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.

Check out my new link!

Click here or in my links for a free subscription to Preemie Magazine. Having a preemie or two or more can create so many challenges. Even more than just having multiples can bring. This magazine covers issues about pregnancies, NICU, going home with preemies, SIDS, therapy, and many more. With a free subcription, you have nothing to lose and only knowledge to gain.

I included this link because your chances of having preemies are so much greater when you are expecting multiples. I hope you find it as helpful as I have. Even though my twins are 3 and a half, I find this magazine just as helpful because we still face the challenges that are brought on by them being 2 months premature. Enjoy!

Are they Identical?

What do you think?

A fellow MOM reminded me of something today. When the twins were small, newborn babies and we were out in public, people would ask me "are they identical?" Now, I have BOY/GIRL twins. And, I confess, I usually dressed them alike when they were babies. However, it was always pink and blue outfits. This apprently still happens to new MOMs and even though mine are four years old now, it occationally happens to me. Here is how the conversation would usually go:

Stranger: Can I see your babies?
Me: Sure.

Stranger: Oh they are so cute.
Me: Thanks.

Stranger: Are they twins?
Me: Yes.

Stranger: What kind of twins are they?
Me: (Thinking: Human.) Boy/Girl.

Stranger: Are they Identical?
Me: (Thinking: All except for one major part!) Said: No, they are fraternal

Stranger: (then looking at Caleb and the triple stroller)
Boy, you sure do have your hands full!!!

I would usually walk away with a smile at this point and attempt to finish my errands.

Oh, I know they meant well and to them this was perhaps the only time they had this conversation that day or week. But for me I would hear the "hands full" phrase and have this conversation about ten times during any given trip to the mall or store. I used to say that I wanted to make and where a shirt that read:

YES, they are twins AND YES my hands ARE full!!

Rude? Yeah, I know. And I am too nice of a person to ever have done it. But now that they are older and all about the same size, people think they are triplets. It's ok now, the attention (when they are acting appropriate) can be positive for them and me. People still say, "you have your hands full", it just does not bother as much anymore.