How much should I pay for some help with the kids?

[cathcat]

i am on the verge of putting a card in a local shop window for some help with my 2 kids (3 and 11 months) DH is working terrible hours and I am cracking up. I am looking for someone about 16 to 20 years old to be in the house with me just so I can get on and start/finish jobs. Perhaps a bit of ironing or hoovering but mainly playing with the kids. a couple of hours at a time maybe 3 times a week. What should I expect to pay?
All ideas appreciated.

I'd go for same rate as ironing/cleaning - so typically between £6 and £8 per hour where I am ~(south London/Surrey border). If they have no childcare experience/qualification then I would assume low knowledge - my 3 yo ds is capable of running rings round nice but dim 16 year-olds , and manages to convince them that of course mummy lets him have a whole packet of biscuits a hour before tea.

But once you have them trained then it works fine!

it will be like babysitters pay
what do babysitters get near you?
round here they get about £10 per night but kids are asleep

i think about £4 per hour

why not try your local college - they maybe able to send a child care student on work experience

Rates for rural and cheapish area:

local teenager after school who has nothing better to do, likes kids but not much experience - babysitting rates (£3 - £5). I have one of these for 3-6hrs a week to help me put the children to bed, which is a god-send. It's taking quite a lot of sessions to get her up to doing anything other than playing with one child at a time, but even that is a significant help.

Childcare student: about £5 - £6 - but it would be after college, so not necessarily the time you want. Competance probably varies enormously.

childcare worker with some experience / sensible mother / granny-type etc - cleaner rates: £6.50-£7.50 round here. Maybe a nanny of school-age children.

Personally, if you can cope with her coming in school hours and not having her in in the holidays, I would go for a 'mother' or 'granny' who has a better idea about "getting things done". If she's not with you many hours each week, I would guess that someone with limited English or limited expereince of keeping house / children would take ages to get up to speed.

Good luck - I wish I had done this 18mo ago when I was cracking up.