What is the going rate these days for a babysitter?

[sheepgirl]

Planning my first night out since having my ds (I know that is sad as he is almost 9 mths) and was thinking of asking my CM's assistant but before I do I just wanted to know how much to offer? Is it a hourly rate or flat fee?

It would be from 6pm to midnight. I would provide food, entertainment (well show her where the remote control lives) and a ride home afterwards.....is that the norm?

[paulaplumpbottom]

I pay a bit more but surely £6 or £7 an hour. I pay £10

[horsesforcourses]

We generally pay aronund £5-£6 per hour (but round it up to the nearest note) - remember as a youngster one babysittingfor a neighbour for 7hrs (abot 6 - 1am) for £15!! (She claimed I'd had free food (there wsnt a lot in it) and a tv to watch! hth - horses x

[sheepgirl]

I live in London...I take it that will make it the pricer end of babysitting?

[Doubletop]

Depends on the age of the babysitter. We use a girl who is 17 and we pay £5 an hour. She is just sitting there, after all! The children are all in bed a long time before she comes.

[sheepgirl]

The babysitter is around 20 and I am using her because she is my CM's assistant. My ds loves her and I can't think of a better person to look after him.

Babysitter is probably the wrong word as she is more than that. As I am going into central London I would need her to put him to bed as well. So she will be doing more than sitting there.

[UniS]

approx 5 an hour. I'm doing 20 quid, all the biscuits she can eat and a lift home for the girl whos doing tomorrow night 6.30-11ish for us. Boy will be put to bed by us once she is here ( so he knows shes in the house).

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

We are in north london and the going rate is £8 per hour + taxi home. Don't provide an evening meal - just show them where the biccies live and kettle etc.

[grendel]

Blimey!
Going rate round here (rural Cambridgeshire) for a teenager is £3.50-4.00 per hour plus biscuits. DD is in pyjamas and ready for bed when babysitter comes. They watch a bit of TV and then babysitter takes her up to bed and tucks her in.

Did use one of the staff from DD's nursery just the once when she was younger and they wanted something like £7.00 per hour. Didn't repeat the exercise!

TBH we use our babysitting circle as much as possible. Babysitting is free and you get to -snoop around- admire other people's houses.

[grendel]

Oops. Strike out didn't work.

[lennygirl]

Message withdrawn