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Original poster

16 year old babysitter during day at weekend

60 replies

Newtothis12345 · 09/06/2023 14:48

Hi,
I’ve seen an advert for a 16 year old babysitter, who is off to college soon to do childcare. She has done a bit of babysitting before. I have asked her mother how much she charges but she isn’t sure yet. Before I meet her I thought I’d get advice from others.

We are looking at having her for 3/4 hours on a Sunday- we would be around the house so we wouldn’t expect sole charge at all, it would more be like a big sister role. It would totally depend on the mood of the children but the aim would be to give my husband and I a bit of time to do some exercise, catch up on housework, life admin, etc.

We have 2 toddlers so would expect her to play in the sandpit with one/both, push them on the swing, read the same story 1000 times, do some cooking with one of them etc. Basically be another pair of hands to keep the kids happy.

I’ve seen the minimum wage for under 18s is £5.18/hr. I have used a nanny on an ad hoc basis (she’s mid 30s, totally qualified, has both children sole charge, capable of driving the children, putting them to bed, nappies, keeping the house tidy, cooking for them, not fazed if they’re ill etc), she’s amazing and charges £12/hr. I will keep using her when I need solid childcare for work but she seems a bit over qualified to be an additional pair of hands on a Sunday morning.

Any thoughts?

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MakesMeFeelSad · 09/06/2023 16:34

It's fine, no wonder so many teenagers go off to uni clueless if they have parents that think 16 is too young to play with a couple of toddlers and bake cakes ! The op isn't even going to be out the house!

HamBone · 09/06/2023 16:28

I agree with PP’s to give her a trial and see how it goes. My DD (18) was a helper at a pre-school summer camp at 13 and 14. Adults were always present, but she helped the 3-5 year-olds with their craft activities, organized games, did the snacks, helped supervise when they played outside, etc. She was quite capable of doing this and would’ve carried on except Covid hit.

Not all teenagers are daft and many are quite mature by 16.

IWonderWhereThatDishDidGo · 09/06/2023 16:27

Sounds fine. I watched my neighbour's kids (a baby and teo primary aged kids) at that age and my babysitter started watching us when she was that age. You'll also be in the house. It's fine.

I'd expect to pay somewhere between £7.50-10/hour. I don't think minimum wage is fair at all

Original poster
Newtothis12345 · 09/06/2023 16:24

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 15:09

I understand, you did state it in your original post but still 16 years old far too young to take on that kind of role... Imo, wouldn't u rather have someone with more experience than an inexperienced 16 year old?

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Thanks for your opinion. Just wondering if you could elaborate- what sort of thing do you think could go wrong?

OP posts:
Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 16:23

Do what makes u comfortable , just because I have a different opinion than most on here, mumsnetters seem to want to consistently quote me,like that is going to change my opinion, not trying to change /debate with anyone... Hope everything works out for u, goodbye

Original poster
Newtothis12345 · 09/06/2023 16:21

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far.

What would be a fair hourly wage to offer?

OP posts:
Hazelnuttella · 09/06/2023 16:20

It sounds absolutely reasonable OP. Great idea and good experience for her.

My only reservation would be whether the kids would be happy to be entertained by her or whether they’d keep trying to find you. Obviously you know how clingy your kids are though and whether it would be an issue.

HMMOG · 09/06/2023 16:16

Yes, this sounds absolutely fine for a sensible 16yo.

We paid a sixth former to pick my kids up from school and hang out for a couple of hours, when the kids were 10 and 8. £10ph, which she thought was generous. Her usual rate for easy evening babysitting was £8. £5.18 is too low.

Original poster
Newtothis12345 · 09/06/2023 16:16

TeenDivided · 09/06/2023 15:47

I assumed 'cooking' meant make some cookies or fairy cakes, not make a 3 course family meal.

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Yes- that’s exactly what I meant- a fun activity for the kids

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Original poster
Newtothis12345 · 09/06/2023 16:15

SomersetBrie · 09/06/2023 15:27

I think this sounds like a nice idea and certainly worth a trial.
Are the kids used to interacting with other people in the house and not disturbing you if you are busy with something else?
One of my little ones would have definitely sought me out in this situation, which would be fine if I wanted one on one time, while the other was entertained elsewhere, but I wouldn't have wanted to pay much for that.
£6-8 an hour maybe, a couple of trials and see how it goes?

Hi, yes you’re on the same wavelength as me. The arrangement is just to make the weekends slightly less manic, rather than to be game changing! I could pay £12/hr for our very reliable, very competent nanny to come and help so I was wondering if £6-£7 would be fair or not. I wouldn’t really want to pay much more as if it was much more than I’d prefer to use the nanny who I’ve used in the past. I guess I’ll have to tell her and her mother what I’m willing to pay and she can take it or leave it.

OP posts:
RoseBucket · 09/06/2023 16:14

My daughter used to charge £7 per hour and it’s great experience. She is now a trainee teacher and was able to draw on her experience for her Uni interview.

cocksstrideintheevening · 09/06/2023 16:14

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 14:55

16 year old is way too young to have responsibility of a child let alone 2 toddler's and expect them to follow all those requirements.

Come on of course it's not

BodyKeepingScore · 09/06/2023 16:14

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 14:55

16 year old is way too young to have responsibility of a child let alone 2 toddler's and expect them to follow all those requirements.

I was married with a child at that age and funnily enough managed not to kill either my son or my husband. I was also babysitting from 12 years old. 16 is NOT too young to care for a child.

Original poster
Newtothis12345 · 09/06/2023 16:11

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 09/06/2023 15:41

In my teenage world, the role of a babysitter was to put kids to bed, read a story, and then watch a bit of telly listening to make sure they were okay while they (hopefully) slept. You are asking a lot of her if you are expecting her to cook and bend with your kids

Hi, the cooking would be rice crispie cakes or smoothies or similar. It would just be an activity for the kids. I would provide meals for children.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 09/06/2023 16:05

Most 16 year olds don’t have their own place or their own children. Most 16 year olds, esp those going into childcare, are capable of playing with younger children, keeping them occupied while adults are in the next room, and sticking a pizza in the office or making chocolate crispy cakes, If they can’t them they need to be brought up to speed quickly.

No debate is necessary.

Velvetbee · 09/06/2023 16:02

Sounds lovely and a perfectly reasonable arrangement, no idea what to pay though! When I was 15 I looked after 2 children Monday to Friday in the summer holidays, we had a blast.

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 15:50

TeenDivided · 09/06/2023 15:47

I assumed 'cooking' meant make some cookies or fairy cakes, not make a 3 course family meal.

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Like I mentioned I have my opinion you have yours... Not going to start a debate on the op post about it.

TeenDivided · 09/06/2023 15:47

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 15:45

Not debating over this I have my opinion and you have yours... Just because 16 year olds have kids and their own place doesn't mean they are experienced to take on that role as well as cooking as the op stated aswel

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I assumed 'cooking' meant make some cookies or fairy cakes, not make a 3 course family meal.

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 15:45

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/06/2023 15:42

Eh?

It's basic babysitting and the parents are around. What exactly is the 16yo too young for?

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Not debating over this I have my opinion and you have yours... Just because 16 year olds have kids and their own place doesn't mean they are experienced to take on that role as well as cooking as the op stated aswel

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/06/2023 15:42

Onemyownhere · 09/06/2023 14:55

16 year old is way too young to have responsibility of a child let alone 2 toddler's and expect them to follow all those requirements.

Eh?

It's basic babysitting and the parents are around. What exactly is the 16yo too young for?

RaininSummer · 09/06/2023 15:42

Sounds fine to me if you are around in case she gets overwhelmed.

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 09/06/2023 15:41

Bake not bend

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 09/06/2023 15:41

In my teenage world, the role of a babysitter was to put kids to bed, read a story, and then watch a bit of telly listening to make sure they were okay while they (hopefully) slept. You are asking a lot of her if you are expecting her to cook and bend with your kids

Soonenough · 09/06/2023 15:41

Was the normal thing when I was growing up but on a Saturday . Looked after kids whilst parents went shopping or out for coffee . But it was hard when parents were around as naturally kids preferred parent. Maybe drop off at softplay in bad weather, off for walks in good . If baking, etc. don't be wandering in , leave them to it .

JaninaDuszejko · 09/06/2023 15:40

I'm surprised at the first comment, some 16yo live alone with their own child so a 16yo is old enough to do some babysitting alone never mind just being in the house as an extra pair of hands while the parents are also there. Sounds like a win win situation, you get help and she gets experience in a safe and managed way.