Babysitting Solutions

So you found a person willing babysit your multiples, now what do you pay her?

Here is the babysitter pay schedule we use. It is a little complicated, but it has worked for our babysitters. It is designed to keep prices down for you but give the babysitter an opportunity to increase their income as their responsibilities and trustworthiness increase. So at first you may have them baby-sit while you are home or during nap times as you get used to each other. And then they can increase their income as they take on more responsibilities or do extra chores for the children.

I HAD TO set this up on a per child/chore basis because I have three kids (5 and 3 1/2 year old twins), but my mom takes the kids home to Texas 2-3 weeks each during the summer, so sometimes I only have 2 kids. Or, you may need a babysitter to watch only one or two while you take another to an appointment. Plus, I have two that are potty trained and one in pull ups. I have one that showers and dresses himself and two that need help. So that is why I separated all the chores and pay for only what they do.

Always a minimum $6 an hour.
$2 an hour per child while they are sleeping or while you are home.
$4 an hour per child when they are awake.
OR
$5 an hour per child when they are awake if they are in diapers/pull-ups.
$1 EXTRAS (per child):
Putting a child down to sleep/nap
Preparing/serving a meal
Bathe/shower and dressing for bed

Examples:
I am running to an appt. while kids are napping. I am gone an hour. I have two kids that are asleep before the babysitter arrives and stay asleep until I come home. It should only be $4 but I pay the $6 minimum.

My husband and I go out for a date night. We are gone for three hours and three kids are home. Babysitter feeds them all, bathes/dresses two for bed and puts all three to bed. We pay $40 for our date night. (about $13 hour)

This sounds very reasonable considering that some sitters from those babysitting online searches I checked in to charged $10 an hour PER CHILD regardless of what they or the kids were doing or how long they had been babysitting for you. (That would make our 3 hour date night $90!) And I just was not interested in paying $30 for an hour to go to an appt. or grocery shopping with sleeping kids at home. But I am willing to pay more when they have to do more, OF COURSE. PLUS, you would not entrust someone who you just met to bathe your children, so that is a responsibility they earn to increase their income as they stay your babysitter longer and trust is gained.

You can lower your cost or their responsibilities in the beginning by bathing and feeding before you go out or leave later on date nights when it is closer to the kids bedtime.

Like I said it can be complicated, but it works. ALSO, you may want to call Department of Family Services to get the pamphlet on the ages a babysitter must be and the hours they can work depending on the number of children and their ages. This can be helpful in deciding on a babysitter.

Ok, long explanation but I hope this helps.