Current rate?

[Bathsheba]

Yep, that sounds right for Melbourne Kelly. I don't use Juniors. Preferably I like my sitters to be mums themselves although we had a 27yo non mum last year but she was a teacher... People tell us that we could get our 13yo DD to sit the boys while we go out for a meal... but...nooooo. Sorry, that's not going to happen until she's at least 15.... and even then it will be only when we are in the same suburb.

[Lewis's Mummy]

Wow, what a variety, and I can't get over the effects of inflation since I reckon my parents paid our babysitters about $20 for the evening!... I might talk to her mum about it... she's 15, mum is a midwife and they live about 5 houses down the street so her mum is close by, plus I only need her for about half an hour or even less if DH gets his bum into gear and leaves work on time to get home by the time of my appt! Like all of you, certainly wish I'd earned that sort of money babysitting!

[Naomi08]

For what it is worth, I have a girlfriend who has a 15 yr old daughter who looks after my 6yr old sometimes. The agreement that we have with her is $50 per night. Flat rate.

My thoughts on the matter are that at 15yrs of age, they can either go and make their $7.50 per hour at Woolworths or McDonalds and have to deal with a snotty supervisor, pay tax and wear a uniform which they do not like, or they can sit on my sofa, eat my snack foods, watch my DVD's, and probably sit on MSN chatting to their friends all night, while only really watching a sleeping child for 5 out of 6 hrs...

The only reason that babysitters ask such high rates is because we keep paying them....

In your case, don't pay money. Buy her an eyelash tint or a mini manicure from a local beauty place.... Teenage girls love that sort of stuff... and it will not cost you more than $20.

Then offer her more regular babysitting gigs.....BUT YOU SET THE PRICE.

If she is not interested in working for what you are offering, then look elsewhere.

Ladies, lets take back some of the control..... At 15yrs of age would any of us questioned $20 per night???? I don't think so.... And it has nothing to do with inflation....it has everything to do with being greedy.

[WestChick]

i use to babysit for $ 5 p/h when i was 14,15 worked in child care for not much more, $6/$7 ph untill i got to 18 then got paid like $13 ph lol and just this year i was gettin paid $15.50 per hour... working full time, and this was with a company that is huge! money wasnt the problem, i love kids, worked in childcare for 6 years, and thought it was time to have one of my own .i dont work there anymore though, decided to get out of the major stress environment, wasnt getting on with some workmates.

[AliBaby]

I have only just stopped babysitting as of this year. When I was at uni I would charge $15 an hour and if it required me to drive around and pick kids up, etc, cook meals I would charge $20 an hour. Mind you people were always happy to pay this as I would clean up the kitchen for them and any toys and things lying around. I live in Sydney. I think alot depends on where you are babysitting.

Also she may not have felt comfortable asking you for a certain amount. I know I never did. Maybe you can say to her how does $ an hour sound to you...I also liked Naomi's idea of buying her a beauty treatment. I know if I used to babysit for family my aunties, step mum would do this for me and I loved it as it is a little uncomfortable accepting money from ppl you are close to.

[CrystalBoo]

I think you pay what you think it's worth to have your child's life in someone else's hands.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Ladies, lets take back some of the control..... At 15yrs of age would any of us questioned $20 per night???? I don't think so.... And it has nothing to do with inflation....it has everything to do with being greedy.

My sister works in childcare, and she also babysits on nights and weekends, charging $15 per hour - more if there are more than 2 children. I understand what you're saying, but think of it from this angle: your babysitter has agreed to look after your children, presumably play with them for a while, get them ready for bed, read to them, put them in bed, and keep an eye on them while they're sleeping. All of this generally on a Friday night or on the weekend, when teenagers generally like to go out and have a good time.

Add to that the fact that, while you can discipline you're children (whatever way you choose to discipline them), a babysitter can't - EVER. And some kids take advantage of that, and push the limits, coz they realise the babysitter can't do anything about it. I have known my sister to drop her rate when the parents get back if the kids have been really easy to look after - having a $15 per hour rate gives her the ability to be flexible, but still fair on herself if the kids end up being rotten, KWIM?

[angelaartsstudent]

I babysat for a lady once who tried to pay me with a bag of Speed.

I turned her down...would have preferred the cash!

[mrsmac]

DD charges $10 per hour but she hasn't got her licence yet so she has to be driven home afterwards. I get her for free LOL

[~Jo~]

Wow that is crazy. I had no idea it was so expensive! My 15 yo dd works at macdonalds earning her now $8 an hour and she is happy with that. It allows her to appreciate the efforts of her work, and that nothing, is for free and a given right. It has allowed her to learn about the value of money, as she no longer receives pocket money for making her bed etc.

I cant believe it is costing that much money for a night out.

Jo

[luna moth]

I charge $20/hr in Brisbane if it's a cash day job. Nights, $15. Melbourne and Sydney I used to get more.

I charge that because no matter what the kids are doing (and I can handle pretty much anything, I've been doing it forever) I am away from my DH, not in my own home, perhaps I've given up a social engagement to do it. It's no different to a day at work for me.

For a teenager though, I'd say go for about what Maccas pays, that was roughly equivalent to what I got as a 14 year old. So, what's that these days, maybe about $9 or $10? Go for a bit less at night. Bear in mind that the better they like you (they're teenagers after all) the more likely they are to be available down the track.

For someone with no quals but a bit more mature (student etc) then maybe a bit more...

Hope that helps!

[Melanie1]

I'm Melanie and live in Manor lakes, Wyndham vale. (not too far from Melbourne!) I am British and was a nanny for 20+ years in the UK. I now have 2 adopted kids attending Manor lakes College (g6 and b8). Was wondering what to do with some of my days and having just found this site, has given me an idea. What about private day care?? Just a thought, if anybody would be interested then contact me and we could always chat and go from there, plenty of references etc.