How much do you pay a babysitter?

[SilentEm564]

Sorry not an AIBU but posting here for traffic.

Can you share how much you pay per hour for a babysitter please? Say someone who comes to your house for 3 hours in the evening or weekend whilst you go out.

And does the amount vary depending on the age of the child - e.g. are some ages require more work?

We've never hired a babysitter before so I wanted to get a ball park figure before I approach anyone.

Also what's the normal ettiqutte re. food and drink whilst they're babysitting? Do you let them help themselves to anything in the fridge or do you expect them to bring their own?

£10 per hour and I use an agency. Do not provide food, they can have drinks such as tea and coffee as they like. A 3 hour babysit I would not expect to feed anyone.

15 year old - £5 per hour
17/18 year old - £7 per hour
Someone with qualifications - £8
Nanny - £12

When DC were young we used to leave them with more qualified people (who I used to ask for their “rate”) but now that they are older we tend just to use teenagers who need to tell them when it’s bedtime.

We always round up to the next hour and I tend to get more generous the more I have had to drink! More after midnight and the teenagers we have had babysit regularly get a voucher at Xmas and a leaving present when they leave home/go to uni.

We leave out WiFi password and access to Netflix and tell them to help themselves to food, though Inleave out a couple of bags or crisps/chocolate biscuit and a can of juice. I remember from my
Babysitting days always being happy to sit at the people who left out decent snacks!

You always provide hot and soft drinks and biscuits. Awake children pay more than ones you've put to bed and know won't wake. Age of children not necessarily relevant but pay more for more than 2 kids if they're likely to be awake/ more than 1 is likely to wake up and need settling.

£10 per hour but depends on area, age of babysitter more than children, qualifications (more for a registered childminder/ nursery Room leader than for an unqualified 16 year old). Tip if you are home later than you said or after midnight.

It really depends on location but also on the experience of the babysitter. A local teen maybe £5 an hour but an experienced nanny with first aid certificate could be £8 to £10 an hour.

You may find some have a minimum number of hours as 3 is fairly short. Normally would provide hot drinks/squash and point them towards the biscuit tin/fruit bowl but not provide dinner.

Don't say help yourself to the fridge but do provide snacks - just biscuits is fine, and/ or crisps if you want, no need for more, it's shitty not to and nobody in demand will babysit a second time if you don't make them comfortable.

Ah ok thanks guys.

Didn't want to look stingy with food and drink.

So is the cost per hour the same or more if it's 2 kids rather than one?

2 is the same as one IMO unless they are crazy adrenaline junky escape artist non sleeping 2 year old twins... More for 3+
Some / most babysitters local to us won't babysit 3!