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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£9ph to babysit?!!!!

157 replies

yummumto3girls · 19/07/2010 22:57

We have used the same babysitter for the last 4 years. A girl who worked at my daughters nursery so we knew she was qualified and checked. Have always paid in region of £5ph and rounded it up to take account of travelling, so usually £25 - £30 a night from say 7 to 11. We don't often go out together and have no family to babysit so needs must. Have had 3rd DD 9 months ago (others are 9 and 6) and only been out once about a month ago when we knew DD was sleeping 7 to 7 so put baby to bed before we go out, other two washed in PJ's so all she had to do is entertain for an hour before putting to bed. Have just asked her to babysit this weekend and she has said she wants £9ph now she has the responsibility of a baby! Am I out of touch or is this just taking the piss?

OP posts:
rupert22 · 19/07/2010 23:33

I think 10pound an hour to look after the most pricelss treasure thats our kids is not OTT.

Even if my sister watches my ds, i end up spending that for thankyou flowers and wine. Mind you, she has him overnight and next morning so get the hangover in peace, pricelss

pigletmania · 19/07/2010 23:39

Sounds fine to me, there is an extra child so yes makes sense that she charges more. Hardly a teenager, the lady is qualified and has training so obviously you will pay more.

TheNextMrsDepp · 19/07/2010 23:39

If I had to pay £9 p/h I'd never go out!
Babysitting circles are definitely the way to go. Get some friends together and set one up.

Until we joined the circle we used a lady in her 40s who charged £4 p/h, regardless of whether she had to put the dcs to bed or not. We had to collect and drop her home as she didn't drive, but I now realise what a bargain she was!

Original poster
yummumto3girls · 19/07/2010 23:44

Thanks cat64. She has just priced herself out of a job! A one line text message saying "£9 ph" was not the way to approach it when everytime we have asked her what she wants to be paid. If she had explained her concerns and why she wanted more I would have listened and paid more but I think she thought she could demand what she wanted - left a bitter taste and would prefer to pay someone else

OP posts:
Original poster
yummumto3girls · 19/07/2010 23:46

Anyone got any guidance on setting up a babysitting circle ?

OP posts:
saintlydamemrsturnip · 19/07/2010 23:47

Well she can demand what she wants- she's self employed in terms of babysitting - and you can choose to refuse it and pay someone else - that's up to you.

I don't think there's anything wrong with replying with the rate if you ask her directly what it is! Even if you didn't like the amount there's nothing wrong with her charging it.

amidaiwish · 19/07/2010 23:50

i used to pay £8.50/hr (and rounded it up) to the girl from DDs nursery. Qualified and great with them.

now they are 5 and 6 I pay £6/hr to a 15 year old who lives a few doors down. however i wouldn't expect her to put them to bed, maybe read them a story but i would be around and putting them to bed. However i always round it up so more in reality.

i think with 2 kids to put to bed and a baby, £9/hr isn't unreasonable.

i would also take into account time of night/saturday night. e.g if you are going out from 7-10pm every tuesday night, then £20 for that seems reasonable. 8pm to 1am on a saturday, then £40 seems the minimum.

Original poster
yummumto3girls · 19/07/2010 23:50

I didn't ask her the rate, I wrongly assumed it was the same as the last time she looked after 3 DC's. The response to a text message asking if she could babysit was "yes, £9ph"

OP posts:
mamatomany · 19/07/2010 23:52

She's self employed PMSL does antone seriously think she's paying tax and NI on this babysitting money ?

librium · 19/07/2010 23:55

too expensive

saintlydamemrsturnip · 19/07/2010 23:55

I don't know - people pay me between £5 and £8 to look after their cats for half an hour (and I'm cheap). I don't think £9 is extortionate for 3 young children including a baby.

We pay people that much to help out with our 3 during the day (me here as well).

What's the minimum wage? It's quite a bit more isn't it?

Of course you can find cheaper people or a babysitting circle, but I don't think it's unreasonable for her to decide that's how much it's worth her going out in the evening for.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 19/07/2010 23:59

The point about her being self employed was that she's perfectly entitled to set her own rates and decide what she's going to give up her time for. You are perfectly within your rights to not accept her service.

Why not tell her she's too expensive? Presumably she'll either decide to drop her rates, or decide that she's happy to lose the job because she doesn't want to give up her time for anything less.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 20/07/2010 00:03

Someone rang me and asked how much I would charge to look after their chickens. I told them, they asked me if I could do it any cheaper for a longer chicken sit. I gave my minimum price, they said it was still too expensive and went with someone else. That was fine (and I was pleased I didn't drop any further because dreadful roadworks started the week after and a 2 week sit would have taken 2 hours a day travel rather than about a half an hour and more petrol).

This is no different. Ask her whether the price is open to negotiation and look for a babysitting circle- suggest it to the parents at school or something.

Rockbird · 20/07/2010 00:08

You are leaving this person in charge of presumably the three most important people in your life, if you want to pay peanuts get a disinterested teenager who would be useless in the event of an emergency. There are some things you can skimp on but carers for your children, be it day or night, in my book isn't one of them.

Original poster
yummumto3girls · 20/07/2010 00:10

Saintly - it only costs me £12 per day to put my cat in the Cattery for 24 hours!

OP posts:
mamatomany · 20/07/2010 00:24

So does this person suddenly morph into supernanny because she's getting an extra £4 an hour then or is she the same qualified carer that the OP took the time and trouble to find and leave her children with previously for £5 an hour ?

mamatomany · 20/07/2010 00:25

Cannot get my head around paying somebody to look after a cat, we gave the neighbours a bottle of plonk to feed them whilst on holiday, the idea of cats is that they are very self sufficient.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 20/07/2010 07:41

Well I don't think there's a rule saying you have to pay someone to look after your cat- my mum feeds mine when I'm away- but some people for whatever reason don't want to ask their neighbours and don't have fit, active family nearby. Many of my clients have switched from using catteries so prefer to not use neighbours. Cats still need feeding however independent they are-, and some people choose to pay someone to go into their home rather than ask a neighbour or use a cattery. It's a choice - there are many different people out there - something isn't a wrong choice just because it's not something you would choose to do.

The fact that a childcarer once worked for £5 an hour doesn't mean she's obliged to always work for £5 an hour. She doesn't owe the op the obligation to always work for that price - that would be a bizarre sense of entitlement. Maybe she has other things she likes to do now - so it's not worth it to her unless she gets paid more. Maybe she does find babies hard work so again it's only worth it to her if she's paid more.

She's offered a service at her price - if she's priced herself out if the Market she may alter her prices or she may decide it's fine as she doesn't want to babysit anymore.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 20/07/2010 07:50

Yes but yummy ythe cattery aren't driving to and from your cat. And I doubt they're spending 24 hours with your cat on their laps! 2 visits a day for one cat would be a bit cheaper with me - and about half the price for 2 cats, a third of the price for etc etc.

There's nothing wrong with a cattery - again it's a choice but I get quite a few people who use me because their cats have been very stressed by going into a cattery. I also have many clients who pop off a short notice for the weekend - and don't knowcwhwn they're going so would struggle to find availability.

This is all rather irrevant. It's the principal - I have a minimum price which varies depending on how much it will cost me to get to a house and how much hassle a sit is incidentally and people can choose to use me or not.

Same here - she sets her price - you say yes or no.

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 07:54

I work in a nursery and everyone that works with kids in this area gets 5.80 - 6.50 an hour. Shes having a laugh! Babysitters are way cheaper than that here and qualified.

Laquitar · 20/07/2010 07:58

Maybe she isn't even that keen to babysit for you.

ViveLaFrak · 20/07/2010 08:00

£5 per hour was presumably set 4 years ago. 4 years ago I sat for less than I do now! It sounds a little as though she's been putting her rates up and you've escaped the hike.

I do also charge a lower rate for older children, which isn't to say I nearly double it for babies, but there is more potential for something to go wrong, in case of emergency you have 3 children to get out the house and babysitting babies is more stressful.

Oh and I declare my earnings and so do many others on MN, so don't assume she isn't. If she were SE in any capacity before she would have to.

MrsJohnDeere · 20/07/2010 08:02

£8 to £10 is the going rate here (Herts).

saintlydamemrsturnip · 20/07/2010 08:02

I suspect the same a laquitar - or maybe she just doesn't want to babysit at all anymore really - unless she gets paid a lot.

If she's above the local going rate just ask someone else.

Kathyjelly · 20/07/2010 08:12

She's an adult charging adult rates, you get what you pay for. I'd find a teenager you trust if I were you.

Having said that, some teenagers take the mick. My DSD wanted £60 a night for looking after her little brother - ie one hour's entertaining of DS and then spending the evening in her own home, eating pizza and chatting on-line! I took DS with us in the end.

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