Going babysitting rate? (Toms River, Somerset: day care, landscaping, wedding)

[Shwa]

We are in Monmouth County and pay $10 an hour to a high-school senior babysitter to watch our two elementary school-aged kids. We usually "round up" hours so it often winds up at about $11 or $12 per hour.

[juliann1977]

Originally Posted by marye711

I think that is fair........my son babysat last week foir an obnoxious 6 year old for 7 hours and got paid $20.........He should have asked how much up front I was furious becuase I had to take him there and wait for him to get home at 2 am, wasnt worth it if you ask me.

That's just awful. When I was a teacher, I had a student who babysat for a someone all the time and was taken advantage of--they'd pay something like $2/hr. all told.

When I was a teenager, in Ohio, in the early 1990's, I made $5-10/hr. babysitting, depending on the number of kids. I was well-paid, so I took the responsibility very seriously and wanted to be asked back... That's why we pay well today. And with everything else, I believe you get what you pay for. An underpaid babysitter is probably going to sit on the phone and plop your kid in front of the TV. In terms of the kids going to sleep while the babysitter is there, in our case, our dd isn't as cooperative with going to bed at her normal time for sitters (her grandparents included) and most of the kids I sat for in HS weren't either.

Edited to add: The two sitters we use are in college.

[RobRiguez]

I paid the kid across the street $10/hour to help me dig out hedges by hand and clean up the backyard. That was very hot very hard work for anyone and he was THRILLED to have that much $$ under the table. My cousin that works for a construction co says new hires who get all the SH** work start at $10. IMO $10/hr for someone to watch TV, talk on the phone and occassionally check in on the baby is rediculous.

[JERSEY MAN]

This is New Jersey, the babysitters have a union local #12 that backs them up. I hear they are in negotiations to get a raise and round it off at 20 per hour with full benifits and no co pay.

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by njkate

For a high school kid??? wow my Karlee is getting grossly underpaid when she babysits

8th grade actually. <shrug> - why cheap out when it comes to your kids' care? i can afford it, she's worth it. no harm, no foul - it's not coming out of taxpayers wallets.

[tandcookies]

Originally Posted by tahiti

8th grade actually. <shrug> - why cheap out when it comes to your kids' care? i can afford it, she's worth it. no harm, no foul - it's not coming out of taxpayers wallets.

Seriously why don't people ever see the value in taking care of children????

[Harriet Serena]

Boy, am I old. When I started to babysit I got .35/hour. .50 after midnight.

[shannybannany]

Originally Posted by RobRiguez

I paid the kid across the street $10/hour to help me dig out hedges by hand and clean up the backyard. That was very hot very hard work for anyone and he was THRILLED to have that much $$ under the table. My cousin that works for a construction co says new hires who get all the SH** work start at $10. IMO $10/hr for someone to watch TV, talk on the phone and occassionally check in on the baby is rediculous.

Who are you hiring? We don't gab on the phone and watch tv. We play with the children, feed them, give baths, read to them, etc...

I don't really babysit that much (frankly, I don't need the money and my time off is valuable) but the parents who hire us do not expect someone to sit on the couch.
Even if they go to bed (which is not easy), they get up a lot.

Personally, I would not have (just anybody) watch my kids.

Shanny

[juliann1977]

Originally Posted by shannybannany

[/b]
Who are you hiring? We don't gab on the phone and watch tv. We play with the children, feed them, give baths, read to them, etc...

I don't really babysit that much (frankly, I don't need the money and my time off is valuable) but the parents who hire us do not expect someone to sit on the couch.
Even if they go to bed (which is not easy), they get up a lot.

Personally, I would not have (just anybody) watch my kids.

Shanny

Exactly. There are far more people who I would be fine having spread mulch or put shrubs in my yard than people I'm comfortable leaving my kid with.

[tandcookies]

Originally Posted by juliann1977

Exactly. There are far more people who I would be fine having spread mulch or put shrubs in my yard than people I'm comfortable leaving my kid with.

Amen... I tried to give you reps but couldn't. I just don't get the mentality of people watching our precious children not being worth the money.