Babysitter Rates ????? In Shock!!!

I need to ask what the going rates are for childcare. I just recently asked a family friend, somone who knows our family and has cared for our children on occasion, if she would be interested in watching our two girls for a three day weekend. Fri am - Sun afternoon. We thought $450 was a fair number to throw out there. Two well behaved little girls ages 2 and 4. Her response would be she couldn't do it for less then $12.00 per hour (55 hrs x 12.00 = $660) and she would normally charge more. This is for a very nice but unskilled grandma type (not a professional nanny, but experienced and qualified) . I would love to make $12.00 hour cash to sleep too! Does an hourly rate apply for overnight care or is a flat rate more common?

Am I a little behind in the times, or is this the going rate?

In shock

I think that is a great rate, but I am also in IL where the going rate is prolly a lot lower! I would probably only ask for 300-400 and I am a registered nurse. Hope this helps from IL

Melissa

I am in Boston and I think that is a high rate. I pay my babysitters (and they are all former nannies or Current Daycare teachers) $10/hr for regular babysitting. We are doing the same thing for a family wedding. My girls are 10 and 2 -- My babysitter is in her 30s a former Nanny (software engineer now), a good friend of the family so the girls know her well and we trust her completely. She and I are dong a swap my tax services for her babysitting. I would have charged her $200 for the taxes (300 full price -- she gets a deal) so I think I am getting the better end of the deal here but still. I think that Overnighters should be a flat rate plus food. ( leave $40 for food take out or whatever). I would discuss this with her and see if you have other options.
Sorry I don't think that helped much ;-)

~Ameena

Well I live in California and I'm a Nanny for a family with two kids one is two years old and the other is nine years old. I'm also able to have my own son with me while I watch the two other kids at their parents house. I charge the family $30 a day all together. And I'm fine with that even thought the daycares in my area charge $20 or more a day per child. But I don't have a daycare licence, all I have is a CPR licence. So I feel what I'm asking for is resonable. I hope that I helped you out some.

I don't know, but it sounds like she may be trying to take advantage of you? $450 seems like a fair sum, although you could maybe bargain her down to $500 and close the deal. On the one hand, you want to make your kid's caregiver happy, but on the other hand you can't break the bank either. I know what you are going through....I am just now evaluating day care for my daughter while I go to school and the figures are shocking. So I think I know how you must feel! Good luck with everything!!

Sadly it is the going rate. I refuse to even pay $10 an hr because we just cant afford that. By the time we pay the sitter we have nothing left for a date! I would totally take $450 for 3 days! That is a GREAT price in my eyes.

Thanks for all your replys. It has really helped! :)

YEs this is crazy if you ask me. I live in Rio Rancho nm I am a childcare provider and i am telling you thats just crazy.! I think you offer was more than enough!

I have had many jobs in the childcare field. A person providing overnight care should be compensated. Especially since the care giver is required to be in the home during sleeping hours. Also, there is no guarantee that the cargivers sleep won't be interupted, especially since mom and dad will be gone.

I don't think I would charge $12.00 an hour, especially if I am a family friend. Between $8-$10.00. There is no need to be greedy.

This is a family friend????????Whatever happened to doing something for someone free of charge?