How much do you pay babysitters?

[KatieBDR]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a very happy work at home mom (I work on my own time, so always with the kids when they are awake) but sometimes need a little break to get out alone since my soon to be three year old doesn't nap and my baby won't let me put him down (and refuses a bottle, so very attached!). It's a long day, to say the least

I just started interviewing babysitters so I could regularly schedule two afternoons a week for 1.5-2 hours each time.

So, my question is, how much do you pay your babysitters? I would probably leave both the kids but might take my daughter for some one on one time every so often. I specified in my ad for graduate students or at least people in their*twenties since I want someone mature enough to handle both, though she has to be silly enough to entertain my daughter

One asked $10/hour but the one I really want (and I'm sure will end up hiring) asked for $12/hour. She's a grad student in child psychology and was great with them so her asking price doesn't seem unreasonable.*I live in a suburb in upstate NY, so we aren't talking Manhattan, where I think it's like $20/hour.

I'd love to hear from all of you what you pay!

Thanks,

Katie

[Amy Jacobs]

for me I only have a babysitter when hubby and I have date night and its gra gra (that's what my kiddos call grandma) I don't think $12 is bad at all though.. If you like her its definitely worth it!

[avonlady916]

Im the Grandma

I dont get paid in cash, I get paid in Love

Bonnie

[KatieBDR]

Ha, okay. Yeah, my parents were our only babysitters for a while but now I just need a little more of a regular break and my mom is going back and forth all the time between my kids and my sister's four kids!

[DebraFerrie]

I don't use babysitters but have often heard that $10 for 1 child, $12 for 2 and $15 for 3 kids is a common rate.

[KatieBDR]

OK, thanks, that does sound about right. When I used to babysit about 10 years ago, I was happy with just $6 per hour for three kids!