How old is your babysitter?

mrsseguin · March 2012

DH and I are in a predicament and need an occasional sitter. My MIL usually watches the kids, but we need someone for when she is unavailable. My friend has a 12 year old (she'll be 13 in June ) and wants to start babysitting. We only need someone for about 2 hours about 2-3 days per week to cover when I need to leave for work and DH isn't home from work yet. Being in our predicament makes me want to jump on the offer, but another part of me thinks she may be too young. How old is your babysitter? Also how much do you pay per hour?

alli2672 · March 2012

We have had multiple sitters from age 18-55. We keep getting pregnant though, so we always have an infant at home. We pay $15/hr.

If her mom or your MIL could be avaialble in case something happened, I would be comfortable leaving a 13 year old with a 3 year old and 1.5 year old for two hours.

lujain · March 2012

She is 48. We pay her $10 per hour.

expectingnothing · March 2012

I have four - they are 18-23 and in college.

Sunidaze · March 2012

No one besides my mom has babysat for us as yet. Eventually, the twin daughters of one of DH's co-workers as well as my niece (all three are soon to be 14) will babysit. Unsure how much we will pay. But I will note that the twins have already been through a safe sitter couse at a local hospital and my niece will do so before she babysits.

erstwhile+maven · March 2012

Our mothers helpers/babysitters are 13, 16 and 18. All are great with the kids. I find that the younger one (and the others when they were younger) is very focused on making sure the kids have fun and play and do creative crafts. As they get older, some of the creativity and willingness to crawl around on the floor with fireman hats on goes but they also tend to do a better job picking up toys and disciplining (time outs for hitting, etc.).

I'd have her over a few times while you are home to train her and watch her with the kids before deciding to hire her.

You'll have to make sure you are complying with child labor laws before anything. I cannot remember the standards for workers under 15 but know there are some very specific criteria.

I pay our mothers helpers $8 per hour in a LCOL area. With our second child I'll increase pay by 10% (typical to increase 10-15% per child).

jlaOK · March 2012

I have a 14-year old sister who has babysat DS when she was 13 with an adult backup close by. For someone that young, I would judge based on maturity, experience, and judgement more than age. A 12-year-old who has been around kids could be a better fit than an irresponsible 18-year-old. It really depends on the kid. As far as cost, I live in a LCOL area but for 2 kids I think that $12-$15/hour is fair.

Strunella · March 2012

Funny, I started babysitting at 12 but now that I have my own child, I feel that 12 is too young. I think a 12 year old is fine for a mother's helper when you are home, but I would be leery of leaving a 12 year old with two young children. We don't have a sitter as MIL is close by, but if I were paying a sitter, I'd expect to pay about $10/hour.

Leap08 · March 2012

We have two occasional sitters - ages 14 & 16. The 14 year old sits for us fairly often on weekends or evenings so we can have a date night. She lives down the street from us and her parents are usually home, so if she had an emergency there is an adult close by. We usually pay her about $7 an hour, which is actually a lot for a teenage sitter in our area. I would hire a 12-13 year old if I felt she was mature enough, and if she'd have an adult close by to call if there was an emergency. I think I'd do a trial first. I'd have her come over while I was home and just kind of watch her with the kids.

seahorse102410 · March 2012

We have a neighborhood girl that is 13 and I think she is great. She is also in very high demand so if you can get first dibs on this girl GRAB HER before some other mommy does!

KathrynMD · March 2012

As a hypothetical, I'd be OK w/ a generally responsible, mature 12/13 yo watching preschoolers/toddlers for a few hours as long another adult was nearby.

I think you need to have her come over a few times w/ you there and see how she does w/ your kids. I didn't start babysitting until I was 14ish, but I regularly babysat toddlers/preschoolers/school age kids and it was fine.

peekaboo716 · March 2012

We have a 12 yr old that watches the kids for a few hours on occassion. He went to the baby sitting course offered by the city, and the rate suggested was $6/hour. We pay usually $8.

Our neighbors use another neighborhood girl (13 yo) on occassion for her 2 school age children (2nd grade and kindie). She pays her $7/hour for watching them after school for an hour or two. She won't leave her just turned 3 yo with her though, yet.

I think it depends on the potential sitter and your kids. I know some kids are easier to leave with a younger sitter than others.

aehwch · March 2012

When I was 12, I babysat for a family with a 9 month old and 2 year old. In hindsight, I was way too young to take care of kids that young. That being said, I don't know if I could ever leave my 19 month old DD with anyone under the age of 18.

alwaysduke00 · March 2012

I babysat at 12 or 13 but I can't imagine letting someone that young watch my toddler, to be honest. Our babysitter is in her late 20's or early 30s. We don't know for sure but she has a teenage son...we had thought she was younger before we knew this (and I guess she technically could be).

I think high school age would be as young as I'd go for now. That being said, I certainly watched my brother (7.5 yrs younger than me), when I was 11 or so. The right 12 year old is probably fine but would make me nervous right now.

kristinem17 · March 2012

We have 2 sitters. One is a junior in highschool - 16 years old. The other is a senior in highschool - 17 years old. We pay them $10 an hour. Personally I would not hire a 12/13 year old to babysit DS. Too young IMO.

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