How to Pay a Babysitter

You want to go out for a night on the town, but finding a babysitter who is dependable and you can trust is not always easy. Once you find the perfect sitter, you have to determine what you should pay her. Most sitters are paid hourly. Follow the steps below to determine what you should pay your babysitter.

Instructions

1. Consider the age of your child. Babies usually take more work than an older child. Also, if you have more than one child, paying the babysitter a high rate may be necessary.

2. Keep the temperament of your child in mind. If you know your child is somewhat difficult to deal with, you may want to increase pay. For example, if you have a very active two-year old who is impossible to get to sleep, pay your sitter a bit more.

3. Decide if your babysitter will be doing extra duties. For example, if your sitter will also be doing light housework, consider paying more. Some things to keep in mind are whether your sitter will be making the kids dinner, giving baths or picking up and driving your kids anywhere. The more you expect your sitter to do, the higher the pay should be.

4. Ask friends and family what they pay their babysitters. Where you live plays a role in what babysitters usually get paid. Keep in mind babysitters may generally be paid more in parts of the country that have a higher cost of living.

5. Take into account the age of your babysitter. A younger sitter such as a young teenager will usually not expect pay as high as an adult or college student. The more qualifications and experience a babysitter has, the higher the pay should be.

6. Discuss payment with the babysitter before he starts. Some sitters may have a rate they charge and will let you know if your payment is acceptable. Agreeing to payment upfront will prevent disagreements at the end of the day.

7. Give a raise. Once your babysitter has proven she is dependable and does a good job, periodically consider giving her a raise. This will hopefully keep your babysitter happy and keep her coming back.