Paying a babysitter, the right rate can be a little difficult. You may not be entirely sure of the rate and lots of parents don’t want to rob themselves but equally, they don’t want to rob a babysitter either.
Paying a babysitter, the right rate can be a little difficult. You may not be entirely sure of the rate and lots of parents don’t want to rob themselves but equally, they don’t want to rob a babysitter either. If you have other parent pals and ones who use babysitters, the answer is easily accessed but there are plenty of parents who don’t have parent friends, and many are unaware of the prices babysitters charge. Therefore, we have compiled some tips for you below:
Firstly, ask yourself a few questions:
- What time is your babysitter babysitting at? Time dictates the price especially if you are running into the early hours of the morning. Some babysitters will provide a flat rate for the night regardless of you coming home at midnight or 2 am but this may not suit all babysitters either.
- Will you provide them with a lift home or pay for a taxi? Obviously, you need to make sure your babysitter gets home safely and there are a few options including getting a taxi for them or if you have not been drinking alcohol you could drop them home yourself. Some babysitters may live next door or close by on foot, but you should check that they get home safely. Quite a lot of babysitters may have their own parents around to collect them from babysitting especially if they are younger babysitters and not comfortable getting into a taxi. These are things you need to consider before you engage a babysitter and if they do require a taxi it is expected that you cover the cost for it too along with payment for their services.
- How many kids do you have? If you have one child – who will be in bed the whole evening it is fair to offer a lower rate than that of a family with 3-4 children. You may know yourself how much work your kids need and if they require bedtime stories, running around after them and potential upsets it is in your interest to look after your babysitter. Otherwise, they may find the work not reflective of their payment and you may not be able to get a babysitter again! For babies, remember your babysitter will have a huge amount of responsibility especially if they need to do a night feed or multiple checks on your infant. Take these into consideration and you won’t go wrong in figuring out a fair pay rate.
The current rate of babysitters is as follows but remember this is a rough guide and it may differ regarding circumstances:
For under 18’s it is acceptable to pay €8 an hour before midnight and perhaps a little more after midnight. Parents need to consider the number of children they have and perhaps add a euro or two more if there are two or more kiddies.
Note: You should always check a babysitter’s references and ensure they are responsible and capable of caring for your kiddies especially when the babysitters are under 18 years old.
For over 18’s the general rate of pay is €10 per hour with it jumping to €12 per hour after midnight - unless you have an agreed flat rate per night irrespective of hours.
Remember to treat a good babysitter well and try to commit to a time in which you expect to arrive home. This works well if you are providing a flat rate fee as your babysitter won’t feel taken advantage of and therefore will be happy to babysit again!
Written by Emma Hayes staff writer at FFHQ who also blogs at www.emmamadjotters.com.