Going rate for babysitters? (Collierville: day care, neighborhood, college)

[Debra Barone]

We're moving to Collierville in a couple of weeks and I'm wondering what to expect to pay for babysitting. Not day care, just a neighborhood teenager to come over so we can go for a "parents night out" when we get settled.

Our kids are 8 and 10 and pretty self sufficent for a couple of hours but still too young to leave alone.

Thanks for your input!

[Bowyer]

I have four kids, all under age 10. We pay our baby sitter $10.00 an hour. It is a bit steep, but she is a quality person who can handle them and do things right. She is 20 and a college student who works at a daycare in Collierville. She is one of my kids' teacher.

It really adds to the cost of going out for dinner/movie with just my wife, but it is worth it! Also, I like the fact that she is very honest, responsible and is trained in child care.

I don't trust my kids to just anyone, their lives may depend on the sitter's actions, God forbid.

[akm4]

We have 2 kids. We paid $8/hour plus gas money, as our sitter had to drive a guzzler and lived 15-20 minutes away. Still, it was money well-spent. It's been about 2 years since we used a sitter.

[Debra Barone]

Thanks for your replies. As a former nanny I know it's important to pay well, but it sure does get pricey! Most of the time we'll have the kiddos with us, but it will be good to have sitters for those odd times the kids don't want to join us.

[daneinmemphis]

If it's an "adult" older than 18 the going rate is $10 for 1 child and $12 for two. If you are looking for a teenager they usually charge about $6-8

[Bowyer]

Dane,

I may need to babysit for you! I'm an adult, too!

Seriously, $12.00 for two kids seems excessively high.

[daneinmemphis]

That is what people I know are paying, but of course that is for younger kids/babies.

Originally Posted by Bowyer

Dane,

I may need to babysit for you! I'm an adult, too!

Seriously, $12.00 for two kids seems excessively high.

[Debra Barone]

Wow, $12 would be out of my league. Our kids are at the age where they like to play the Wii or read, so they're not as involved as young children. I'll either leave prepared food or $ for delivery pizza. I always make sure to have our sitters favorite snacks in abundance!

We're moving from Northern Illinois and pay $6 plus tip for cleaned up ice cream bowls, etc. Not so much if the sitter did it, but at least to keep on my kids on track. Our 2 sitters are in the neighborhood so we don't pay for gas.

Thanks for the input!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Bowyer

Seriously, $12.00 for two kids seems excessively high.

Maybe you have never taken care of kids. It is bloody hard work!

[Bowyer]

Originally Posted by bjh

Maybe you have never taken care of kids. It is bloody hard work!

UUMM, I have four kids, all under 10. I know about hard work, and baby sitters

See my first post in this thread...