How much to pay a babysitter?

[EmilyHallow]

I have four DCs- 12, 7, 2 and 1 years old respectively. DH and I go out together about once or twice a week, and up till now we have used a wonderful babysitter who was the daughter of friends. But she has now gone to university and we are trialling others.
The only thing is, I'm never sure how much to pay them. What is the going rate? We paid Cesca (the old babysitter) £12 an hour, which I know was pretty generous but it was because we'd known her so long, the kids loved her and she was saving for university.
I've asked around a bit but have received very varied answers, so help please! She wouldn't need to cook dinner or clean or anything- just watch the kids for a few hours a week.
What's reasonable?

I think to pay less than £12 an hour for someone looking a baby, a toddler , a 7 year old and a 12 year would be wrong IMO you should be paying more

Really? That's interesting, heard lots of people saying less but maybe you're right. The baby and toddler would probably hopefully be asleep the whole time anyways. I got such conflicting information- one person said £20, another said £5! Not sure...

I work for sitters and get minimum wage, so just short of £6 per hour...

I think that £12 per hour is generous for babysitting, but should ensure that you can get someone good who will be keen to babysit when you want them to. I would expect £6-10/hour, depending on how many awake childen there will be to deal with, how much care they need, and whether the person that you get to babysit has childcare qualifications or experience.

Catsareevil she would probably have two/three to deal with, not too much care needed- they'd probably be doing homework or watching TV. I want somebody with experience but not too bothered about childcare qualifications.

By Babysitting are you meaning care between 6pm and 2am (so the unregulated hours of childcare) ? I think you do given you say that the youngest two would typically be in bed already.

An experienced, qualified nanny doing evening babysitting may well cost around £10 an hour... it will vary due to location, some may be happy with £6-£8 an hour.

I don't feel the number of children make a difference, just like when nannying. It's care for all the children in the family, not a per-child thing.

Up to you and the babysitter to agree terms on what is charged and what you get for that charge.

£12 an hour sounds very generous, assuming it's someone not paying tax. Much better than you'd get per hour working as a professional childcare worker!

In east midlands I charge £12 an hr but am a qualified childrens nurse and very experienced night nanny/ad-hoc nanny. This rate is the same no matter whether I babysit for 1 or 6 children.

Anything from £7-£12 an hr would be fair depending on babysitters experience etc