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Original poster

To think that £20 for a night of babysitting is ridiculous

273 replies

Holly102 · 31/01/2018 20:42

My DD (who is 16) babysat for a local mum, I have known for a few years from my DS’s school.

She asked me, on Monday, if my DD would do her a massive favour and babysit for a couple of hours on the Tuesday as her usual babysitter had cancelled last minute. She offered to pick her up and drop her back as it wouldn’t be late . She told me it would be 7 until 9.

So yesterday evening DD was collected at around 7. I texted her at 9 asking if she was on her way home but she wasn’t so I told her to message the mum. No response.

At quarter to eleven my daughter gets a message apologising but does she mind if she stays until around 11:30. It was a Tuesday night, DD is 16!!!! My DD, being young, felt she couldn’t say no.

This is not the end of the story though, the mum finally arrived home at 12:30!!! Far from the 9 o’clock first agreed. She apologised profusely but the proceeded to pay DD only £20.

Is this completely unfair behaviour. Is £20 what my daughter should expect?

OP posts:
falang · 31/01/2018 20:57

I know someone who pays £50 for a nights babysitting

pilates · 31/01/2018 20:57

The money is ok for the hours but very unreasonable to keep her up so late on a school night.

Original poster
Holly102 · 31/01/2018 20:58

Yes that’s my issue I feel like they took advantage because they knew she wasn’t going to say anything.
I think I am going to have to mention it to the mum.

OP posts:
MrsPicklesonSmythe · 31/01/2018 20:59

I think she was paid fairly but mum majorly took the piss with the time.

MyDcAreMarvel · 31/01/2018 21:00

It's above minimum wage for a 16 year old for basically watching tv.
The mum was wrong to stay so late though.

LizzieSiddal · 31/01/2018 21:00

It isn't £5 per hour! She was picked up at 7 and the mum came back at 12.30. That's 5 and a half hours.

£20 is not enough especially as she was 3 and a half hours late! A total piss take.

Ellapaella · 31/01/2018 21:01

£5 an hour for baby sitting is fine unless the kids are a right handful - the mum is a CF for coming back 3 hours later than expected on a school night.

Rinoachicken · 31/01/2018 21:01

I wouldn’t say anything but I would be telling my daughter not to babysit for her again.

Originalfoogirl · 31/01/2018 21:01

Her ten year old was in bed at 7pm?

crunchermuncher · 31/01/2018 21:01

I think £20 'because it's a teenager' totally takes the piss. Its still their time.

She needs to agree a rate before accepting any more babysitting jobs.

Theimpossiblegirl · 31/01/2018 21:01

DD babysits for £20 for one family in our area because she knows the couple don't get much adult time and she's on maternity. They don't take the piss though and the wife doesn't drink so always drops her home.

Ellapaella · 31/01/2018 21:02

And set agreed hourly rate next time - trouble is it wasn't agreed so there is no comeback here.

Originalfoogirl · 31/01/2018 21:03

Her ten year old was in bed at 7pm

No, the ten year old wasn't, the sitter put them to bed.

That makes sense. taking the piss with the time, but not with the money.

SersioulycanitgetWORSE · 31/01/2018 21:03

Near London and 5 is also going rate here.
However messing round on times is not on, although I can see how it happens
AND yes in that case I would have paid another ten pounds bonus.

Original poster
Holly102 · 31/01/2018 21:04

My DD had to put both children to bed.

I think DD will have learnt a lesson from this one.

OP posts:
midnightmisssuki · 31/01/2018 21:04

we pay 12 pounds an hour..... i think this lady was taking the piss. Far too late for a 16 year old on a school night!

ZanyMobster · 31/01/2018 21:05

I'm South East and most people I know charge £5ph. I would have given £25 at least as it was after 11 though and also more than 4 hours.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 31/01/2018 21:06

I think I charged £6 an hour in 1990.

Kursk · 31/01/2018 21:06

I always charged a flat rate of £20/night for babysitting.

ZanyMobster · 31/01/2018 21:07

Gosh sorry misread. 1230, I would be fuming. That would have been £30 at least, I probably would have given £35-40 though.

finnmcool · 31/01/2018 21:07

Slightly off topic, but my daughter is 25 and I paid a fiver an hour for babysitting back in the day. It was the going rate round my way.

LimberlostGirl · 31/01/2018 21:08

£20 would not cut it in London, it is £10 an hour. I recently asked a friend’s 16 year old daughter as was interested. I used to charge 50p an hour and was interested in how much prices had gone up.

Foodylicious · 31/01/2018 21:08

Very bloody cheeky
Do I presume the woman has an OH who stayed home with the kids while she dropped your daughter back home?
Or did she have to make her own way back at 12.30?

Tbh I think that's what I got paid for similar hours babysitting in Surrey 20+ years ago

Yes people can say that baby sitting is easy work, but it's appt if responsibility and having to stay awake and just watch each extra half hour tick away with no real idea of when they will be back is tiring (I remember)

I presume your daughter had contact details for her? She might need some reassurance that it's ok to contact her and ask how long she will be once she is more than a little late.

Hope it hasn't made her feel too crap and undervalued

WhyteKnyght · 31/01/2018 21:08

I think £5 an hour is fine.

In which case the other mother would have owed your DD £27.50 as a minimum. Not £20.

And the money really is not even the major issue here. Incredibly irresponsible to both her own children and yours to exploit your daughter and let her down like that.

LimberlostGirl · 31/01/2018 21:09

And that £10 an hour would include lift to and from the children, supper and a choice of little snackettes and soft drinks.