L.K.
I pay my sitter $10 for watching our 3 1/2 years old twins. She drives to our house so I figure that's worth it. I have friends who pay $8 an hour but they pick up/drop off the sitter who is younger.I would negotiate it ahead of time . Oh, some sitters are better at playing with the kids so I would start low if the sitter is inexperienced . You can always give more as she gets older or has more responsibilites. I wish I would have given less initially because when you are gone for a longer period and the kids are sleeping you still have to pay the agreed amount. It adds up fast :)