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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:
Rockbird · 20/07/2010 08:15

Well for a start as part of a nursery staff she wouldn't have been on her own with the children and the addition of a baby does make a difference, yes. So £9ph doesn't seem extortionate. They are looking after your children, you are relying on them to keep them safe and act responsibly in the event of something happening. Otherwise you might as well just put them to bed and bugger off out and not bother with a sitter. Try valuing people for a change. You get what you pay for even with this.

mummytime · 20/07/2010 08:18

For an adult I don't think £9 is too much. I did think a couple of teenagers who were advertising at £8 were asking a bit much. But then we have a grown up daughter of a friend who does £6 for long stints, and DS does it at family rates for short ones (£2, yes we exploit him - and will have to up it if he gets better offers).

saintlydamemrsturnip · 20/07/2010 08:20

Lol @ £60 kathy - was she surprised when you didn't take her up on the offer?

I have paid ds2 (then aged 7) 50p a session to sit with ds1 and walk him round google maps street scene - he was gutted when ds1 learned to do it himself.

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 08:24

Rockbird - THe nursery staff at my place do arrange with parents to babysit at evenings and weekends. My friend does baby twins and only charges a £5 an hour. I know people who take overnight for the same price! If I ever do babysitting I wouldnt charge more than £5 an hour personally as I dont think it would be a fair price, and I definitely value myself and my friends I justthink this person is taking the mick a bit personally.

bellavita · 20/07/2010 08:30

You asked if she could babysit, she said yes and what her terms were, end of. YABU.

GiddyPickle · 20/07/2010 08:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 08:35

Giddypickle - I dont even know any nursery managers thst get paid £9 an hour, and thats for 30 - 40 kids, running the whole place, all paperwork and social services court cases. Even for all that most of my friends get £6.50 - £7 for it.

Personally I wouldnt charge that much because parents would be able to afford to ever go out. I am sure you could find cheaper. Maybe its the place I live but here £9 an hour would be classed as a very high earner.

Lauriefairycake · 20/07/2010 08:38

I think it very much depends on the age of the child. I pay £30 for the night (usually 8-12) and think it's a very good deal for the babysitter as dd (aged 12) is in bed when she comes so she just sits on our sofa rather than hers to watch tv.

I used to get 50p an hour for babysitting (mid-80's) and it was seen as just a bit of pocket money.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 20/07/2010 08:39

£5 is nothing! I used to get £5 when I was 16...hated working just for that tbh!

£9 in London is right...I charge £7 or £8 but thats only to undercut the competition

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 08:43

Yeah its probably my area then I live in the SOuth West and I dont think I know anyone who earns £9 an hour except people of my parents generation and professionals. You wouldnt get that kind of money for many private sector jobs here in any industry.

Laquitar · 20/07/2010 08:47

sunny you are comparing freelancing with working for an establishment. Freelancing is always higher. Its up to the client to take it or leave it.
And it is not compulsory to hire babysitter and go out (unlike day time childcare which is a 'need'). It is a 'luxury'.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 20/07/2010 08:48

I live in the south west and pay between £8.50 and £9 to my direct payment girls. They're not even here alone. It's slightly more than the rate SS usd to calculate my number of hours but not that much more.

grapesandmoregrapes · 20/07/2010 08:48

Oh my god am I paying too little? I get girl I have known for a very long time (pretty much fmily) to babysit, she is 18, and I pay £20 for about 4 hours. My DC are in bed so she doesn't have to do anything, should I be paying her more??

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 08:50

Yeah but as I said Laquitar all the nurseries I have worked in the staff do out of hours private arrangements with parents and they would think you had gone mental if you started saying £9 an hour! My friend does it for a fiver an hour with 3 boys, one of which has autism and we all think she has got a good deal. Haha maybe we are to easily pleased

GiddyPickle · 20/07/2010 08:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

boiledegg1 · 20/07/2010 08:54

The going rate here (not London) is £7 - £7.50 per hour plus travel expenses for someone similarly qualified. I don't think £9 per hour is excessive.

We don't go out much because of the cost but I don't begrudge paying these sort of rates IYSWIM.

Laquitar · 20/07/2010 08:55

sunny i thought you were comparing it with the wages at nursery.

But yes i think you are too easily pleased . Time to review your rates

felicity10 · 20/07/2010 08:58

9-10 per hour for nursery staff is standard in SW london. Teenagers are around 7-8 and a cab home - an offset carbon taxi as requested the other day...if you please! Well - it keeps them loyal!!

Loujalou · 20/07/2010 09:01

About 15 years ago I used to get paid £40 a night for 4 / 5 hours babysitting. I suppose they thought I was a safe pair of hands and were willing to pay for the privilege. They had the money and no family near by.

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 09:01

I think it depends on the area if you are in a minimum wage area (like I live) then I wouldnt charge more than £5 as that is the same as most peoples wages here after tax. £9 an hour would be nearly 2 hours of a persons working wage here so it would be impossible to charge that much.

If you live in a more affluent place and people can afford such higher rates then thats fair enough. I think we are living in very different worlds!

GiddyPickle · 20/07/2010 09:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 09:15

Exactly though giddypickle here £5 an hour is a huge luxury we personally couldnt afford to pay a babysitter that once a year. Its a large amount of money and not many people can afford that here every month.

GiddyPickle · 20/07/2010 09:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sunny2010 · 20/07/2010 09:20

Yeah I agree to an extent but 25 quid is a weeks food for my whole family so I wouldnt turn my nose up at it.

I will come and babysit for you OP

MumNWLondon · 20/07/2010 09:24

I live in London.

For £5 an hour I get a neighbours 16 year old daughter who is not trained or checked etc watches TV and does her homework. Would not be happy leaving her if any chance baby might wake up.

For £9 an hour I get my cleaner who does the ironing, and generally cleans while babysitting. I'd have to pay my nanny the same and she wouldn't clean!

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