in any area you need - kids, chores, errands) is ridiculous.  I wouldn't pay more than $8-10/hr.  She isn't having to take full care of the kids or deep clean your house.  Maybe negotiate with her to $12 if you were willing to pay that. 
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  • Stacyc625Stacyc625 member

    I swear it is scary the things you post-

    because it is the same thing we are going through- down to the T.

    I had a woman demand 15.00 and I said- no. I can see if the sitter was left alone with DD in the house- however that isn't the 'rate' for a mother's helper.

    I was also looking 10/hr. for 5-10hrs a week for 3 months.

    So I am going to keep looking.

     

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  • jenifairiesjenifairies
    I think that's crazy.
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  • MAprincessMAprincess member
    imageHarrietNJMommy:

    $15/hour is a babysitter rate, NOT a mother's helper. I would not pay that kind of money for a mother's helper.

    If you're talking babysitter, then yes, I'd pay $15/hour, although it does seem steep for just one child........

    GL!

    I agree with this.  I wouldn't pay more than $10/hour for a mothers helper.  They aren't technically alone with the child.  I wouldn't even pay $15/hour for a baby sitter for one child.  For two children, definitely.

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  • JOEBunnyJOEBunny member

    I think what you are calling a mother's helper, is a babysitter.  Whatever. Semantics. 

    I pay $12 an hour for a 19 year old girl 4 hours a week who doesn't clean up and leaves water rings on my furniture, but she is 3 things, 1) Always on time  2) Great with my kids, really cares for them, and they love her 3) She is responsible in the areas where it counts and smart enough to cope with an emergency. 

    She also knows most of the people who live close by, since she grew up 2 blocks away, so if something did happen, she would not be "on her own". 

    I would pay her $15 an hour if she ask for it, in a heart beat.  You can always counter and say, would you take $13, since we are giving you 6 hour blocks, if it really bothers you.  

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  • babypuplovebabypuplove
    imageStacyc625:

    I swear it is scary the things you post-

    because it is the same thing we are going through- down to the T.

    I had a woman demand 15.00 and I said- no. I can see if the sitter was left alone with DD in the house- however that isn't the 'rate' for a mother's helper.

    I was also looking 10/hr. for 5-10hrs a week for 3 months.

    So I am going to keep looking.

    LOL!  It's so funny that we're running into the exact same issues. 

    I thought it seemed like a lot, but maybe she's looking at it as a babysitting position, and not as a mother's helper position.  I'm almost ready to give up. 

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  • babypuplovebabypuplove
    Well, I did tell her that I would be home most of the time, but there are times when I will run to the store with the baby while she stays with DD.  So, I guess she would be both a mother's helper and a babysitter.  Even for that, I would expect to pay about $12/hour for one child.  
    BabyFruit Ticker On our way to 3 under 4! DD1 1/22/09 DD2 7/16/10 Baby Boy Due This Summer!
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  • Stacyc625Stacyc625 member
    imagebabypuplove:
    imageStacyc625:

    I swear it is scary the things you post-

    because it is the same thing we are going through- down to the T.

    I had a woman demand 15.00 and I said- no. I can see if the sitter was left alone with DD in the house- however that isn't the 'rate' for a mother's helper.

    I was also looking 10/hr. for 5-10hrs a week for 3 months.

    So I am going to keep looking.

    LOL!  It's so funny that we're running into the exact same issues. 

    I thought it seemed like a lot, but maybe she's looking at it as a babysitting position, and not as a mother's helper position.  I'm almost ready to give up. 

    Don't give up- I am sure it will shake out for the both of us.

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  • Temp174496125006552Temp174496125006552 member

    That seems really high to me.  $10/hour?  Yes.  $15?  Hell no.

    Jordan, who is 17 and will be a senior in HS in the fall, is a mother's helper for a woman in one of my moms groups and she's making $8/hour.  Honestly, I think she's being underpaid, but she has been looking for a job for months and was just so excited to find something (even though it's only a couple of hours a week), she took it. 

    She charges $10/hour when she babysits and no one has flinched at that.

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  • Mrs.HizzoMrs.Hizzo member
    This seems really high to me for one child, and with you being there most of the time. You're in a higher COL area than us, though. I typically expect to pay $12-$15 for both my kids, for a sitter.
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  • hokies94hokies94 member

    I'm in your area (DC) and $15/hr is what I pay for 3 kids for a college graduate babysitter.

    I think the $10- $12/hr rate is more reasonable for one kid.  

    That being said, there are some days where I would pay any rate to have a few hours to myself!! 

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  • ElopeToHawaiiElopeToHawaii
    I am in the DC burbs of MD and pay $15 an hour for a 4th grade teacher who is certified in infant/child CPR to babysit my child when I'm not at home.  I'd hoped to pay a little less, but she's totally worth it.  So if you feel comfortable with this woman, I'd go for it.  But I do think that if you're paying for someone to help out while you're in the house for the most part you'd be looking at $10 to $12 an hour.
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  • almostjenniferalmostjennifer member
    I pay my mother's helper $5 an hour.  She's a 13 yr old neighbor girl.
    SAHM to DD1 (7), DS (5) and DD2 (1)
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  • spiritenergyspiritenergy
    That is a lot.  I would not pay that.  I know you are worried about having a new little one and one still running around.  I went through that a few months back and we had just moved to a new town across country, so no friends or family to help.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Sure I am sleepless right now, and I have been at other times, but it is doable.  Could you contact a moms group and see if anyone has any reccomendations or a home schooling group?  I know a lot of home schoolers are moms helpers.
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  • tara07733tara07733
    That's way too much for a mother's helper. You'll be home, I'm assuming, the whole time so I don't think that she's worth that much. As someone else said that is babysitting money and even for that depending on how many kids you have, it's too much.
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  • sassy_mommysassy_mommy
    I pay our babysitter $10 an hour.  I'm not really clear on all the differences between a babysitter and mother's helper, but if you are going to leave your LO with her, I would make sure she knows CPR, First Aid and does chores for that price.
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