As you prepare to hire a babysitter, the important question of pricing may be looming in the back of your mind. While this is not a service that you want to cut corners on or skimp on, you also do not want to pay more than you need to for quality childcare services. As you decide how much money to offer your babysitter, keep these important factors in mind.
Babysitting rates vary dramatically based on several factors. These include the experience of the babysitter and his or her credentials. Consider that a professional nanny with a lengthy list of references may understandably charge more than a teenage babysitter who picks up odd jobs on the weekends. Your location will also play a role in the rate for childcare services. The minimum wage in your area should serve as a starting point when setting a threshold. The demand for babysitters, your need for special services, the number of children who will be cared for, the children’s ages and many other factors all must be taken into consideration.
There is a difference in the process of hiring a full-time vs. part-time babysitter. Full-time typically means being salaried with paid time off, holidays, etc, written in a contract, while part-time is normally paid out hourly but with set days/times. So be sure you know the minimum wage laws, but also do your research to know what the average rates in your area are for full-time nannies. If you are looking for one-time or part-time care, a slightly lower hourly rate may be reasonable.
The National Average for 2019
The average hourly rate for one child is $16.75 in the U.S. for 2019. The national average for two children is $19.26 per hour. Additional children will raise the average rate further. Before you decide how much to pay for childcare services, consider asking your friends and neighbors how much they pay for their preferred babysitter. By polling several parents and making adjustments for the various relevant factors, you can better determine how much you should pay for the services that you need.
Many babysitters and nannies have a minimum rate that they are willing to work for. While you should research local rates, you also should ask the individuals whom you are interested in hiring what they charge. Through your research, you can determine if their requested rate is reasonable for your needs and for the area.
You cannot put a price tag on the care and well-being of your children. However, when you need to find babysitters in NYC for a one-time service or to fill an on-going need, you understandably do not want to pay more than necessary for quality care. If you are wondering how much to pay the best babysitters in the local area, focus on these tips.
Babysitters in NYC generally have established rates, and these rates may vary slightly by borough. Before you offer a specific rate to a babysitter, you should research the typical range of hourly rates in your community. One way to do this is to ask other parents for insight or check average babysitting rates online. This research will help you to set realistic expectations. Typically the average is $17.20/hr for 1 child, $20.85/hr for 2 children. Many babysitters will tell you what they typically charge, but you can rely on your research to determine if their rate is fair and competitive. The hourly rate generally will increase for each additional child.
Experienced babysitters with a long list of satisfied clients may charge a higher rate. The best babysitters in the local area may also have special certifications, such as an infant CPR certification. Before you pay more for experience, ask the babysitter for a list of references. Spend time verifying references and inquiring about the rates that those individuals pay. While many parents would prefer to hire an experienced babysitter, you may not need or want to pay a higher rate for a babysitter with 15 years of experience versus 5 years of experience, especially for evening jobs where your child will be asleep most of the time.
Babysitters in NYC charge an hourly rate for typical services. This may include basic care in the home as well as meal prep and other basic needs. If your babysitter will be in your home regularly or for an extended period of time, you may ask him or her to do light housekeeping, to prepare meals for the whole family, to run errands with your children and to complete other general household tasks like pet care. You should offer a higher rate based on the types of additional services you need the individual to perform. Some people hire a babysitter to provide around-the-clock care, such as if the parents will be out of town for a few days. In these special situations, you may negotiate a special rate that provides reasonable compensation for the babysitter’s time and effort.
After you have found a trusted babysitter who your children love, you may consider offering a slightly higher rate or tip regularly on jobs. This shows your appreciation and may entice the babysitter to be more readily available when an urgent need arises.
There are few things more important than ensuring that your children are cared for by a compassionate, devoted babysitter when you must be away from the house. Even when you hire a trusted babysitter, there is always a possibility that you will learn about serious issues with the babysitter that must be effectively and quickly addressed. If you need to have a difficult conversation with your babysitter, let these steps based on tips we’ve heard from parents guide you through this stressful experience.
Regardless of the situation that you have become aware of, you should have fact-based evidence to support your concerns. The conversation must focus on what needs to be done about the problem. However, when you are claiming assumptions that are not fact-based, the conversation can easily turn into a debate about what happened and if your concerns are founded. When you present evidence, your conversation can be more productive.
Difficult conversations can be heated, and they may involve sensitive topics. You and your babysitter may communicate more openly and honestly when you converse in a quiet environment that is free of interruptions. The important element of privacy gives your babysitter the opportunity to communicate concerns that they may not want other people to know about. However, meeting in a neutral, public environment may be a better idea for some conversations.
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to fire your babysitter. Perhaps you need the babysitter to provide you with his or her side of an event before you can determine how you should proceed. Before starting a difficult conversation with your child’s caregiver, determine what your goals are for the conversation. By doing so, you can tailor your approach based on the desired outcome.
Choose the right time to have a conversation. In some cases, you may feel inclined to broach the subject before or after the babysitter’s next scheduled time with your children. An alternative is to schedule a meeting with your babysitter. Avoid skirting around the subject. Take a deep breath, and begin stating your facts. Present evidence, if applicable.
Unless the purpose of your conversation is to simply accuse the babysitter and to state that legal action will be taken, you may need your babysitter to explain his or her actions. Perhaps you need your babysitter to adjust the care that is provided to fit your parenting style. In these and many other situations, allow your babysitter time to ask questions and to express concerns or objections. There may be specific reasons why he or she has acted or failed to act in a specific way. By taking the time to thoroughly understand the other side of the issue, you can more effectively reach a resolution.
When you hire a trusted babysitter such as the ones available on UrbanSitter, many issues that may lead to the need for a difficult conversation can be avoided. However, issues can still crop up periodically that require a delicate touch. These steps can help you to prepare for a tough yet productive conversation.
Deciding how much to pay your babysitter or nanny? According to UrbanSitter’s 2018 child care study of more than 20,000 families across the country, the average hourly babysitting rate is $16.43 for one child. Read on for babysitting rates in your city and more interesting facts:
Summer break is here, which means a whole new schedule for the whole family. Make the transition easier for everyone with a summer sitter or nanny to help with the new routine. Part-time, full-time, anytime. We’ve got you covered!
School may be out, but the kids’ schedules are busier than ever. Find and book a sitter who can help you manage all of the drop-offs, pickups, and everything in between! *Pro tip: Search for sitters that are willing to drive before you book!
Summer break is filled with activities and family fun, but let’s be real, parents…sometimes we need a break. Book a sitter and take a time-out for some quality alone time.
The summer is the perfect time to have friends over for a bbq or pool party, but we also know it can be overwhelming trying to entertain and watch the kids. Book a sitter to help keep an eye on the kids while they swim and play. *Pro tip: Search for CPR certified sitters before you book!
Taking your kids to the grocery store or your hair appointment isn’t usually efficient or time-saving. Book a sitter and get through your to-do list faster this summer.
Take advantage of summer weather and plan the perfect date. A day trip to a winery or dinner and a movie. The possibilities are endless when you unlock your sitter network.
Have an upcoming wedding? Kids not on the guest list? Don’t miss out! Your sitter network has wedding season covered.
Ever wonder how much others tip around the holidays? UrbanSitter asked families to share how they handle holiday tipping – from babysitters and nannies to dog walkers and mail carriers. Here are a few highlights:
With New Year’s Eve around the corner, many parents are wondering how to secure a babysitter for the big night. The answer according to our survey: pay 20% more than usual. Check the map below for average New Year’s Eve babysitting hourly rates in your area.
We surveyed over 20,000 families from all across the country to get the scoop on what parents are willing to pay for—and what they’re willing to pay extra for—when it comes to childcare in 2017!
Ever wonder how much other families pay their babysitter or nanny? UrbanSitter gathered the answer from over 10,000 families to find out average babysitting rates in the US. Take look and see what the going rate is for a babysitter in your area!
Here are five tips from working moms themselves on how to manage child care—and how to control the back-to-school chaos.
Determine your needs.
No two working mom’s child-care needs are alike. Some may need full-time coverage, while others just need someone to watch their child a few hours sprinkled throughout the week. So go over your schedule as well as your partner’s to decide exactly how much kid care coverage you actually need. By being very specific in determining your needs, you can potentially save yourself a lot of money—and frustration—in the long run.
Find child care that works for you.
Not all child care is created equal. Depending on your child’s age, you may discover that certain types of child care work better for you and your family than others. For example, if you have a baby, you may opt to have an in-home nanny stay with you while you work to avoid exposing your little one to icky germs. As your child gets older, socialization may be what you’re seeking, so you may want to enroll your child in a local day care. And if your kid is school-aged, a part-time sitter may do the trick to cover those extra hours until you’re done working for the day.
Score a flexible schedule.
If you thought working from home meant that you’d never, ever need child-care coverage again, well, think again. Having a flexible schedule does mean that you can creatively cover child care more easily than your in-office colleagues, though. You may find a telecommuting position that allows you to work around your children’s schedules (i.e., early in the morning or late at night) or right smack in the middle of the day—when kids are in school. Other work-at-home-moms (WAHMs) may find that doing a kid swap on certain days helps to take care of child-care coverage issues without costing a pretty penny.
Once you’ve got child-care coverage established, it’s time to start planning how you’ll prep for getting kids ready for back to school.
Do a run through.
If it’s possible, see if you can attend a tour of your child’s school. Point out the different rooms (such as Art or Language Arts) that your child will be going to. If your kid will be going on the bus, you can drive him along the bus route so he can get used to the ride. That way, the new school year won’t seem as scary.
Prepare ahead of time.
Nothing adds to the stress of a back-to-school morning like leaving everything for the morning! So try to get as much done as you can in the days prior and even the night before. Have outfits ironed and ready to wear, and pack lunches and store in the refrigerator. By having most of the prep work done prior, you’ll minimize the stressfulness of the morning and have both you and your kid calm and ready for a fun school year!
Jennifer Parris is a Career Writer for FlexJobs, an award-winning service that helps job-seekers find professional opportunities that offer work flexibility, such as telecommuting, freelance, part-time or alternative schedules. To learn more about Jennifer, visit FlexJobs.com or tweet @flexjobs.