How much should a 15 year old ask for, for babysitting?

[Kittlewittle]

My 15 year old daughter is keen to babysit. It would be for neighbours, and one of her parents would be on hand if needed. How much would be a reasonable rate to ask for, for watching generally sleeping children?

In case it matters we are in central London.

DD1 used to get £10 an hour about 10 years ago.

Thank you, what age was she? I am wondering if she would offer lower rates to build clientele given her age.

It’s too young IMO, and unlikely to be in a strong position ask for much pay at all if there was a need for her parents to be on hand. If the DC she’d be caring for aren’t under 4 or 5 it could be a good way to get experience that helps her get ahead for when she’s 16+

There isn't a need for us to be on hand, but we would be local.

She is sensible and has plenty of experience with watching siblings, including taking one to school and back on the tube.

I could be way off ( and my kids are grown enough to not need ) but as you said neighbours so they are known to you and her , no travelling , maybe for 2/3 hours £25

£10ph

I go by appropriate NMW

There isn't one for under 16s!

If she’s not entertaining kids I’d say a block price for a set amount of time rather than an hourly rate. So £20 for 3 hours or £25 for 4. She can chill and watch her phone…

I think 15 is too young IMO

15 is fine, most of DC and their friends were babysitting at 15. £10-£12 an hour is about standard depending on how much actual looking after is needed. Obviously giving them dinner and doing bedtime is more work than doing homework while the children are asleep.

There is an under 18 rate though

My 15 year old has babysat loads. She's more sensible and thoughtful than a lot of adults I know. She's really energetic and puts far more effort into entertaining and interacting with the dc than I could be bothered with!

I think it very much depends on the individuals

My DD started babysitting at 15
she’s incredibly sensible - she charges £6.50-£7.50 per hour

If your 15 year old is really more sensible and thoughtful than a lot of adults you know, you likely need to meet new, better, adult friends. See to me, this says that you are in an environment with adults who are struggling to adult, so to me, the 15 year old around said adults must also be on the same trajectory and therefore actually behind their peers. It isn't as if the teen is going to become less sensible and thoughtful as they age.

We have a very responsible (now 16yr old) neighbour who is well known to our young children, when she babysits I give her £30 based on 3-4hrs of babysitting so hourly rate is dependent on what time we arrive home during that time frame.

False logic.

I know a lot of adults. I'm not necessarily friends with those people, nor do they have contact with my dc.

I have zero concerns with my 15 year old being able to look after children for discrete periods of time and being able to keep herself and the dc safe and happy for that period and to appropriately summon assistance as required.

I have met many older than her who would pay less attention to the needs and wants of small dc and be more involved in their own phones or affairs for eg. I don't think I would be alone in this.

As I said, it is not solely about age.

I'd say £10 an hour. 15 years is perfectly fine to babysit, I was babysitting age 13. Good she is wanting some responsibility, too many teens are so lazy and don't work.

I know lots of adults too. Don't like most of them enough to call them friends. I won't pretend that my teens are as sensible as them though because they just aren't. They are children and the others are adults.

£10 an hour is fine. We are on our third teenager since 2019 and we have paid them all £10ph. They pay no tax on it, they all live at home, so £50 for 5 hours work when the children will be asleep for 3/5 hours if fine IMO.

I didn't call them friends, I called them 'adults I know'.

Nothing magical happens to people when they turn 18. They don't become more sensible, calm or attuned to small children's needs and they definitely don't necessarily respond better in an emergency.

15 year olds can be mature, calm, responsible, selfless and kind enough to make a better job of it than some adults.

We paid a 15 year old £5 an hour 25 years ago.

Thank you everyone. She was thinking of starting off charging £5 an hour which was clearly too little. It seems £8-10 is more of the consensus here.

She has done first aid training and has experience, is sensible etc.

£10 seem far too much to me considering nmw is £12 ish for an adult and I know some qualified Nannie’s but 18 charging £10

first aid is a bonus

In London nannies want £18+ to babysit. It's probably why parents don't usually go out much!

My daughter has agreed she will set her rates lower in order to get a customer based initially. She is excited to start, with bookings already.