How much should I charge for babysitting???

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hey, so I’m a pretty experienced, and quite good, babysitter. Not so experienced, however, that I know how much to charge.

The babysitting I do has been for close friends. I always let them pay me just whatever they can manage- and none of my friends can manage all that much, usually. Generally, they set aside what they know they can give me- and that’s what they give me, with neither of of doing the math of what it comes out to as a dollar per hour rate. I’ve probably had $5 an hour nights, as well as $10 an hour nights- this wide variance could probably be applied to each of the couples I sit for.

Now I’m about to be babysitting for couple who I’ve only just recently met through a common friend. We’re going to get together tonight so I can spend a little bit of time with the baby in the presence of her parents, so we can chat, get to know each other a bit, and so we can screen each other a bit- and we’ll end up talking money.

Now, these aren’t close friends like the other people I babysit for, so I want to call for a fair but reasonable rate. How much should I charge?

1 child.
4 months old.
Parents aren’t wealthy, but they both have jobs and live comfortably.
We live in Los Angeles (if the “going rate” theses days differs regionally)
Truth is, I can use extra money these days so I really don’t want to set a rate that will dissuade them from calling me except in cases when they can not find anyone else. Also, however, I don’t want to sell myself short.

2

How old are you and what time of day will you typically be babysitting?

3

I’m 32yrs old.

Weekday evenings (I’ve got a regular job during the day), possibly during the day weekends- but I don’t imagine being called upon to do so.

4

How far away is it?

I would ask for at least $10/hour, and probably have a three hour minimum. I can’t imagine teenagers getting any less, and I’d expect to pay more for an adult, who 1) presumably has better judgement about things like when to go to the ER and about not asking boys over and 2) is more likely to keep being around for years, unlike teenagers who tend to drift away and have to be replaced.

5

Agreed. As the baby is quite small, you are a grownup, and you live in an urban area (all things that add to the premium) I would ask $15, with $10 being the “charity case” minimum.

Just to explain my reasoning, when I was 13, in 1987, I got $8 for school-aged children in NYC.

6

What does it cost for an hour of daycare in LA?

I would consider having an experience 32-year-old coming to my home akin to sending my kid to a daycare.

7

Umm… 4 months old? Not to be indelicate, but are you going to be nursing the baby too?

8

Silly rabbit! No, mama pumps- and they use formula as well.

I’ve got my first babysitting night for them in about an hour. I told them $10/hr, but at a $40/evening minimum- even if they’re just gone for two hours. I think I undersold myself. They happily agreed to $10/hr without batting an eye, I probably coulda asked for more.

Just couldn’t help think of the couples who I’m close friends with, for whom babysitting is always a troubling expense. Couldn’t bring myself to ask for too much.

But the baby is a sweetie. I can tell already it’s going to be a pretty easy gig (yes, I’m basing that on plenty of baby experiences), and it’s gonna be fun.

9

I hired a professional nanny to sit for my 3 little ones, and she charged $15/hr. for 2, plus $3 for any additional kids. So $18 per hour, no time limit, and she actually got my kids to go to bed (and to sleep) on time, which is more than I can do.

Sadly, she lives about 10 hours away, so I can’t hire her anymore.