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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Babysitting rates in London - is £15 ph normal??

22 replies

jellybean007 · 05/12/2011 22:36

I've just asked my daughter's key worker from nursery to babysit for my daughter in the evening and been told that she charges £15 an hour. This seems very high to me, even for someone obviously well qualified to look after him - does anyone know what 'normal' rates are for this sort of thing?

Thanks!

OP posts:

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ButHeNeverDid · 05/12/2011 22:37

I have never heard of anyone asking more than 10 pounds an hour

Julesnobrain · 05/12/2011 22:40

Are u in central london? What times did u want baby sitting from?

We are in SW london, when I need babysitting I pay £6 per hour but my DC are 5 and 9, that is from circa 7pm ie they have already had bath. However £15 seems frankly eye watering !!

Original poster

jellybean007 · 05/12/2011 22:49

Thanks for your replies - I thought it was a bit steep! We are in central london and the times we needed were 7-11pm so pretty standard I thought. I've paid £8 ph before and don't mind paying a bit more. Bit tricky now though - don't know how to negotiate without upsetting anyone!

OP posts:

hohohoshedittant · 05/12/2011 22:52

That's insane! I'm in west london and the going rate for babysitting here is £8-£10ph for a qualified nanny/nursery nurse and maybe £5-£7ph for a teenager/au pair.

£15 ph?

Nikki82 · 05/12/2011 22:52

I'm a qualified nanny with 12years experience and living in central London I have never heard of anyone charging more than £12ph. I charge £10ph. If we're talking about new years eve though that's a different story!!!

hohohoshedittant · 05/12/2011 22:54

Oh yeah Xmas eve and NYE will be £15 an hour or more

redglow · 05/12/2011 22:59

Bet she is not on that working in a nursery.

Cheeseandbiscuits · 05/12/2011 23:00

West London here and we pay £9-10 ph!
What you were quoted was outrageous!

JesusChristBenton · 05/12/2011 23:05

Central London and I have never been asked for more than £10 per hour even from highly qualified nannies. However they often want a cab home after and that adds some so it can average out as about £12 an hour. As a result I tend to use local friend's au pairs who charge £8 and dont need a taxi.

Even our night nanny for newborn DD cost less than £15 an hour.

senua · 05/12/2011 23:12

"don't know how to negotiate without upsetting anyone!"

Is £15ph her I-don't-want-to-do-it rate?

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 06/12/2011 10:35

with 20 years of experience behind me I "only" charge £10 per hour for evening babysitting (7pm - midnight)

MilkNoSugarPlease · 06/12/2011 11:08

Woah! thats crazy!

I'm in N.London and charge £8....£15 is insane

mousysantamouse · 06/12/2011 11:11

we pay 10 before midnight, 12 after + taxi home. (nursery nurse as well)
15 sounds a lot, maybe she doesn't really want to take the job?

ChitChattingElf · 06/12/2011 12:57

That's way too much! Just tell her 'sorry, that's more than we've budgeted' and leave it at that. I wouldn't negotiate, tbh. I don't think you want to have her babysitting because either she will resent you for paying too little, or you will resent her for paying too much.

RitaMorgan · 06/12/2011 13:53

I have a feeling £15 an hour is her way of saying she doesn't really want to do it...

splashymcsplash · 06/12/2011 16:58

I agree with Rita. Either that or she is totally clueless.

Pre baby days I used to charge 10ph in central London and I thought I was very lucky to get that to watch tv!

bigTillyMincepie · 06/12/2011 17:00

She saw you coming

castlesintheair · 06/12/2011 17:02

I'm in W London and pay £6 ph to my regular babysitter. The on-line agency 'sitters' charge about the same. I'd use them. Or ask her to do the ironing as well.

anewyear · 06/12/2011 18:23

I think its pretty sure shes not earning £15 PH in a nursery....

OP hasnt told us if its xmas eve or new years eve, yet...

Id say, she doesnt want to do it myself..

midlandsnightnannybabysitter · 06/12/2011 22:30

I earnt £15ph earlier this year babysitting for a family 50mins drive (30 miles) away, 2 children aged 3 and 5. I wouldnt normally travel that far for eve babysitting and quoted £15ph to ensure it would be worth my while, I didnt think for one minute they would want to pay that much but they didnt quibble at all and so I did it! I usually charge £10-£12ph but I am expensive for the area (Midlands).

Karoleann · 07/12/2011 09:53

One of our son's keyworkers at nursery tried that one too - although she asked for £12. I don't pay more than £8/hour after the kids bedtimes so I just said, no thanks that's too expensive.

Just use sitters.co.uk. They're fine.

ButHeNeverDid · 07/12/2011 18:52

another vote for sitters.co.uk

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