Babysititng Rates for Two Kids

I'd truly ask a friend to baby sit and exchange with her so she and her hubby can go out one night. Babysitters demand to much money for babysitting Mondays. I think it's robbery! Really, Full time professional child care providers don't get paid the wages babysitter's want.

I'd go with a friend and either pay them what you'd want or trade off with one of them. Like a co-op or barter system.

I do believe it varies per region. Around here my daughter is a sought after sitter with 4 regular families. She does NOT set a rate. The minimum rate ( even when we hired sitters for our daughter) is $10/hr.

My daughter averages $12-$15 an hour and easily brings in about $100 for 1 weekend night. Her families children range from 1 child to 4 children. She recently moved out for college and she still babysits for these families. Two of the families have been regulars for about 4 yrs.

When we hired sitters.. We had date night every week because we feel that's a priority for a relationship. As a courtesy, we guaranteed a minimum of $40 a night because the sitter did block that night for us. We paid $40 if we had to cancel as well. Then on date night we paid according to how late we were out which averaged $60-$100 for each date night.

We made sure to make it worth our sitters time. If you pay well you keep your good sitters.

Enjoy your night out!!

I am in Texas and own a babysitting service specifically geared to date nights etc. When I researched to find the avg rates that is what I based mine off of. I am experienced in childcare, nanny and babysitting. With certifications such as cpr/first aid and SIDS/shaken baby syndrome.

If the person that is watching your kids has experence and creditials then they need to be paid for that. The avg rate is 12/hr for the first and 2/hr for the 2nd (and so forth if you have more)

Also most require 4 hour minimum. Remember your child's safety is first and so finding the right sitter is important if you are using a teenager down the road i would make sure she has her cpr at least done and I would pay her prob 10/11 hour as they dont have the experiece

Definitely a market-specific question. I'm intrigued by the responses from LA and NY, more reasons not to live there :-)

Phoenix data points for you - but I agree that you should ask the sitter:
- We pay the 16 year olds in the neighborhood $8/hour for 2 kids (which started when they were the ages of yours; now 2 and 5)
- When we looked through Sitter City for a daytime 10hrs/week sitter for the 8 month old, we had our pick at $10-12 an hour - but none cheaper (all 18+)
- We pay the college grads who come for date night currently about $10-11 an hour averaged out -- but for the 2-4 hours, the kids are only awake for about 90 minutes of that.

Prob $12-15. Does baby take a bottle well?

I think you should just ask the sitter. Then you and he/she will both be on the same page. I babysat a ton when I was in junior high and high school and the hourly rate varied based on the family, the ages of the kids, how well behaved (or not) the kids were and how much "work" it was (was I just putting them to bed and then watching TV on the sofa all night or was I making dinner, bathing them etc.). I loved being around kids so it wasn't so much about the money for me. I would ask the sitter, "on average what do you get paid per hour?" and then see what he/she says. If it's higher than you were expecting, let them know and then see if it's acceptable.

You will get a lot of ranges on this. For 2 young ones I pay $12 for the hours they are awake and $10 for the hours they are asleep. They are also 20 somethings who were former teachers at our daycare so extremely qualified. For a highschooler I would probably go slightly lower.

depends on where you live, can you ask neighbors what they pay?

Our AMAZING babysitter we have had for two years now makes $10 an hour for our 3 kids. They are 6, 8, and 10, so they are pretty self sufficient.

We use her every week Mon-Fri to get the kids up and on the bus. My husband used to work 2 hours away (and may go back to that shortly) so I have to leave the house at 615 in order to be home to get the kids off the bus. Her normal hours would be 615-815ish (when the bus comes) and she got $20 for that. The kids don't get up until around 7. Lately though, my husband hasn't been leaving until 7 (since he is working 5 minutes away like I do). I am off every other Friday as well...she still gets $20/day - regardless of whether we use her or not and regardless of how long she is there. Even if it is 30 minutes, she gets $20. So I think what we pay her really evens out in the long run.

But honestly, talk to your potential sitter about it. Don't ask what they want, offer something and ask if that is good with them. I'd say $10/hour is fine.

It really depends on where you live. We pay $10 for two kids, but I'm surprised some are paying up to $25/ hour here.

Will the 2 month old be awake or in bed for the night already? When we had 2, I paid my sitter $8/hour if my youngest was already asleep before we left and $10 if he needed her attention also. I should say that my sitter was only 14 at the time and her rates were incredibly cheap because she refused to be paid more. Normally, babysitters charge no less than $10/hour for 1 and $12-15 for 2.

I would first ask the girl/woman how much she charges. Sometimes it's less than you think, which is always nice. Of course, sometimes it's more, but then you know at least and can choose to pay it or find someone else.

Other than that, I would say a minimum of about $8-10/hour. I think if the sitter is around middle school age then it's more acceptable to pay $8-9 but a high schooler or adult may get more like $10.

I think your wild card is the baby. If the baby will need a lot of care, then you might want to pay more.

I live in Gilbert and when we have a babysitter I calculate what I pay as a combo of an amount per hour and making sure what I'm paying is worth their time. Especially if we're only out a couple hours. I think it usually ends up to be $8-10 per hour. I have two kids, 5 and 10. We don't go out much though. paying for a babysitter can make a simple night out cost a small fortune.

I agree what you pay should depend on how much the babysitter has to "work". If the kids will be in bed shortly after she arrives, then than I'd think you should payless for that time.

My favorite thing to do is swap babysitting with friends. I've actually always wanted to start a babysitting co-op where the parents pay with poker chips and earn chips by babysitting. Have fun on your night out.

I'd say $15-$25/hour, depending on whether the sitter is a teenager or an experienced older adult. (Maybe rates are higher near me than some of the below posts...I don't know any sitter who would take two small kids for $12 or less.)

As Gamma G said, maybe see if a friend could just do it for free as a favor, and you can return the favor in the future.

In Seattle expect to pay $15/hour.

is it a teen or a grown person? a living wage if the latter - minimum wage if the former.

Oye.. when I was a teenage sitter, I was happy to get $2.00 an hr.. One family gave me $5.00 for the first hr and $3.00 each additional.

I have not paid a sitter that often , but it has been $10.00 an hr..

I can not belive someone pay $25.00 an hr.. that almost what I make an hour.. WOW.