Some babysitters have a set or standard rate, and in these cases, you wouldn't have to trouble yourself about how much you should be paying her.
But there are times when the babysitter will wait for you to name a rate, after which you can both negotiate.
When it is your call, you might find yourself stumped, especially if you've never hired a babysitter before.
Here's a hint- the average going rate for babysitters in America is about three to five dollars an hour.
But it differs from one sitter to another, depending on certain factors.
Factors that Affect a Babysitter's Rate - The hourly rate applies if your babysitter is taking care of one child.
If, however, you have two or more children, it will mean a lot more effort for the babysitter and you should make her rate a little higher than usual.
- The time of day the babysitter is to watch your kids will matter.
Morning or afternoon sessions actually cost more than nightly ones.
This is because children are up and about in the daytime and will need more entertaining.
These are the times the sitter is expected to play with them and initiate activities.
At night, the children will spend about half of the time sleeping.
However, if you expect the sitter to stay overnight, the rate will inevitably be higher because you are asking her to work at an ungodly hour.
- If your children are infants, you might want to pay her a little higher.
Babies need closer supervision than older children.
Also, she will be expected to feed them and change diapers, so her work will be a little more tedious.
- Babysitters with more experience and training are generally paid higher.
For example, you should obviously pay a babysitter who is trained in CPR higher than one who does not even have CPR training.
Remember that if you are hiring a babysitter from an agency, it will not be your call to name the rate, because they do have fixed rates.