There are a variety of factors that play a major role in how much you should pay a babysitter. Among them are:

– The local market. If you live in an area where there are a lot of babysitters and fewer “babies” to “sit,” this will drive the cost of a sitter down. On the other hand, if you live in an area where there are a shortage of babysitters, you can expect to pay more. The best way to determine this is to talk to other parents to see what they are paying for babysitting.

– The age of the sitter. Teenage babysitters often will be content with just a few dollars an hour. They aren’t babysitting to pay bills, for example; they are probably working to collect a few extra dollars to spend at the mall. College sitters, however, can cost more; they are more mature, more responsible, and more likely to know how to drive and to know CPR. College sitters will often charge as much as 30% more than a teen sitter.

– The number and age of your children. In general, it is more work to baby-sit for more children, and the babysitter’s pay should reflect this. In addition, it is more difficult to care for a small child than for older children; the babysitter’s pay should also reflect this. For each child beyond the first, you should add around 25% to the rate; do the same for each child under the age of two.

– Length of the job. If you need a babysitter overnight or longer, the actual hourly rate will often be less than if you are just going out for a few hours.

– Special dates. If you need a babysitter for New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s day, expect to pay more than if you need a babysitter for another day.

– Extra responsibilities. If you expect your babysitter to do any household chores or cleaning, expect to pay more for these services.

In addition, if you have a babysitter that does a particularly good job, or that you want to have back again, you might consider giving a “bonus” payment.

Posted in Child Care Issues

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