I finally pulled the trigger and asked a daycare teacher if she would babysit for us. She is super nice, and said yes right away and said how excited she is. She lives with her parents very close to us, like about a mile, so it should be pretty convenient for her. She is currently in her junior year at a local college.
A bunch of the parents at daycare are getting together for a margarita/get to know you night. The official time is 9-11 (the restaurant has 1/2 priced apps and margaritas from 9-11). So I asked daycare teacher to babysit for us that night, and she said yes! Some questions:
How much should I pay? I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 year old. I am thinking somewhere between 20-25 an hour.
If the margarita night is from 9-11, and I have her come at 8:30, both kids will likely already be in bed. Which, I think would be a weird first time babysitting for us experience. So I was thinking of asking her to come around 7 and H and I will get dinner first. Would having her babysit from 7-midnight be too long? What time would be ideal? For reference, 1 year old usually goes to bed with no problem around 7. 3 1/2 year old usually fights us, but is in bed between 8 and 8:30 most nights, his routine is more rigid (cartoons, milk, teeth brushing, pjs, book, talk, bed). The baby is just Pjs, milk and plop in the crib.
Where do you live? I live in NYC and I've never paid more than $20 an hour. I usually pay $15 to $16. The only person I know who charges $20 is a student from a masters of teaching program. She's really fantastic but I can't swing her very often.
We are outside Philly. So probably medium to high-ish cost of living. But, does having 2 kids change the rate? I think it would, but the baby will literally be asleep for 90-100% of her time
We are outside Philly. So probably medium to high-ish cost of living. But, does having 2 kids change the rate? I think it would, but the baby will literally be asleep for 90-100% of her time
Yes 2 kids changes what you pay but not that much. I'd ask her what her going rate is or maybe offer $16 but that maybe higher than other families do. Have you gone on care.com to see their estimates of average sitter pay?
I would have a hard time paying $100 for 5 hours of babysitting most of which the kids will be sleeping. We use high school kids, so I guess they are cheaper. I guess I would ask what she charges.
I would ask her her rate. $25/hour is what I pay in HCOL during the day for a professional nanny-type person for two school-aged children when there's a holiday or some other school closing (and then I split the cost with the parent of the other child). So that seems high for two sleeping children at night.
I don't think 7- midnight is too long (I would be so screwed out of date nights if I did!), but I would confirm her transportation arrangement and offer her dinner. If she is not driving herself, I would pay for a cab or drive her home myself.
Most of the best sitters near me (Silicon valley) have a 3-4 hour minimum per job, so 5 hours is definitely not too long. The two child rate is usually $2 or so per hour more than the one child rate. I would offer $22 here for a daycare teacher that knows my kids and is great. We are very high cost of living though.
We pay $18-20 an hour for two kids (baby and toddler).
I don't think 5 hours is too long at all but I would not want to introduce a new sitter to my kids at 7PM, lol. That is like the most stressful hour of the day at our house, right in the middle of the dinner-bedtime storm. If either have her home after they're down for the night or earlier in the evening like 5PM so she can play with the kids for a little while and get to know them.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Sept 1, 2016 12:37:04 GMT -5
When I've had new babysitters come when my kids were already asleep, I asked that they stop over some random time the week before (or even the day of) to meet the kids, and then still had them come after the kids were already asleep that night (I'd tell the kids that a babysitter would be coming). That way, if something were to happen and the kids would wake up and see her, they wouldn't be meeting someone for the first time without us there. But my kids always go to bed much better for us, so it was easier to just have the babysitter come after bedtime. Around here I only pay $10 for 1 kid, $12 for both, esp. if they are asleep the whole time!
We are right outside of Philly in montco & pay $15/hour to our babysitters. One is in grad school & the other 2 in just out of college jobs. $15 is plenty, IME. If she already knows your kids, 7 is fine & staying out until 12 is fine. Yes to dinner for her if the kids are eating, if not, just have her help herself yo snacks.
Oh wow, I just texted her asking her rate and she said usually its $12 an hour, but if that is too expensive she can do $10 an hour. lol, she is so sweet. So, what if I offer her $15 an hour?