HELP please.. babysitting prices

18 years ago

I am starting a new job for this lady and she having me babysit her kids, but I won't be getting paided by her I will be getting paided by the state, now I will be babysitting her 5 month old boy and her 5 year old daughter while she goes to work, and the little boy I will be watching him 8 hours a day 5 days a week, and the little girl I will be watching 3 hours of the day 5 days a week, now I thought a good price range would be 7.00 for the little boy and 5.50 for the little girl. Does anyone think that is reasonable? and do you have any other prices that you would like to give me, the mom thinks I should get paided 5.00 for the both of them, and I just think that is a little to cheap, I mean this is going to be a full time job basically and I don't want to sound greedy or anything...

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Comments (5)

babycutecute
18 years ago
It depends on where you are located, and if you are licensed.
babycutecute
18 years ago
cutiepatootie04 Thanks for your email and you are welcome! I can't seem to send you an email here so I am going to post here and let you know what I am paying to give you an idea.

When I was living in metro DC area, the cheapest non licensed daycare I can find is $140 a week, no food provided. I can leave my baby there for up to 10 hours a day. I have to pay for all absent days. I know the lady charges much more for other kids, on average $180 but they don't pay absent days. I guess in the end it averages out because my child usually only go 3-4 days a week.

I now moved to southern Virginia, the non licensed home care costs about $100 a week and I don't have to pay absent days. Some provide food some don't. Licensed daycare center costs $160 - $200 a week, food provided and I have to pay absent days. Either case I can put my child there for up to 10 hours a day.

All in all I don't think long term childcare is counted by hour. Say $200 a week for up to 10 hours a day, that's only $4 an hour. Drop in hourly babysit is different.

If I were you I will check what the market rate is and charge what you are comfortable with. If you think her rate is too low then don't do it :) It's your time and you should do whatever feel comfortable to you.
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I would suggest that the parents look for babysitting and school pickup, not you. It is their responsiblity to see who is taking care of the children. I do not baby sit, never have, but that is me. Here is this state it is very hard to get sitters etc and my GD is now doing daycare because she could not find anyone and is very good. She works with other moms so her oldest one and two others are able to go to preschool. You said you need a job to help pay the bills? Are their jobs avaiable for your age? What about insurance? Driving? etc Did your kids pay you anything if not why not? Hope things turn out ok.
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WOW! I'm suprised at these posts....I used to get paid $45 a day for watching one 4 month old...that was for 10-12 hours a day. I thought this was average in California. But minimum wage is $8.50 an hour. I feel like if your paying your sitter $5 an hour for 2 or more kids (and they are qualified and experienced) then youre telling them you don't really appreciate them, on the otherhand if your babysitter is 16 with not much experience this is fine to me. Babysitters work hard, especially with more than one child. I wouldn't do it for less than $25 a day per child.
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I'd say you'd have to get a minimum of $5 per child, per hour to make it worth your while. So that's $60/day--that wouldn't be unreasonable in my area, for what you're describing. And you're going to have to check with your car insurance company about your coverage--your insurance is going to go up, of course, if you're transporting children as a job (and you dare not drive them in your car without the proper coverage), so I'd think you'd want to add that in on top. Whatever you do, don't do this too cheaply--it's a lot of work and responsibility to care for children and you should be well-rewarded for your efforts.
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Just for a perspective (in florida at least) the daycare where my daughter went was 80.00 a week for a full day. I will say that was the most reasonable place I could find ... most were 130 - 150 a week at a minumum. And, coincidentally enough she LOVED the daycare that was only 80.00 a week and didnt offer all the so called extras that the one she went to recently offered that was 140 a week. The people were much nicer and they did a lot with what they had like camping in the daycare with a sheet and a story that went along with it etc. Anyways... it would depend on what all you are doing. Are you providing the food and essentials or will the mom be providing that? (it is probably best unless you really trust the responsibility of this mom to plan on feeding the kids because my mom used to babysit and get into jams where moms would not send the food and you cant very well not feed the kids but you are losing money because you are feeding a bunch of extra kids) And, are you just doing this because you want to for a little extra money and to help out a friend... or are you doing it to supplement your income and well run a business. If it is just as a favor and some extra money I might lower the price a bit...but otherwise that is more than reasonable especially since you are throwing in two extra kids sometimes. If you are looking at it like a business opportunity during the summer... I would make sure to take into consideration tardiness with mom especially if you do not fully trust responsibility of mom and also remember things like if you have a pool or plan on going to the beach...it may be in your best interest to get some sort of waver in case something happens (again this is assuming you are not close to the mom) Just my two cents.
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Adella Bedella
18 years ago
Call around and see what the local daycares are charging. I think you'll have a hard time getting $5 or more per child. The $4 per hour total mentioned above seems more likely. If the state is paying the wage, I'm guessing you are going to have the licensing issue too. Different states have different rules. Here, you don't have to be licensed if you have less than six children to watch. Since the state is paying the wage, you may still need to be licesnsed, but they might also pay the cost of lunches and other things.
awbrey
18 years ago
I am a preschool owner, I would say the cheapist you should be is 380.00 a month full time, If she gets asf the state pay, in oregon they pay up to 320.00 a month, that is at a preschool, but watching children is alot of work dont sell your self to cheap!!!!
miora_wins
18 years ago
I live in michigan, am 16,and I Babysit 3 little girls ( ages 5, 3, and 4 mo) they pay me $12.00 hr no matter how many of the girls will be there. they also live in a million dollar mansion so they can afford it.I have babysat for other families also. I guess my point is try the 5.00 /hr for a week or so, if you find out the kids are little brats, tell her you want the higher price or you walk. If she refuses just tell her the truth, your too good of a babysitter for her kids.

HELP please.. babysitting prices

Comments (5)

babycutecute

babycutecute

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