Babysitting Rates

Sunnydoo

Can anyone help please- a mum i am friendly with at school has asked me to babysit this weekend when my DD is at her dad's

She is a single parent with a 2 1/2 year old & nearly 7 year old & i think she will want me from about 9-12 but it may be longer.

The younger girl will be in bed but i'll have to put the older one to bed

Any ideas on what i should charge her ?-don't want to charge the full going rate as she's on her own but don't want to work for peanuts either as her kids can be difficult sometimes

Thanks

needtoshopgal

My babysitter charges £5 an hour, which is the going rate. You could ask her for £3 or £3.50 an hour, or just say "Oh give me a tenner" if you are feeling generous!! If she is someone you would trust, then how about you ask if she will return the favour in a few weeks and have her sit for you, then no money need change hands.

Sunnydoo

Thanks for the advice

I don't think she'd babysit for me & i'd rather have the money TBH but i'll see how long she wants me for then name a figure now that i know the going rate

forsya

I babysit for my neighbour and there is no fixed rate really, I normally get around £20 per night, for 4 hrs or so. Sometimes I pop round and cover for half and hour or so and say don't worry about paying for that!

I would say a tenner or £15 even, like you say she is on her own, so don't want to charge full rates, I would see what she offers you.

Although she is a mate, you don't want her to then ask you to do it all the time for nothing.

Tricky isn't it friends and money balance, but you are working in effect so should be paid me thinks!!

xx

graemecarter

Sunnydoo wrote:

Can anyone help please- a mum i am friendly with at school has asked me to babysit this weekend when my DD is at her dad's

She is a single parent with a 2 1/2 year old & nearly 7 year old & i think she will want me from about 9-12 but it may be longer.

The younger girl will be in bed but i'll have to put the older one to bed

Any ideas on what i should charge her ?-don't want to charge the full going rate as she's on her own but don't want to work for peanuts either as her kids can be difficult sometimes

Thanks

I think £7.50 is the minimum we could pay (in London) - so I would charge £20 for 3 hours

pipkin71

I would make sure the going rate is sorted in advance - that way, you know what you're earning and the other mum knows how much she will have to pay, saving on resentment from either party afterwards.

With regards how much to charge, I charge my good friends £10 for the evening and a woman I know from school who is not on a drop round for coffee list anytime you like, more a 10 minute conversation in the playground - £15.

Charge what you would feel comfortable with is my advice xxxxx

Ceri_2

I have my NNEB and have not babysat for over 10 years. I babysat for the first time on sunday for a mate. She knew I didn't know what to charge, and she also knows I have child care qualifications. But I was still gobsmacked at her giving me £30! I was there from 7-11.45 but we nattered from 7-8 so was only really looking after the kids from 8. They were both asleep by 8.45 as well!

I didn't want to charge her at all, but she knows I need the money & the other diff is her hubby is in a really well paid job & she works part time, basically I know they have the money.

When I babysat when I was training I got £5 a night!

Hoopylass

I am a fully qualified nursery nurse and childrens nurse and I babysit in my spare time. I charge £5-6 per hour.