What is a fair payment for a teenage babysitter? I have three children but not all would stay at the same time. Do you pay a flat rate then so much more per child? Does the rate depend on the age of the child? For example, Our baby goes to bed at 7:00 and if the older two are with us and we leave after 7:00,the sitter would only be busy in the case of a rare wakeup.
I try to pay well... but I also expect a lot. After all, if the teen thinks you are cheap and there is not a whole lot in it for them, they certainly will not put forth the extra effort! So, I pay $9/hr with a $20 minimum. If there are more kids, I'd add an extra $1/hr per kid. And that's whether they are sleeping or not - I don't want the teen 'checking out' while I'm not home because they don't get paid to watch a kid sleep. I want her attentive and focused the entire time.
I ask her to make sure all the dishes she uses are rinsed and placed in the sink.... and to pick up the toys left behind after bedtime. If I get home and my house is trashed, the teen will not come back to babysit again. Ditto if my DD tells me the teen used her cell phone, or had someone come over.
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We know you are a busy mom and that's why we've created this site to make
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We know you are a busy mom and that's why we've created this site to make
your life as a parent a bit easier - as well as more fun. PolkMoms.com moderator Shawn Arnold is the mother of five children ranging from 18 months to 17 years. Her experiences include being a divorced mom, single mom, working mom, dating mom, remarried mom, stay-at-home mom, and a stepmom.
More about us and our editor