Babysitter Advice

[CliffFletcher]

It would be interesting to track the cost of babysitters with inflation over the last 40 years or so. Seems to me the price has increased significantly faster than inflation would warrant. I'm guessing it's a supply issues - fewer kids willing to babysit. Gone are the days when any neighbourhood kid between 12 and 17 was available and considered suitable to babysit for a few hours.

On the other hand, my guess is demand is down. Parents of young kids seemed to go out more often in the past (my parents and most of the neighbours went out and got babysitters at least a couple times a month). I know some parents who have never had a babysitter. They either bring their kid(s) with them when they go out, or one parent stays home.

[DoubleF]

My parents used to do a flat rate and provide dinner. No idea what that amount was as it was nearly 2 decades ago.

[loob job]

I think 12-15 bucks an hour is more than fair.

[Peanut]

We pay $11/hr. It's expensive. I find the trickiest part is finding stuff to do that makes It worth an extra $60+ tacked onto an evening out. There isn't much that's worth it to me because I'm exhausted usually anyways. But on the other hand we need to go out frequently enough to keep her interested in working for us.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Peanut

We pay $11/hr. It's expensive. I find the trickiest part is finding stuff to do that makes It worth an extra $60+ tacked onto an evening out. There isn't much that's worth it to me because I'm exhausted usually anyways. But on the other hand we need to go out frequently enough to keep her interested in working for us.

Just....such an odd post.

Time away from children is worth it. But I find it interesting that you're more concerned about keeping the babysitter interested than either your husband or yourself.

I'd tell her to baby-sit while I'm in the other room with a bottle of scotch reveling in my irresponsibility.

"The house is on fire!!"

- This sounds distinctly like the babysitter's problem.

"But you set the fire!"

- Let's not get bogged down by who set what ablaze....

[GP_Matt]

Thanks guys,

I will clarify that the mom is babysitting but the six year old (actually 8) is excited for the task.

She has been clear that she doesn't want anything so I will leave some good food in the house and then take her for lunch next week.

On pricing, I recall that it was always below minimum wage for a baby sitter in the past. I think parents standards are getting higher though. People want responsible adults and honour students in grade twelve now instead of the traditional, anyone girl over twelve or boy over fourteen.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Gone are the days when any neighbourhood kid between 12 and 17 was available and considered suitable to babysit for a few hours.

When I was a teenager, I always figured my parents told my neighbours it was okay to give me $5 no matter how long they were out. Maybe it was to offset the fact that those same neighbours took care of the yard when we would be on vacation...