What is a reasonable price?

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I start school again this summer. I don't have a car and I have to take the bus. Since, I don't have a car I can't take my baby to day care. My mom will watch the baby when she gets off work but she doesn't get home until 6 so I need a sitter between those times. I'll be leaving the house around 4 for the bus and like I said my mom will be back around 6. So the sitter would have to watch the baby for 2 hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I'm going to advertise in my church that I am looking for a sitter, but I can't put my finger on a reasonable price. Maybe 10 dollars an hour? That would equal to about 60 dollars a week. But WHO WOULD DO THAT? Maybe a highschool student, but I am not sure that I want a teenager watching my baby. She will be 5 months when I start school again. Hmm any suggestions?

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Specializes in start in NICU 7/14/08.

I don't have any children, but I have asked co-workers what the going rate is for babysitting these days since that is what most of them use for those couple hours between them leaving and hubby coming home. They indicated that for a college aged person or slightly older the pay usually starts around $8 per hour. I'm guessing it would depend on the number / age of the child(ren).

This is in central NJ (not sure if that makes a difference).

Goodluck :)

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Advertise at a college nearby. A college student is more likely to want those hours since they could probably fit it around classes. I babysit around classes because its pretty hard to find another job that I can work around my weird class hours. I start at $10 an hour and everyone I have babysat for is fine with that...but most would pay less to someone younger with less experience. Good luck!

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Advertise at a college nearby. A college student is more likely to want those hours since they could probably fit it around classes. I babysit around classes because its pretty hard to find another job that I can work around my weird class hours. I start at $10 an hour and everyone I have babysat for is fine with that...but most would pay less to someone younger with less experience. Good luck!

Man, I used to charge 3.00 per hour. Yes, that was 25 years ago but I cant believe things have changed. 10.00 an hour is more than most people get paid for a regular job. I guess it is worth it to find someone you can trust with your children.

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I would definately post it at your local college, if your college has an education department I would post it there. Future teachers love kids and would make good sitters, right?

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I agree with posting at the college. Not only do future teacher's make good sitter's, but future nurses as well. I know several of my young classmates who are starving for extra cash have told me they would love to sit for my kids. I'm in small town Iowa and I pay $5.00 an hour for my highschool sitter. For an adult that actually watches and cleans up after the kids, I'll pay $10.00.

Side note: My cleaning lady charges $10.00 an hour and she's worth every cent!

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