My husband and I are faced with the dilema, due to the economy, of not being able to afford flights for our two kids to go with us to my BIL wedding at the end of April, so we are wondering how it would compare to pay someone to watch them for the weekend.
We talked to the mother of a senior girl at our church and she is willing to watch them over night at their house, but she too has no idea of what to charge - she is one of those baby-sitters that says "pay me what you think is fair". Which is sweet and nice, but I'd really like a number. So, what is the going rate?
To better evaluate the situation, here are the facts:
- my kids are two and four
- the two year old is still in diapers, the four year old is completely potty trained
- they have no dietary restrictions
- they both are pretty good kids and sleep well at night too
- the wedding is on a Saturday morning followed by the receptions, so we are trying to fly out Friday night and fly home Saturday night, or Sunday morning.
Any advice you have for paying the baby-sitter or helping prepare my kids for this would be greatly appreciated. My kids have stayed the night away from us before, but it was at my sister's house. We aren't doing that again because they came home throwing a lot of fits and seemed to pick up some bad habits while there and it took us two months of time to undo what a weekend had installed.
Thanks!
Friends of mine that often left their one child overnight were charged $60 per night. When I had a friend watch my 2 boys, 2 and 4 for a weekend I gave her $160 plus enough grocerys for everyone for the entire weekend.
When I babysat overnight, I generally charged for my waking hours (so $8-$12/hr depending on the number of children, multiplied by 16-17 hrs). If it was for a weekend or longer, I charged for the childrens' waking hours (regular rate multipled by 12-13 hrs). I second the parent who recommended a medical release - your ped probably has a standardized form you can sign and add the dates you'll be gone. And consider having the teen at your house instead of at hers if that's OK with the teen and her mother. Yours kids will likely handle your "long" absence better in their own environment. Your house is baby-proofed - is hers?
Additionally - when my husband is away on business or even has a really late night at the office, he'll call home at bedtime and read a book over the phone to our son, and then sing his bedtime song (husband does the bedtime routine every night). It really helps my son the settle in for the night.
Safe travels! Enjoy your night(s) away. ~ D.
I would offer her a total number for the weekend. I think $200 is fair for two nights which I'm assuming covers the days too.
I think you are doing the right thing by saying the kids need to be watched at her house, where she has parents home too. Honestly, I personally would hire someone 21+ for overnight positions. It's just better, make sure the sitter has a medical release for your kids too, just in case. NOTARIZED!
I think $200 for 2 nights is definitely fair.
Honestly, I really would not trust anyone with my children over night at that age. But if you are determined to do that I'd say 20 for the Fri night and 40 for sat if you keep them till the night time. Might want to throw in another 10 if you pick them up sunday.
My kids are the same age as yours, and we have a 19 year old assistant teacher from their daycare babysit sometimes and pay her $12/hr. But since this is a highschooler I'm thinking $100/day might be fair? It is always something I struggle with, because on the one hand I don't want to go broke getting a sitter, but you also want to pay enough that you know they will take extra good care of your kids, AND want to do it again should it come up. Good luck!
We went on a couple of overnight trips before baby #2 came along (in fact, that's how we got baby #2, but that's a different story :-). My daughter was 2.5 at the time. We paid our babysitter (one of her preschool teachers) her regular hourly rate ($10) the whole weekend, minus eight sleeping hours per night unpaid. She came to our house, so my daughter was in her own environment with minimal disruption. The deal was that we would pay her extra if my daughter woke up and needed attention in the night, but she actually slept better while we were awAy!
To prep my daughter, we started saying things like " you get to have special time with your favorite teacher all weekend! Wow!l
You mention that when you left your kids with your sister at her house overnight they came home out of sync and with several bad habits. To minimize their trauma, I would have a sitter babysit in your house, where there is familiarity and the sitter could follow your routine. Be aware that no sitter or location will change your homecoming, the 'fits' and bad habits were their 'gift' to you for having abandoned them, or so it seemed to them, you left them behind, not for a simple night out or trip to the mall, but over night and away from home. Kids do that, they make parents 'pay'. You need to do this, but be aware that there will be some negative behaviors when you get home, no matter how well they were cared for or how much fun they had in your absence. It's pay back time.
I realize that having the high school senior watch them at her parents house that you are really getting 2 sitters for the price of 1, mom and daughter.
If the sitter is coming to your home, I would say $100 - $150 depending on whether or not she sits for another night, you mentioned you may not fly home until Sunday. If the kids are going to her parents home for her to watch, then it would be $150-$200, as you're using her home, her things, and she's feeding them.
You're fortunate to have such a responsible teen in your neighborhood and one with supportive parents to back her up. Enjoy your weekend away!
We had a high school senior watch our daughter 2 overnights and just make sure she got to and from school safely. Our daughter was 14 at the time so low maintainence.
We paid extra for a pet sitter to come care for the pets at appx $120
We left on a Sunday afternoon late and returned on a Tuesday before she was out of school SO, sitter was here late Sun afternoon spent night, got her to school, Mon by 8:15, picked up by 3:30, stayed with her from 3:30 til next Tues am for school, etc.
We paid her $450. 1/2 cash in advance and the balance when we got home.
Hope that helps.
I pay my teen sitters $5 per hour. Assuming your kids sleep 12 hours a day, that would be $70 per day. Then I'd add in another $20 for feeding, etc for the weekend. My friends with 2 kids say they pay $7 per hour for teen age sitter. I would think if you are only going to be gone 24 - 30 hours, a teen would be thrilled with $100, that's assuming the kids are sleeping 12 - 14 hours of that time. (and leave a schedule with suggestions for what to do during waking hours if you don't want your kids having a SpongeBob fest). Be specific about T.V. time, cause I've found out that some sitters just turn on the T.V. to pass the time because my daughter asked for it. Hope you have a fun weekend!
We just paid an overnight babysitter a couple months ago. We weren't sure what to pay, either. We went with $125 for the night (about 3 pm to noon the next day). Our kids are three and seven. They usually sleep through the night but our son was disoriented going to the bathroom and peed all down her hall in the middle of the night, so she did end up with nighttime kid duty. So, you can't really guarantee what will happen.
Be sure to send them with plenty of comfort items from home, including their own pillows, favorite stuffed animals, favorite books, etc. You also might pack any favorite snacks, too. Also provide the babysitter with health insurance info. and contact info. for the pediatrician, along with a form authorizing her to give your kids medical care in your absence.
For one child, one night from 4pm to noon, we paid a 17 year old babysitter $120. She came to our house, so the disruption was minimal for our son. Also, he sleeps from 7pm to close to 7am. We usually pay this babysitter $8/hr, but we obviously paid her less for her sleeping hours.
