My husband and I are trying to go away for 24 hours for the first time in five years. We normally pay our sitter 12 an hour for two boys ages 3 and 5, but if we were to pay her for 24 hours- that would be close to 300. which seems very high to me. What do you pay your sitters for an overnight stay? (Sitter would stay here and we would provide food and activities.)
I have paid full hourly rate for the time my children are awake and 1/2 of the hourly rate for the asleep hours. So a 10am - 10am babysitting job would be this:
10am - 8pm full rate for 10 hours = $120
8pm - 7am 1/2 rate for 11 hours = $66
7am - 10am full rate for 3 hours = $36
Total cost: $222
You will get a lot of people who will say regular rate for hours the kid is typically awake and then 1/2 time for when the kid is asleep.
24 hours is longer than an "overnight", so it is going to cost you.
It also depends..... Age of kid(s) and how many?
Your house or the sitter's house? And, which does the sitter prefer? Are you paying for activities and food? Or does the sitter provide that?
I would probably offer $150 and my house including all food and see what your sitter says.
Have fun on your trip.
If you are going for the weekend overnight then I would pay them $100-$150. Then I would make sure they have some cash on hand for extra's like...maybe pizza and a movie, or to buy something yummy at the store like ice cream and cookies...
I just asked my sitter what she would charge and she told me $150. Why not ask her?
@ meredith- I asked her and she said 300.+, but she admitted she doesn't know the going rate. So I posted here to find that out... Thanks!
The sitter I use for overnighters is college-educated and in her mid-20s. She charges $10/hr while the kids are awake, and a set $50 overnight fee. She watched mine from noon to noon, and I paid $180. I also provided all food and activities. Oh and my kids are 6 and 3. Enjoy your trip!
I'd go with a set rate, like salary versus hourly, that way it isn't such a formula that you have to adjust - if the kids don't fall asleep right away, sleep in, get up early etc. Figure approximately what it should be worth to you and to the sitter, who hopefully knows you, your kids and your house, and talk a lot before hand. Because it is a big chunk of time, you should both be happy with a bulk rate. Communicate what you want, what you don't want, what you will provide and if this goes well, maybe it could happen a few times a year, which gives both of you incentive to make it feel like a fair price all around - if it isn't too expensive maybe you can do it more frequently, and if it feels like a fair price your sitter may be willing to do it every 4-6 months or so. Have a set rate in your head, then ask what they think is fair, then see how close you are to each other's number and compromise. The key is communication and trust.
Remember that taking time for you makes you able to be a better mother; and the best gift a parent can give to a child is to love their other parent. You are taking care of you and your relationship - what a great gift to you, your husband and your children! Have Fun!!!!
