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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:
MeYouYouMe · 31/01/2018 22:46

DD2 ended up saving over £3000 just from babysitting before leaving for Uni. The kids weren't that young so didn't want or need much supervision so she was able to spend most of her time revising. It was a dream job.

The family were almost never late and would phone and check it was ok (and give a nice bonus)

NoqontroI · 31/01/2018 22:47

I think it's a bit crap really. She's done the same work as an adult and they have clearly had the trust in her to look after the DC. £7.50 an hour is the going rate here (not London) so I think they are taking the piss.

Dowser · 31/01/2018 22:52

My one and only babysitting job was three hours for 7/6
Bloody hated it
Never left a snack or a drink

Wdigin2this · 31/01/2018 22:56

She took advantage of your daughter, advise her not to babysit for this woman again!

Cherryminx · 31/01/2018 22:57

I would have paid her more - its £5 per hour round here. She did 5.5 hours - that is £27.50. I would avoid babysitting for her in future.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 31/01/2018 23:00

Early 80's I had full raid rights of the fridge and cupboards and £20 was the going rate for me as a teen - from 7-11 - yes sometimes the parents were late - but never by 3+hours! I'll appreciate, though don't think it's right, that £20 babysitting is a good rate for a 16 year old even now - what I absolutely don't agree with is that the parent the OP is talking about the absolute pee out of a 16 year old girl (can't remember but was this the first time she'd babysat for this person? If so even more disgusting and proof that mother couldn't care less who had her children as long as she was out having fun - vile)

My eyes really have been opened to how some people take the care of their kids so lightly

Ginger1982 · 31/01/2018 23:01

I would definitely speak to the other mother! So not on (the time that is, I wouldn't bother mentioning money).

MarthaArthur · 31/01/2018 23:02

I have some corkers about CF parents when babysitting. As i said upthread a parent was due home at midnight showed up the next day on more than one occassion 😂 i used to babysit loads and have no money now and a shit job think i should try be a babysitter again. But in all seriousness op tell the woman your dd wont be babgsitting again due to the 3 hours late pisstake.

LolitaLempicka · 31/01/2018 23:40

Is 11.30 late for a 16year old?

MarthaArthur · 31/01/2018 23:46

lolita 12.30 is late on a school night with no prior warning.

Allthewaves · 01/02/2018 00:14

I think the piss take of the time is the issue (£30 would be much more appropriate). I'd be saying something to the mum at 12.30 on a scdhool night

PancakeInMaBelly · 01/02/2018 00:21

It's not far off the going rate for non qualified babysitters round here (£5 - £5.50/hr). People with childcare qualifications charge £7-£8/hour for evening babysitting.I

I paid my last student babysitter £5.50/hr. She was thrilled her other babysitting job was £4

LolitaLempicka · 01/02/2018 00:45

Yes, I agree 12.30 is late with no prior warning Martha, but the OP states does she mind if she stays until 11.30, it was a Tuesday night, DD is 16!!!! I didn’t think 11.30 was at all late for a 16 year old. I think the parent was rude though not clearing it first.

MeYouYouMe · 01/02/2018 00:59

Why are people saying that 11:30 isn't late for a 16 year old when they can't know what time she gets up? 🤷🏻‍♀️

She probably didn't get to bed before 1 which is definitely late.

BakedBeans47 · 01/02/2018 01:03

£20 doesn’t seem unreasonable for sitting on your arse, eating all their food, drinking their coffee, and watching German porn via their satellite dish? Or maybe the latter was just teenage me Grin

BakedBeans47 · 01/02/2018 01:04

Although expecting a schoolgirl to be out til 12.30 am is cf territory

whiteroseredrose · 01/02/2018 01:19

Would love to know the outcome of the conversation with the CF mum

Pengggwn · 01/02/2018 05:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NashvilleQueen · 01/02/2018 06:47

Most people wouldn’t be able to ever afford a night out if the babysitter cost £55 before you have even set foot out of the door.

Pengggwn · 01/02/2018 06:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ZanyMobster · 01/02/2018 07:03

In this instance is definitely the unexpected time I would pay extra for. If time agreed in advance I would have rounded up to 6 hours and paid £30. I just wouldn't do that though, how can you say 9 and end up home at 1230!

Bonkerz · 01/02/2018 07:08

£20 is perfectly acceptable for babysitting. An 11 hour day with a childminder (with a degree and lots of training and experience) would cost you £29!

SabineUndine · 01/02/2018 07:10

The lateness is not on unless it’s agreed beforehand. I’m open mouthed at the money though. I used to get £1 total for overnight stays when I was babysitting, 40 years ago.

g1itterati · 01/02/2018 07:23

Yes 11.30 is late for a 16 year old if it's school the next day!

By 10, I would have called the mum myself and told her to get home. If she was uncintsctsble, I would call the police.

As for £10 an hour, I pay that for someone to feed the cat.

Lovemusic33 · 01/02/2018 07:27

I think £20 is fine, I usually pay around the same (£4-£5 a hour), I think that’s plenty for sitting on someone’s sofa watching tv for 4 hours.

If your dd didn’t want to stay later she should have said, she could have said ‘sorry, I need to be up for school in the morning’.