Babysitting

tryinghard40

My 14 year old daughter has just started babysitting to earn some extra pocket money.

How much do you think is a reasonable amount for her to charge? should she charge extra for after midnight?

tanith

I think honestly I wouldn't let a 14yr old babysit after midnight unless staying the night and it was with family.

I am sure someone will come along with the 'going rate' soon...

Glen0000

I woudn't let a 14 yr old babysit, certainly not at night.

£20 an evening would be reasonable, with an extra £5 per hour after midnight, but IMHO it is not worth the risk, for the 14 yr old or the children they are sitting.

tryinghard40

She has been babysitting for about 5 months now (she will be 15 next month). She is a mature girl and very responsible and quite used to caring for children as she has a 4 year old brother and i have been a child minder for 11 years!

some of your comments have made feel like i shouldnt be letting her babysit. She only sits for people we know and who live in our small rural village, i also make sure that she is walked home or i collect her myself.

i just wanted to know if she was charging enough as i dont want her working for nothing, her rate at the moment is £3.00 an hour and she has only worked past midnight once and that was pre arranged.

Glen0000

tryinghard40 wrote: »

She has been babysitting for about 5 months now (she will be 15 next month). She is a mature girl and very responsible and quite used to caring for children as she has a 4 year old brother and i have been a child minder for 11 years!

some of your comments have made feel like i shouldnt be letting her babysit. She only sits for people we know and who live in our small rural village, i also make sure that she is walked home or i collect her myself.

i just wanted to know if she was charging enough as i dont want her working for nothing, her rate at the moment is £3.00 an hour and she has only worked past midnight once and that was pre arranged.

If anything was to happen to those kids in her care social services would be down on you like a ton of bricks. I can't believe a registered childminder would not know this! Doesn't matter how "mature" she is. She is 14.

Even the NSPCC says babysitters should be over 16. http://www.nspcc.org.uk/HelpAndAdvice/Parentsandcarers/HomeAlone/homealone_wda35965.html

Also children are abused almost always by people they know, so the fact you know these people does not make your daughter any safer from sexual abuse.

Not worth the risk for a few pounds in her pocket.

elainew

Gawd I was babysitting from age 12 for family and friends. As long as she is on the other end of a phone in an emergency then i wouldnt worry about her.
Its rubbish that social services would be down on you--there is no legal age to babysit in England.
I would charge £5 an hour and extra after midnight and they must ensure she is safely home.
Wish she lived near me--I'm after a babysitter and wouldnt hesitate leaving my dd with someone mature and capable.

SandC

Well said elaine - we need to give lots of teenagers some credit - along with their parents and those who are happy for them to babysit for their children, who they already know.

I was babysitting from age 13 no problems whatsoever, it's a total myth this aged 16 malarkey.

If kids weren't so mollycoddled at a young age then many more would be responsible enough to be able to do things like this.

shimmershelly

My DD's school run Red Cross babysitting courses for girls in year 9, or 14 and over so they don't see a problem with 14 year olds babysitting (nor do I, my DD will babysit for family and close friends once she turns 14 and completes the course).
This is from the NSPCC link, it recommends not asking anyone under 16 to babysit because of the legal implications if anything goes wrong.

lostinrates

It makes me a little frustrated that we don't encourage teens to babysit...with their parent's or the child's parents at the end of a phone its a great way to encourage themto take responsibilty. When so many children of that age are having children, the others should be able to handle a well, easy child for a few hours! I loved my babysitters when I was little, they provided a great bridge between child and adult, and I felt so proud when I started babysitting as a teen. There are saftey concerns, which teens should be made aware of, and it might even be adviceable to give her a personal alarm.

When I left for university all the younger kids in my road who had all been babysat by me at one point or another, got together and gave me cards and a gift I treasure even now almost fifteen years later.

fwiw OP as a teen I had two rates: the one off rate and the regular rate. e.g. I babysat one boy twice week, it was guaranteed, and his mother paid me a little less than she would on a Staurday night out etc. Most people would offer to drive me home (very close) or walk me back if they'd come home in a taxi, but a couple of families gave me the choice of staying the night.

I don't know what the going rate is but good luck to OPs daughter.

fernliebee

I babysat for lot's of children of family or friends from about 12, all of whom were local so my mum was a min away if any problems. I was very mature for my age, and had a lot of experience with children. I never had any serious problems I couldn't deal with, although looking back a few people did take the mickey, and expect waaay to much for my £10 per eve. I use to babysit as an adult a few years ago, and as a qualified playleader/first aider would get £20-30 for an eve.

tryinghard40

thanks for the support folks, i was worried when i read 'social services would be down on me like a ton of bricks'

like i said before she only babysits for people we know and she is always escorted home, amd mostly i can be with her in less than 10 mins if an emegency arrises.

i am pleased that she wants to earn herself some money so she can be more independant, jobs in my are for youngsters are few and far between and i dont want her working in a pub, even just doing dishes.