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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
Holly102 · 31/01/2018 21:27

I haven’t said anything to the mum yet as I haven’t seen her. I had to drop DD off at school this morning as I couldn’t expect her to get the bus, I wanted to let her get as much sleep as possible!!!
So my lovely friend walked DS to school, who has has tennis afterwards so I didn’t go to school pickup! Luckily because I was in a foul mood... I didn’t sleep as I was fuming about the situation.

OP posts:
Gemini69 · 31/01/2018 21:28

at least we know why she was desperate for 'another' babysitter'.. she's running out of options for taking the PISS .... Hmm

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 31/01/2018 21:28

Why Does a 10 year old need to be put to bed? Wierd you soft southerners Wink

Op I think the money was ok as your dd is a teen with no child care qualifications and it’s cash in hand but the being late was mean unless a really good excuse.

What does your dd think?

capercaillie · 31/01/2018 21:30

For 16 year old babysitter, I usually pay £5 per hour. Often add a bit though and would definitely throw cash around if I was late.

capercaillie · 31/01/2018 21:30

For 16 year old babysitter, I usually pay £5 per hour. Often add a bit though and would definitely throw cash around if I was late.

halfwitpicker · 31/01/2018 21:30

She seems tight to me.

I'd feel so guilty I'd probably give her £50 or something!

NeedsAsockamnesty · 31/01/2018 21:30

Piss arseing around with hours is not acceptable. But my qualified amd insured nanny charges £12 per hour and my registered and insured childminder only charges £6 for night hours.
Why on earth would someone pay a unqualified uninsured teenager more than that

TheSnowFairy · 31/01/2018 21:30

We are in SE and DS gets £10 per hour...so I would say although different to most posters YANBU.

Don't let your DD babysit for her again!

MarthaArthur · 31/01/2018 21:32

I agree needs this is why i feel most of mumsnet are rich middle class types. I am now qualified in childcare and dbs checked. Why would a teenager be paid more than a qualified nanny/childcare provider. Its literally sat on your bum eating sweets in front of the tv. I dont even get £8 an hour in my real job now

londonrach · 31/01/2018 21:33

I went in this post thinking the person asking if £20 was too much and was going to respond as alot for watching tv. Id be vvv happy to babysit for £20 as an adult now, as a teenager its alot of money. When i used to do it was £5 for the evening but nice biscuits.

MagicWillHappen · 31/01/2018 21:35

Pisstake re timings aside, I think 20 quid is fair tbh.

Making the massive assumption here that your dd isn't going to be completing a SA to declare her income? In which case she can hardly expect to be paid 'proper' rates.

TheSnowFairy · 31/01/2018 21:35

Rich middle class types Hmm

Or simply happy to get out for a couple of hours with a reliable sitter?

MarthaArthur · 31/01/2018 21:36

Same londonrach if i find out how to become a self employed babysitter i would do that again and love it.

Bluntness100 · 31/01/2018 21:36

That's terrible. My daughter baby sat at thay age, we are in the south east and she got ten pounds an hour. Ok. The folks she baby sat for were quite wealthy, but their rationale was that was the going rate and age was not relevant.

I abhor people who take advantage of kids to pay them less than they would an adult. She still had the same level of responsibility.

The mum planned to pay ten pounds an hour for two hours. So she should fucking multiply that up and at least have given her fifty quid and apologised profusely, what an utter piss take.

MagicWillHappen · 31/01/2018 21:41

Ten quid an hour net, for a teenager to sit on their arse and watch TV is fucking ludicrous.

Plenty of people get paid no where near that for actual jobs. Babysitting is a pocket money affair!

londonrach · 31/01/2018 21:42

Martha i seriously thinking great employment here, £20 for a evening relaxing, eating nice biscuits and watching tv....sign me up!!!! I think the problem op has is the fact a time was agreed which was extended without agreement. Its a good wage for a 16 year old op (and an adult) but agree not good on a school night

lololove · 31/01/2018 21:42

Early 2000 up to about 2010 I used to get a fiver for between 6-10 for 2 children mostly though occasionally 3 children.

I did school holidays 8-4/5pm for a tenner a day for between 2 to 7 children depending on the days.

I was a mug and the parents took advantage - but I bloody loved the 'main two' kids, I'd have done anything for them!

lololove · 31/01/2018 21:43

Posted too early - meant to say, she should have paid her extra AND paid to get her home safely too in a taxi door to door at that time and at her age. She'll take advantage - nip it in the bud now!

MarthaArthur · 31/01/2018 21:45

Sign me up rach i would earn more than my actual job. I will share the biscuits with you.

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 31/01/2018 21:46

Remember London and the south east are very different regards wages

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 31/01/2018 21:46

Posted too soon regards the rest of the UK

Viviennemary · 31/01/2018 21:46

I think the Mum was very cheeky indeed to expect your DD to stay so late on a week night. I think around £5 per hour for babysitting if DC's all in bed and not much to do except watch TV is fine. So £20 sounds about right.

caoraich · 31/01/2018 21:47

Yeah, £4.05 an hour is minimum wage for a 16 year old so even £20 was short for the 5.5hrs!

She was clearly taking the piss with times - I suppose it's a lesson for your DD in arranging hourly rates beforehand and not to bother babysitting for that couple again. £5/hr is reasonable

I used to exchange 2 hours of after-school babysitting for an hour's piano lesson in about 2002, it probably worked out as £5 an hour even then. I did have to record the Archers for my piano teacher, which using her extremely retro radio and cassette combo meant I had to listen to it out loud too. That was the worst bit! Grin

missjaysays · 31/01/2018 21:49

She's cheeky for being late, and in my opinion cheeky for paying her so little but technically no fee was previously arranged so not much can be done.
I charge £9 p/h weekdays and £10 p/h fri,sat,sun. I'm a 21 year old graduate nursery nurse but I still would be shocked at so little money for your DD!
I wouldn't babysit for her ever again! Very cheeky

petbear · 31/01/2018 21:50

Why do teen babysitters need more money in LONDON? Confused Are young children in London much harder to look after? Do they have behaviour issues? Is there danger money involved?

The parents pay the bills, not them! Bit precious to insist a teen babysitter is paid more money ; just coz they're in LONDON. 🙄

£20 - cash - for a night's babysitting is OK. But rocking up 2 hours later than planned was not.

@Holly102

Your daughter doesn't need to do it for this woman again if you are she is not happy! As has been said though, getting £20 cash for sitting there all evening watching tv, surfing the net, and noshing on someone else's food isn't a bad deal!