Babysitting - going rate in London?

[Flum]

Anyone know it or thereabouts?

The topic is still regularly discussed on Mumsnet and other sites. People often compare rates now to a large agency but don't always compare the total cost. Ultimately it is the total cost that is of interest - so including a taxi if paying for that.
Having reduced how much I charge by 20% I'm still not getting much demand. Maybe parents just afford to go out much at present, or maybe I'm still too costly at £8 an hour (no additions for travel costs).

Kapaxiana, you clearly have an axe which you have come here to grind. If you want to have a moan about how parents treat babysitters (which isn't really the topic of this thread) may I suggest you start a new thread?

Guess it's not worth your while coming to Kent is it nick?

I'm still in demand and get emails regually from my netmums ad

do you have an ad there?

Mine says that I'm free Thursday and Friday as well as available for weddings/evening bs and weekends and get a lot of enquiries

I had to turn 3 familys down last week who wanted a few dates but I'm fully booked to sept now tho did give one to a friend to do

sorry you have had to drop your hourly rate

would you bs through sitters?

I don't actually mind not doing much babysitting - I'm going to the gym an average of 22 times a month, have never been so fit.

Have netmums ads and an ad in the church/village newsletter. Had a couple of click-throughs from netmums but no contact made. Ah well, I'll get fit instead.

22 times

blondes faints and then gets up and applauds nn

I'm very impressed. I normally go 2/3 times a week work depending so 10/12 times an average month.

NEVER MORE

I think it's fact people not going out much- my nanny also complaining about not many bookings . And £8 ph is fine when you know it's someone who can deal with whatever the children can throw/throw up at you.

Wow, im finding myself excessively busy with babysitting - so much so that a few weeks ago I got 6 babysitting requests for the same friday/saturday period. I rarely babysat in my last nanny job but since I started this one 5 months ago I'm inundated with requests. I wonder if its because my new job is in Nappy Valley, and there are simply more parents and families there than in my previous area, which creates a higher demand for babysitters? I'm feeling quite proud of myself as I have managed to put all my babysitting (and ad hoc friday job) money aside and it has paid for a lovely weeks holiday in Gran Canaria - as opposed to buying shoes and sweeties, which is where my babysitting money usually goes!

Wow, I just found out how much au pairs in my area think is reasonable for babysitting 8p/h. That would be over 11p/h with taxes if they wanted to earn that at an office job (and no help with travel costs with other jobs). That's more or less what I earn with two degrees and twenty years experience and a lot more than your average graduate earns.
I used to pay my lodger who was a professional with a degree and knew the children and their needs only £5ph. We both thought it was reasonable because as she was my age (40) and would be watching the telly as she always does while my two nine year olds were reading in bed (as they always do) it seemed like easy money.
I agree you may need a professional if you have more than one child under five but over five? Really? Centre parcs only charge £5ph for thier professional sitters.
I'm actually considering undercutting them and babysitting myself for the grocery money - that should see us through the recession.

How much should I pay a sitter from Brixton who is a Uni student (early 20's) to come babysit my 8-10 year old child for a few hours in these two places: Russell Square area, and Clapham. She is not a professional childminder, and is the daughter of my friend's friend. She does not drive and takes the tube everywhere. Would I pay her tube? or taxi if it is very late 9what is very late?) Do I need to feed her?

Thanks!

Odd - this thread is ancient!
£6/hr plus taxi fare home (which will work out rather a lot from Russell Square!!)

Hi - What do people pay for someone to babysit - as in be in the house whilst my 9 year old is asleep, say from 9 pm till midnight? I have an au pair who has free time at weekends, but I'd like to ask him to babysit occasionally on a Friday or Saturday night. Not sure what extra to give him...help! It's basically extra pocket money as he lives with me any way so is fed and doesn't need transport home.... Thanks

I am in Buckinghamshire (just out of London) when I babysit I charge £8 per hour b4 midnight & £9 per hour after midnight for up to 3 children. I then charge an extra £1 per hour for each extra child.

I also charge 25p per mile if I am babysitting out of my 5 mile radius.

HI ya everyone
I am a student nurse and qualified teaching assistant, and in the finacial crisis that we are all having to face, i do babysitting to finace university
I charge £7.50 an hour plus traveling expences (which is normally public transport).

This i know to be quite a competitive rate, as other babysitters charge from £7,50 an hour to £15 an hour......some agencies even charge £20 an hour.

I think its vital to have someone who knows first aid and is CRB checked for peace of mind, and someone you have met previosley. which is why i offer a meet and greet consoltation free of charge before hand.

i also understand though that with qualifications, crb checks ect come as price, being in increased rates......many people can no longer afford to pay.

so just understand that there is still a contoversal debate about the age ofthe person a child should be left with......should it really be someone under the age of 16?..............and that make sure you have know them previosley, and get a reference when ever possible. Remember tho that a babysitter like everyone has to get there first client somewhere, and they dont all come with referneces and they need to gain experience.

I hope you find the right babysitter for you and your family x :)