how much to pay babysitter?

hi there

I am stuck on how much to offer to pay our babysitter we are using in a few weeks.  If it make any difference - she is 24yrs old.

We will need her from 8:30pm to midnight & she will be minding baby in our home.

Any advice or help with this would be fantasticIs there a standard hourly rate these days? I have no idea

Thanks

I am getting a baby sitter on a regular bases for my boys next year (as in every Wednesday night) and she will be at my place from 7pm until at least 11pm and i'm giving her $20 a night. She is the daughter of a family friend so I think thats why i'm able to get her a little bit cheaper.

I baby sit a friends two children ages 3 and 6 and I get paid $25 for the night, she also leaves me dinner and some choccie biscuits. I felt very spoilt.

The most I've got was $50 for the night looking after 3 children.
So somewhere between $20 and $50 is probably enough.

Remembering of course that the children will be in bed by 8.30, its having someone there for security.

nzpiper wrote: Sorry cant help but just wanted to say "YAY for you!!! Going out and using a babysitter" I am too chicken

lol! I have been a bit chicken too but it's 4wks away & also the girl I am getting in is the loveliest most gorgeous person you could ever know. She is also a bit strapped for cash so will be very handy for her too. I would never have considered it before if ethan wasn't sleeping through the night but now that he has started to. He won't even be awake the entire time she is minding him pretty much so feel loads better about it!

Glow wrote: What about offering a set price of say $40 to $50. Depending on how flush you are $10-$15p/h? Some homebased day cares charge $3-4 per hour, per child. Have a fun night out

Yes, I was hazarding a guess at around $50 set price - just because she will be minding him until midnight on a Friday night. I have buttered it up a bit & said to her.. maybe she could go out & meet up with her friends afterwards

thanks

lizzle wrote: I'd say $40

thanks lizzle..

$8 to $10 an hour depending on experience

Is she someone you know or are you really hiring her IYGWIM?? Make sure that you pay her what you can truly afford and don't set the standard too high for yourself for subsequent times. I've only had babysitters that I already knew (friends with them or their parents) so that makes things different from hiring a stranger. Anyway I have offered them being able to sleep over (that way they don't have to wait up for us) and I leave out a pack of chockie biscuits. And if they have kiddies, I offer swaps as well.