how much to pay for babysitting?

[GCOakley]

I just wondered what the going rate was for babysitting these days? any ideas welcome.

[tisba]

I think reasonable price is 7-8? per hour. As a nanny I don't expect to be paid no more than that for babysitting as children usually are in bed already or just about to be put in bed. And also if they are older kids and don't need nothing more than just to be told to go to bed.

[shelly2012]

?7 is a little to low I don't no many people who charge ?7.

[Nikkikf]

We have a few babysitters who are relatively new nannies/ don't drive and ask for ?7, and we get them a cab home. Rest are ?8/hr.

[pebbles]

?7 is what we pay at night when the kids are in bed. And yes agree always a cab or lift home

[Cheryl_M]

Just wondering about everyone's situation in this thread. My partner and I don't have any friends or family in the area so have no-one to rely on for a couple of hours babysitting every now and then. I feel such a terrible parent thinking about leaving my 11 month old with a babysitter, but is it ok? Am I being silly? It would be so nice for us to go out even for a bike ride for an hour or so!

[reneet]

Cheryl_M Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Just wondering about everyone's situation in this

> thread. My partner and I don't have any friends

> or family in the area so have no-one to rely on

> for a couple of hours babysitting every now and

> then. I feel such a terrible parent thinking

> about leaving my 11 month old with a babysitter,

> but is it ok? Am I being silly? It would be so

> nice for us to go out even for a bike ride for an

> hour or so!

You need time for yourself and its perfectly acceptable. If you are worried you could get the sitter to come for an hour while you are there closer to your baby's nap time. Then leave when your baby is having their nap.

On the issue of how much, it depends. If your child is bigger and its earlier you can use a high school student I think from 15yrs and you can pay them 5/hr to 6/hr. If you will ba late then 8/hr is the usual going rate for an adult sitter

[Sunlover00]

Cheryl_M Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Just wondering about everyone's situation in this

> thread. My partner and I don't have any friends

> or family in the area so have no-one to rely on

> for a couple of hours babysitting every now and

> then. I feel such a terrible parent thinking

> about leaving my 11 month old with a babysitter,

> but is it ok? Am I being silly? It would be so

> nice for us to go out even for a bike ride for an

> hour or so!

why should you feel guilty paying for a bbsitter?? Its no different from dropping kids off with family for a few hrs if you had any around you. The only difference that you have to pay for the childcare

[patt1980]

I use www.sitters.co.uk and have been very happy with their service. Have only used them for evenings when i have put my 18 month old to bed but there have never been any problems and now have a couple of regular preferred sitters. They charge ?6.50 p/h for week nights and ?7 on weekends plus you pay a booking fee of ?4 i think for each booking to sitters, they all have a car so no cab fare. I also know they very thoroughly check each sitter as my mum once signed up to them and was very thoroughly interviewed and reference checked.

[cmacnew]

Haven't used sitters.co.uk in London but I have when we've been on holiday elsewhere in the country and they've been fantastic!

We use family or our nanny to babysit and pay ?8/h or ?9/h at weekends.

Ps Cheryl_m, definitely don't feel guilty!!!!!

[Cheryl_M]

Thanks everyone. Through this thread I've found a very sweet Spanish au pair and me and the b/f are going out next week for dinner. Woohoo!! :)