Babysitting question

**amanjud** · 09-04-2008, 06:05 AM

I'm watching my son's friend after school and am charging the mom $50/wk for about 3hrs/day. I will also have him on days off like conference days and half days. Do you think I'm charging too much or not enough?

**bclements514** · 09-04-2008, 07:30 AM

Call around to local daycare centers and see what they charge. That sounds right for where I live but I would think you could get more living in NY.

**Michelle** · 09-04-2008, 08:15 AM

People charge a lot more around here. I agree with the PP--you should call around to day cares in your area to see what they charge. I think people may post looking for/offering babysitting on Craig's List too. Get a feel for what people/companies in your area charge.

I hope you're going to charge more for days when the child is there for the whole day?

Are you feeding him/her as well?

How old is the child?

*eta: as it is, you're making about $3.33/hr. That's a great deal for the mom IMO. I would do some research and make sure you're not charging too little.

**Momto2Boyz** · 09-04-2008, 08:25 AM

I'm watching my friends baby, and I am charging her $2/hour. (it's a little cheaper than licensed home daycares around here, they make between $3 and $3.50 here).

I started out charging $100/week (which we were both satisfied with...which I think is what is important). Then they started taking advantage. Her hubby doesn't want to take care of the baby, etc. So, she calls on her way home from work and tells me she needs to run errands, get a perm etc. So, I have started charging her per hour.

Although, with the problems that I've had with them (as DH said, they wanted a baby, but now that they have one...she isn't fitting into their independent schedules), I think I am going to go back and charge them $100/week for day care services. Then, anything above and beyond that, meaning my watching her while they are NOT at work, but I have her will be at $10 like a teenage babysitter would be!

I think the important thing is that you are comfortable with the agreement. As long as you are both comfortable with it, that is what is important!

**Michelle** · 09-04-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Momto2Boyz

I think the important thing is that you are comfortable with the agreement. As long as you are both comfortable with it, that is what is important!

:agree: very true

**FrugalWitch** · 09-04-2008, 10:16 AM

I think you're way under-priced. I said before several months ago on an old thread I can't locate that I was getting paid a minimum of $8.50 per hour in 1981. That was as a teenager, with so many clients on my waiting list I actually started sub-contracting some jobs out.

My minimum was for babysitting only. Each household task cost extra. Homework not included as I also worked as a tutor which paid much better. ($15.00 per hour)

Do you not feel that you are worth more than $3.00 an hour? It's up to you, but I wouldn't sell myself, my time or my skills that cheaply. JMHO

(PS) If you think about it, why should a teenager get paid more per hour for babysitting than an adult?

**amanjud** · 09-04-2008, 12:02 PM

All great replies, thanks. I thought it was a little high, but Frugal Witch has a good point. I use to babysit for my SL and I charged her $150 for a 2yr and 6yr, but that was a family deal. Thanks for the input. I hate to go back and tell her though that I want more, I guess it's already said and done.

**WV_mom_of2** · 09-04-2008, 01:02 PM

I do in-home daycare and I agree with calling the daycare centers in your area and find out what they charge. I have to price under the daycare center in town or I get no business. I live in a rural area and most parents are going through town on their way to work anyway so I either charger lower than they do or they just take them there. The center charges 24.00 per day for newborn to age three, then 20.00 for age three and up.

I am currently charging 17.00 a day for a 7 1/2 hour day. That includes breakfast, lunch and snacks but the mom of the 2 year old I have always sends his lunch and snacks. This is a deal I cut with her alone, because her dh picks him up at 3:30 and she brings his food. When I had another little boy last year I upped his rate to 20.00 a day when the new school year started(I babysit for teachers) because mom took advantage of me. She would bring him sick, she never provided any food, she would bring him early and leave him late, etc. People REALLY balk at paying a private sitter 20.00 a day here! Unless of course they want you to keep the child for way more hours than you want. I turned down a little boy this year whose mom wanted me to keep him 11-12 hours a day for 20.00! First of all I do NOT want a child here at 6:45am and I do NOT want to watch after one for 11-12 hours for any amount of money!

How much you charge is probably going to depend on what others in the area charge. I could charge 40.00 a day like they do in larger cities but I'd be up a creek without a paddle too LOL.

I should also say that I don't do it for the money. I love kids, especially newborn to 5. My kids are 12 and 16 and in school all day. They just don't need me like they used to and I miss that. I miss the pitter patter of little feet, the hugs and kisses, the silly giggles. I started doing in home daycare to have a little one around to fill my days with joy and so that I could be at home in the winter months. The money is just an extra bonus!

**joyofsix** · 09-04-2008, 01:23 PM

I agree it is all about your area. I charge $1.50/hr for school agers. Home daycare here is about $2/hr, centers much more. It really depends upon where you live.

**foxxyroxie** · 09-04-2008, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by amanjud

All great replies, thanks. I thought it was a little high, but Frugal Witch has a good point. I use to babysit for my SL and I charged her $150 for a 2yr and 6yr, but that was a family deal. Thanks for the input. I hate to go back and tell her though that I want more, I guess it's already said and done.

Well... it's NEVER too late to adjust your rates!!

Just explain to her that when you originally gave her the rates, you didn't realize what the going rates were. And after all, it is up to her to pay for "your inconvenience" and lack of freedom to do what you want to during the hours you have her son. After all, it would probably be inconvenient to drag both boys around to run errands and such or go visit friends/relatives.