I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

DS1 is 4 and DS2 is 3 months and I've never had a real babysitter. I was never comfortable with having someone other than my parents watch my son but having 2 kids changes lots of things and my dad isn't comfortable watching both boys bc DS2 is still only 3 months old.

So, I'm interviewing someone (grad school student) that was recommended but have no idea about babysitting rates in my scenario.

I'd need the babysitter to come to my home every Friday for about 5-6 hours. It would be a regular thing. She'd be caring for my 3-month old alone for about 2.5 hours and then my 4yo would come home, so she'd then watch 2 kids for about 2.5 hrs. How much should I pay her? I will of course ask her her rates but want to have an idea ahead of time.

If she was just watching both kids for say 2-3 hours on a Saturday afternoon so DH and I could go out to lunch or something, how much would you pay then? Same as above or different?

Re: I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

I would guess about $20/hr? I know that I was looking at $15/hr for my 6 year old for afterschool only

I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

$15-$20 per hr.

Re: I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

I'd say probably in the $15-20 an hour range. I have one sitter who is in college and only charges me $10 for one kid, which I know is pretty cheap. I use her one full day a week during summers. She is graduating this year and I'll have 2 kids, so if she is still available (going to be a teacher), I'll probably bump her up to at least $15. Then I had an experienced nanny work as a sitter while I worked from home. She got $17.

Message edited 11/29/2013 2:13:34 PM.

Re: I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

I would say $12-15

I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

I pay my sitter $15 for 2 boys- 2.5 years and 8 months. I use her 1-2 times a month so DH & I can go out alone or with friends. For something more regular like you describe, I may do more like $18 an hour.

Re: I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

We pay our sitter $15 per hour and we have a 5 yr old and a 15 month old. She's a teacher in my son's daycare. We use her once a month so DH and I can have a night out.

Re: I've never had a babysitter. Need help with rates.

About $15/hr sounds right. She may ask for a bit more.