Going rate for babysitters? (Kingsport, Maryville: neighborhood, college, price)

[mjb62676]

I recently saw a young woman quote a family 70 dollars to watch their kids for 4 hours. If I remember correctly, the kids were 4.

Am I nuts for thinking that asking nearly 20 bucks an hour is outrageous?

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by mjb62676

I recently saw a young woman quote a family 70 dollars to watch their kids for 4 hours. If I remember correctly, the kids were 4.

Am I nuts for thinking that asking nearly 20 bucks an hour is outrageous?

They pay $10/hour here in Maryville City. People beg my son to watch their kids because they say todays kids don't want to babysit. That is a far cry from the 75 cents an hour I used to get.

If they are paying $20/hour would you please pass my number onto them? Hubby can get dinner on his own!

[hiknapster]

Wow! That's a lot of money. Thankfully, I am neurotic and don't allow anyone to babysit.

When I was a teenager, I can remember making $20 on New Year's Eve! However, dinosaurs walked the earth, back then.

[snapdragon]

It depends on how many kids they have.
I pay an adult who is CPR trained to watch my 2 kids at $10 an hour. I pay college girls less, unless they are also CPR trained.

[mjb62676]

Sorry...2 kids.

I about died. When I used to watch kids (and they were BRATS) I was lucky to get 15 bucks.

Basically, all they are doing is feeding them some dinner (maybe) and watching TV/playing with them...and putting them to bed, then talking on the phone or vegging out in front of the TV.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by mjb62676

Sorry...2 kids.

I about died. When I used to watch kids (and they were BRATS) I was lucky to get 15 bucks.

Basically, all they are doing is feeding them some dinner (maybe) and watching TV/playing with them...and putting them to bed, then talking on the phone or vegging out in front of the TV.

Yea, when I was babysitting I had taken all of those classes at the Red Cross, I had forgotten about that. Oh, I cleaned their kitchen, vacuumed their house, etc.

The worst kids I ever watched, and I am talking major brats, the mom was a pediatric (hospital based) RN and the dad was a pediatrician. Ha!

The best babysitter I ever had, and she watched us for years, was Mrs Gosnell (in Kingsport). She would bring us each a pack of teaberry gum and a tootsie roll lollipop each time. I remember she wore hose held up by garters. She didn't drive and my parents had to go get her and take her home. For snacks she would cut up apples and put peanut butter on them. I always loved that she would take the time to peel the apple for me. That made them so soft and juicy. Ah, thanks mjb for the trip down memory lane.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

When I was a teenager, I can remember making $20 on New Year's Eve! However, dinosaurs walked the earth, back then.

Hilarious!

[AlisonL]

Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal

They pay $10/hour here in Maryville City. People beg my son to watch their kids because they say todays kids don't want to babysit. That is a far cry from the 75 cents an hour I used to get.

If they are paying $20/hour would you please pass my number onto them? Hubby can get dinner on his own!

OMG! I know I used to make 75 cents an hour and after midnight it was $1 an hour. Hope we never need a babysitter.

[jimlee]

My daughters used to babysit when they were teenagers.

They both completed the Red Cross Babysitting Training Course first including basic first aid skills, CPR, and other stuff. They charged 8-10 bucks an hour or a negotiated flat rate for the evening (or day) 10-15 years ago and were in high demand.

My youngest had business cards with "Red Cross Certified Babysitter" on them she passed out in the neighborhood. She was a real businesswoman.

70 dollars is a bit pricey even now.

[Chinolala]

In Chicago = $8.00-$11.00 is the going rate for a young teen aged girl to watch 1 child