How much should it cost for a sitter for DS aged nearly 5?

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

We have hardly been out since he was born. Now that he is older we really want our social life back!

It would be about once a month for an evening out, 5 hours max, most of the time he'd be asleep as his bedtime is 8 o'clock.

So how much do you reckon. We are going to ask a couple of the girls at his nursery if they can do it? How much should I pay per hour?

I think it is worth asking around - do any of your neighbours have teenage children? Whilst I would not leave a baby with a teenager, your DS is 5 so can tell the babysitter if he is frightened, needs the loo etc. I did loads of babysitting from the ages of about 14 to end of uni and as the children were a bit older it always worked really well. If they are local, you are lucky that there may be a parent nearby as well in case of real emergency.

Nursery nurses at my nursery (S London) charge £7.50 an hour plus cab home. A nanny I know charges £7 for hours awake then £5 for hours asleep plus cab. My regular babysitter is a total bargain at £5 per hour, which I always top up and leave her a big pizza, crisps, dips etc - she likes to eat and usually takes a doggy bag home with her. It is a lot of money added to your evening but it's the cost of having kids alas.

one family i night nannied for used to leave me treats and when she brought her and her husband a cake or cookie treat from the local deli and knew i was coming that eve she would buy me one too.

it was a waking night nanny job and so treats were very welcome to help me stay awake.

hi, im from the east midlands, i charge 8pound an hour and 40p per mile, qualified, first aid and excellent references.
please feel free to get in touch.
regards cher norman

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