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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Babysitting price

34 replies

Booboooo · 27/08/2019 22:51

Posting for traffic.

Rarely go out as a couple. Very little family help so am considering asking a friends very sensible and grown up 16 year old daughter. I have Ds6 and ds1. Would have them.both in bed before she arrives so heres hoping it would be a fairly chilled evening for her in front of netflix. Would let her help herself to food and drink. We would only go to the cinema or the curry house around the corner so only out for a couple of hours tops!!! So what would we pay her? Haven't the foggiest! Hourly? Or per night? Can anyone help? I rem getting £3 a hour in the 90s!!!!!

OP posts:
Thankyouplease · 27/08/2019 22:52

My 16yo would be happy with £15

locketsprocket · 27/08/2019 23:01

I always pay £20

Leftiefterson · 27/08/2019 23:01

I’m watching with interest because I have friends who have daughters who would like extra cash for babysitting but I’m not sure what to offer. DP suggested £10 an hour but I think that might be a bit steep. I was thinking £8 an hour.

GlueSuedeShoes · 27/08/2019 23:05

I usually pay teenagers £5 an hour

AnybodyWantAChip · 27/08/2019 23:06

£5 per hour round here. (NW)

Original poster
Booboooo · 27/08/2019 23:08

Im in the midlands btw!

OP posts:
autumnkate · 27/08/2019 23:09

We pay one of the ladies from DC nursery £7 an hour- her suggestion (South West)

autumnkate · 27/08/2019 23:10

So I wouldn’t offer an untrained teenager more than that! 15 for 2/ 3 hours seems fair to me.

Shehz21 · 27/08/2019 23:10

£20 per hour?!
Wow That's a bit steep...
I'd say £10 per hour.
I'm in London.

Darbs76 · 27/08/2019 23:11

£20 if less than 4hrs. Around £5 an hour but I’d give no less than £20 if I was less than 4hrs. Plus taxi home unless one of you can drive her or she lives close enough for your husband to walk her home

Thehop · 27/08/2019 23:11

I’m 40, have early years qualifications/experience and paediatric first aid, and a dbs and charge £10 an hour for babysitting! Also do ironing once children in bed. Surely teenagers are half that?

BackforGood · 27/08/2019 23:11

We're in the Midlands. Both my dds 'sit' for people and are happy with a round figure that is equivalent to about £5 ph.
It would be a bonus if you were able to drop her home afterwards, but not essential.

PandaG · 27/08/2019 23:11

Dd gets around £5 per hour, usually a minimum of £15, but that is what parents pay her, she doesn't usually ask for a set amount. S. Yorks.

AnathemaPulsifer · 27/08/2019 23:13

£5-6 per hour.

MyDcAreMarvel · 27/08/2019 23:13

I pay my 18 year old babysitter £40 a night but that is usually 6-11 and we have four young children that she puts to bed, reads stories etc . Plus play with them for a hour before bed.

Original poster
Booboooo · 27/08/2019 23:13

We would drop her home if just cinema trip. If not her mum who is my friend would collect her. 3 min drive but good 20 minute walk.

OP posts:
Beamur · 27/08/2019 23:16

I'd say slightly more than £5 p/h as there are 2 kids. So either around £7/8 or a fixed amount and be back by a certain time.

ParkheadParadise · 27/08/2019 23:18

I pay our 16yr old neighbour £25. During the school holidays she will watch her during the week aswell as weekends.
I always order her a takeaway, and she knows to help herself to food and drink.
Dd is usually in bed. We are out from 7 till 12.
DH always walks her home.

sparkles07 · 27/08/2019 23:19

£5 an hour my student babysitter charges in Coventry. I think she's cheap and normally add an extra £5. I take her home, or pay for an Uber if I'm drinking.

whatthewhatthewhat · 27/08/2019 23:19

Why would you leave a one year old with a 16 yr old?

Original poster
Booboooo · 27/08/2019 23:22

Shes a family friends daughter. We know her fairly well. She is the oldest of 5 kids and will be studying childcare at college next month. She may be 16 but is so sensible

OP posts:
Original poster
Booboooo · 27/08/2019 23:25

And tbh we are ships in the night since i went back to work. We need some couple time if only for a afew hours

OP posts:
Blueemeraldagain · 27/08/2019 23:27

£5-7 a hour depending on what night. Cheaper in the week, more at the weekend.

whatthewhatthewhat · 27/08/2019 23:27

Hmm. It just seems a lot of responsibility to put on her? From age. 3 kids can verbalise if something is wrong. But a crying baby..? I just think, and I'm sure people will disagree, that it's unfair to her to have her look after a baby. If her mum is such a good friend can't she look after your kids and her daughter can baby sit her siblings (and you could return the favour some day?)

Mammyloveswine · 27/08/2019 23:28

I've a few friends with 16 year old daughters and I'm tempted to ask them to babysit...however we have a babysitting club in our mam friends group
Which is great as we just take it in turns! So no monetary cost!

My two are amazing at bedtime so I'd be confident that a 16/17 year old would basically just be watching Netflix all night! But I think I'll wait until DS2 turns 2 before booking them...handily just in time for Christmas parties Grin