How much do you pay your babysitter?

coasterqueen wrote: We are going to take the plunge and have my 11 year old cousin watch the girls this coming Friday night. I know, 11 years old seems young. She's very mature for her age. Kayla has also been through defense training at the police academy, passed her babysitting classes, and is CPR certified. So all this training makes me feel safer. Dh's cousins live right next door if anything goes wrong.

I am picking her up at 4:45 pm and she'll be at our house until 10 or 10:30 pm, then I will take her home. So roughly 5.5 hours or so.

How much do you pay your babysitter for two kids? I'm not sure what to pay her. I'm also thinking about having her just spend the night so I can drink with the rest of the couples we are going with. If I have to take her home I will obviously not drink. So what do you pay overnight babysitters?

I do plan to have snacks and bring home pizza for dinner so they won't have to worry about that.

Kaitlin'smom replied: umm well when my nephews watched Kaitlin for me for a couple hours I paid both of them 12. so I think it ended up being 3 an hour. I would say you only need to pay the hours she is alone with them. and for an 11 yr old I am thinking 20-25.

luvmykids replied: I think what Di said is about average, I hardly pay babysitters (thanks Mom ) but in the past it's been $3-4 hours. If she spends the night I think I'd add $10 to whatever the hourly rate totals, just for the heck of it.

coasterqueen replied: Wow. I talked to some moms from Kylie's soccer league and they pay their babysitters anywhere from $5 to $8 an hour and extra for overnights. Kayla was there when we were all talking about this, so I know I have to at least pay her $5 an hour. I guess that's not bad for two kids, but I know we'll have to go the grandparent route more than the babysitter route. I would ask the grandparents but we've stretched our welcome quite a bit there. My cousin has been begging me for a long time now, so she was excited to be able to do this. Obviously she doesn't understand the cost and why I haven't asked her before.

gr33n3y3z replied: Katie watches 2 kids and she gets $60.00 a day from 10:30am until 3:30pm

Mommy2Isabella replied: If we use a babysitter we pay about anywhere between 8 - 12 an hour. But they are all 18 or older!

coasterqueen replied: Holy moly ladies! I'll never be able to afford a sitter so we can go out.

Our Lil' Family replied: She's 11....she'll be thrilled with $20!

gr33n3y3z replied:
baby sitting is a real job any more its not like you can give them 5.00 an hour
per child But if its a family member maybe you can get away with it

DVFlyer replied: Is it legal in your area to leave children alone with an 11 year old? I think in our are (so cal) a child under 12 can not be left alone.... much left watch other kids.

FWIW- I think we paid $5/hr per child last time we used one.

lisar replied:
I agree with that. But I pay Jessica about $10.00 an hour. To sit in my house and watch Raygen sleep while we all go out. So its kinda expensive for me.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: We pay the girl that used to work with DH $10 an hour for two kids. It's higher than what most people pay around here, but when I came up with the price, I took the advice from my sister who lives in CA and pays about $15. Now we're locked in, but she is really good.

But we also pay $6 an hour for two kids with a younger gal who sits for us sometimes. She is also good, but not a mom like the one I talk about above.

I think for someone that is 11, $6 an hour seems reasonable.

coasterqueen replied:
I'm really not for sure, but I remember sitting my sister at that age She's been at home with my kids before (well with me there - around the house, not right with them). Our entire family lives on our "block" (it's a country road) so they are very well protected and the family can be there in a moments notice.

She did receive her babysitting certification from the babysitting classes she took.

momtoMegan&Alyxandria replied: I thought Ohio had a law that anyone under the age of 12 couldn't stay home alone let alone watch kids, but I just looked it up and only Maryland and Illinois have laws on this.

Here is the link that I found. Hope it helps.

coasterqueen replied:
Hmmm, that's in my state. Well, maybe I need to bring this up to DH. Weird, I used to do it all the time with my sister. I would never leave Kayla home with my girls if I didn't trust her, though.

DVFlyer replied: I wouldn't worry too much, but the legality of it is something to keep in mind. It would only be a problem if someone in a neighborhood called and complained. It doesn't sound like that would happen in your area.

coasterqueen replied:
I had our lawyers here in our office look at this and it is NOT illegal to have a 11 year old watch children. The law here is very vague, so there are lots of loopholes making it ok - at least in Illinois. We have family that will keep an eye on them

moped replied: I don't know but if it was my niece over night for 5 hours alone with the kids I might give her $40 - maybe more - gosh I don't know about that one!