How much would you pay a babysitter?

[OhWesternWind]

I'm looking for a local teenager to look after the children once in a while, sometimes it will be fairly early evenings eg 7 til 10 during the week and occasionally a bit later at weekends. The children are 5 and 8 and will be upstairs (hopefully) asleep. We live in the East Midlands.

I've no idea how much to offer and would like to have a sum in mind before I ask people otherwise it could get silly!

Thanks for your help, sorry am newly single so haven't really had to do this before as ex's sister would sit for us.

I'm touting our teenage daughter for £5 an hour to neighbours (undercutting another neighbour who charges £6...)
Do you know anyone with suitably aged kids - I'd prefer to use people I know.

I'm in the Surrey and the TA's from DS's nursery charge £10 per hr, the local childminders have a babysitting service for £6.50 per hour and so TBH I would be loathe to pay more than about £4 an hour for a teenager.

I pay agency babysitters (professional nannies, primary teachers etc) £6 per hour before midnight.

Good idea from Guildenstern, some of the qualified nannies from DD's old nursery were also willing to do babysitting. With all the obvious advantages of their skills and knowledge. £6 an hour for nannies/teachers seems really good value.

Hello I am in east midlands and as part of my job have run babysitting courses for 13-17yrs olds and we have always suggest from £2.50 (for a 13yr old who has done the course and has maybe a little experience) upto £5 an hr (for the 16/17yr old with the course and some experience). (we also suggest that a taxi home be paid for in addition to money for sitting and if they are expected to text you to let you know how children are or respond to a text you may send yu reimburse them for that also).

As a qualified childrens nurse and experienced nurse and night nanny I charge £12 an hr for babysitting.

The going rate for an experienced childcarer ie - nanny or nursery nurse within east midlands to babysit seems to be £6-9 an hr.

Warning: Agency babysitters come with added costs - such as booking fees and membership fees. So TOTAL cost needs to be calculated, not just based on hourly rate.

I would have thought that £5 per hour would be fine for a teenager.

my Dh's boss used to pay 15 an evening before midnight - and 20 if it was after that- with my babysitter we stuck to about that - if it was a short night I would give her a bit less

As a professional nanny I ask £8/hr for evening sitting. However I'm qualified & first aid trained (and 26!) I also wash up/tidy if supper has been left out etc when kiddies are asleep.

I think about £5 per hour would be fine :)

I'm a registered CM and am insured to do babysitting, and of course have first aid, disclosure Scotland etc and i charge £7 per hour.

we pay our teeneage sitter £5 per hour (min of £20)

If we cancel at late notice, we still give her the £20

We also leave her food and snacks.

i pay £25 as a standard amount regardless of how many hours. If after midnight, I add more and then it depends if it is 1am 2 am etc. The girls have all been ok with this and I prefer knowing an exact sum. I pay that amount regardless of whether it is 2 hours or 4 hours. I am rarely home later than 1130 and my kids go to bed about 8

I pay my teenage babysitter £10 for about 3.5 - 4 hours. She comes after the kids are in bed and leaves well before midnight. Usually the most she has to do is watch TV and maybe put my DD back to bed once. I'd pay more if I was working and could afford it, right now though I try to only spend £20 total on a night out, so really can't manage more.

Before i started my nanny agency, i used to work as a nanny/maternity nurse and sometimes babysat for my employers and their friends etc. My hourly rate started from £10, rising to £12+ after midnight.

I pay a girl from nursery £5-6 an hour (altho DH gave her £50 at christmas as I was away and he went out playing poker with mates and wasn't back til 1am)

I'm in Leicester and I charge £6 per hour before midnight and £8 after. I am a teacher and experienced nanny though.

i would have thought around £5 an hour

i pay my teenage babysitter nothing as he is my son and looks after the other kids for his monthly allowance!

£5 per hour. A micro dinner if it starts before 7pm otherwise crisps and diet coke