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weeklong babysitting rate?

17 years ago

My son, who will soon be 16, has been asked by a friend to go along on a weeklong camping trip with 2 families, with 2 5 year old boys between them, to help out with the kids. This will be a great trip for everyone I'm sure.

My friend doesn't know how much to pay my son. Any ideas?

Thanks, Pam

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Comments (7)

socks
17 years ago
They will be feeding him, and I hope he will have some fun too, so I wouldn't think he would be paid a full hourly rate. I think the amount would depend too on what the expectations are. Will be he busy supervising the boys all day every day? Probably not.

Just as a jumping off figure, does $25/day sound too high? Too low? I don't know, just threw that number out there.
shaknzmom
17 years ago
I agree that it will depend on what he needs to do. However, my 15yo daughter babysits....as long as she was to have some free time in the afternoon/evening that she and her friend could have some fun on their own, I'd tell them not to pay her. I'm assuming the parents are going to want to spend SOME time with their kids! If they're covering food and everything else, then that's sufficient. Your son will just be earning his keep.
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I don't know what you do for this person that makes him/her your boss, but I would suggest you not accept this babysitting job. It changes your relationship with this person and it can lead to all sorts of problems for you (not your boss, that's the perk of being a boss!) A job creates a professional relationship, babysitting is much more personal. It will cause problems for you at your "other" job with this person, and can make your life very, very complicated. If you insist on going ahead, then you should expect to be paid at least what they already pay you. They can certainly find someone else to babysit. Good luck and be careful.
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As you look ahead toward this summer, you might want to check out the opportunities to work in your town's summer recreation program (if they have one--if not, ask around to see if there's one in another town). Our town offers great enrichment classes for kids ages 4 thru high school, it's a great opportunity to work with kids doing something you might not otherwise be able to do--we have elementary teachers teaching drama, juggling, something called Wiggle and Giggle, fun science, etc. I've been involved for the past 15 years and love the fact that while I'm actually a high school teacher, I get to teach cooking to elementary-aged students (Storybook Cooks is a fun literature-based class for the 5 & 6 year-olds; Kids Cook is gourmet Cooking for 3rd -6th graders). We--all of us, teachers and students--have a ball. And the pay is great--over $26/hour, so even working parttime, I'm making fairly good money. Other good summer jobs for college students--working at a summer camp; day care centers often need extra help in the summer (and you'd gain valuable experience if you do decide to go off on your own in the field), the zoo, children's museums. Keep in mind that a 'real' job will look a little better on your employment history than babysitting or childcare will when you do finish school and go out looking. Another consideration might be whether or not your employer will let you come back to work during your winter break--DD's waitressing job ALWAYS lets the college kids come in when they're home on vacation. That's a nice 'extra' and means you don't have to scrounge each time you come home. Good luck--I do hope you're taking up something to do with working with children. We need more caring, interested adults like you teaching our precious little ones.
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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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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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doone
17 years ago
I would suggest $10 a day. Kinds need to learn that doing a job and doing it well results in good things...money!
jojo09
17 years ago
We are currently living in military housing in the Seattle area. What would be an accurate fee for my 14 year old daughter to charge for babysitting per hour? If there is more than one chlid what would the fee be per child? If she becomes CPR certified could she charge more? If so how much more?
compton07
16 years ago
HOw much should i pay my 16 yr. old Daughter for babysitting this summer.
She will from 9.am till 5 p.m. mon. thru friday. My 6 yr. old son. Then every Mon. tues. and FRi. she will watch my husbands 2 kids. one 6 and one 10. So how much should i pay her to do that. SHe will give them lunch and snacks but also keeo them from not being bored. ALso she will clean the house up alittle bit to.. SO how much should i pay her. Its the summer time too.
jy_md
16 years ago
HOw much should i pay my 16 yr. old Daughter for babysitting this summer.

Well, when my son was a baby and watched by a stay-at-home mom, we paid her $5/hr for the day. In the case of your daughter, you probably don't have to pay her that much but I wouldn't skimp either.

Maybe $10-$25/day/kid. So if she watches a child Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, that's anywhere between $50-$125 for that one child for the week. If she watches two children three days a week, then she should get anywhere between $60-$150 for the week.

Yes, it's expensive but taking care of children is hard work and you also want her to clean the house (definitely not easy to do with three non-napping children).
mom_of_4
16 years ago
I don't think there is necessarily a 'should pay her amount' ... when I was younger I babysat all three of my siblings all year round and did not get any money for it. It was part and parcel of being a family... if you can and want to pay her great but I dont think there is a magic number that you SHOULD pay her... base it upon what you can afford and what you feel she deserves... and personally I think 125/ week for one child is far too much money to take care of your own sibling and help out with the household chores

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