[shay7]

Hi Everyone!

Quick question...do many of you have day sitters? How much do you pay an hour?

I need someone during the summer days while I am at work. It ends up being 9 hours a day. When looking at day cares I found they ranged between $180 and $225 a week. The most expensive one I found was $245. But I really want my 3 year old to be home and have one on one care. Last summer I was lucky enough to have someone 1/2 time and then family the rest of the time. The college student that was here last summer charged $5 an hour but I paid her whether she worked or not. So it ended up being more than that an hour. I know I was SUPER lucky. That being said......the sitter this summer wants $8 an hour.....that's a lot for me right now but I want her home.

What do you think?

Just want to add - that I pay my night sitter (you know - the occasional night out) $8 an hour - which is her going rate for nights (she was my day sitter last summer but has a full time job this summer).

Thanks for any input!
Shay

[angieandstever]

It depends on where you live. Our daughter goes to a preschool and we pay $979 a month. When we had her in home daycare it was between $120-$150. We are in Saint Louis. We pay $10 for a night sitter by the way. Good luck!

[DeeVee]

I guess it really depends on where you live. $8 an hour seems very inexpensive to me. We are in Seattle. But even when we lived in Nashville (much lower cost of living) I wouldn't expect an all-day sitter to work for just $8 an hour.

Guess I'm no help at all.

[DPline]

Out sitter (just graduated from high school this month) charges $8/hour day or night and everyone I know who uses her rounds up so it really ends up being more like $8.50 or $9.00 per hour.
I do agree that it really depends on the going rate where you live as well as probably the age and experience of the sitter.

[likemom2somany]

I watch children out of my home and I charge 30 a day or 20 for Half a day. And I have a waiting list

[shay7]

When you are saying $8 or more than $8 - is that for one child or more?

[angieandstever]

Wow $8.00 an hour for a day sitter seems really high to me. For 5 days a week, 9 hours a day that is over $350 a week! That is a lot for around here for an in home provider. Of course maybe it is different because you want someone to come to your home, more like a nanny, who won't watch any other kids??? Since that is the case, I could see why you kind of have to pay more.

[shay7]

Originally Posted by likemom2somany

I watch children out of my home and I charge 30 a day or 20 for Half a day. And I have a waiting list

I bet you do! That is a great rate! Do you love doing it?

[amyfk]

My child goes to a babysitter that has a few children in her home. She's licensed/approved by my county( I did a check).
She charges $45 per day and we are in the NY metro region. I think that's pretty good actually! Sometimes I pay her a bit more if she feeds my child dinner as I am now back in school at night.
Good luck,
Amy K, NJ

[susy...patience]

My child is in day care....much more expensive than any other prices mentioned on board.

I use nanny temp service when I need sitter (only happened a few times) and then pay $16-$17/hour!

[mommyofcam]

We live in Wisconsin. Here I pay $90.00 a week to my full-time (9hrs a day) in home daycare mom. She is licensed and has a few other children at her home. She gets 3 weeks vacation pay, plus paid holidays each year. She supplies all the food, I supply diapers.
For after hours on the rare occassion we actually leave the kids, I pay $5 an hour for one child, and around $8.00 for the two but I normally round that up to a higher amount depending on how long we're gone.
We do have a daycare/preschool nearby. That rate for full-time is $120.00 per week. As soon as DS is potty trained, he'll be going there in Sept as he'll be 3yrs old then.

[guatparents2be]

wow, i'm moving to wherever you guys are. we're in portland oregon.

i paid $12/hr (plus taxes of course) to our nanny. we would pay her if we canceled as well. also half pay if we took a vacation with notice. this is standard here.

our daycare where we have him now is $45/day for full days. the school where we have him 2 days a week is about $55/day (spanish immersion.)

[shelbydog]

We pay $10 an hour here.

I was wondering, however - why would you want your 3 year old home with a sitter vs. in an environment where she could play and be with other children? I am just curious. I am sure the sitter could take her to playdates and activities and I don't mean to make this a debate on daycare vs. not - and I'm sure you thought it through...but it's just a thought and since it may be cheaper to do it that way, it might be a more fun option for her.

[mamaskoby]

We pay $10 and hour, for the high school student. Older sitters want 12 to 15 an hour! Yikes!

[Mommy K]

Here's an idea-if you need a sitter for a consistant time each week-base the salary on weekly-not hourly.

When I returned to school a few years ago-I paid the sitter this way & it came to less-she was a kindergarten teacher who came home w/ the kids after school until the early evening & we paid her a weekly salary. It sounded like more money somehow???

For an evening out--she was paid 12.00 an hour--but this was not the case for a steady assignment. This is in NJ.