babysitters - going rate?

[elportodelgato]

can anyone give me an idea of the going rate for babysitting in the London area? I don't want to take the piss but on the other hand, all they will be doing is sitting in my lounge, eating my food, watching my telly and using my internet so I don't want to be too generous either

the person we have been put in contact with is a student-age girl with some childcare experience

thanks for any advice

We pay a lovely woman $8 (pounds nt dollars...stupid keyboard) an hour and she is experienced and very reliable. She only charges $6, but that seems too little. I think the going rate is $8-10, but with some people it varies depending on whether it is daytime, evening or after midnight. We also always pay her cab home and give her free range of the fridge etc.