Babysitting 1001: Pay your Sitter what they're Worth
I've been babysitting since I was in high school. Toddlers that could run. Babies that couldn't. Preteens that wanted to just sit and watch tv. And identical twins. There have been good days and bad, but through it all, I can say the ADULTS are the most challenging part of babysitting, but I will only discuss one topic what makes adults difficult. Pay.
Now I am a twenty-two-year-old adult, it isn't that hard to outmaneuver a two-year-old into settling down. Wink, wink, give him his binky, and he'll settle down in your lap with a book. This is not a one-time trick. You have to do this consistently, so the toddler associates pacifier time with book time, which equals quiet time.
Then, kids, they're smarter sure, but they're just as easily bribed because they can vocalize what they want. They want to stay up later; well, mom and dad say it's bedtime. "How about I help you guys to bed, and we can do some tablet time." Now for this trick, the secret is you start bedtime EARLIER, so that tablet time or tv time doesn't interfere with their schedule, and most kids are so happy to be on their devices that they never notice.
However, adults- the parents are not so simple. I remember one babysitting job where the mom paid me twenty an hour for one kid, which is good pay but lowered it to fourteen an hour. Now I guess because the twenty-an-hour shift was last minute, the income was higher, but I'm doing the same work I did that day every time I come. It is disrespectful to pay the minimum rate for babysitting and not offer other incentives such as meals, gas money, and tips. But more on those items later.
I was driving more than thirty miles back and forth, early hours, and staying late when the mom didn't offer anything. Now, if I wasn't used to families feeding me, saving time to pack meal(s), and paying me higher wages, I never would have known what the minimum looked like. The minimum is unacceptable to me as a college student and shouldn't be for anyone qualified.
I am CPR and first aid certified, have babysat for over 100 families of different backgrounds and homes, and, most importantly, I care for your child as if they were my own because, for the time you are away, they are mine. I now ask that parents consider everything their qualified, friendly, and local babysitter does and pay accordingly. Sitters come back to families that treat them well. Has your sitter come back?
Hello Angel, I enjoyed reading your blog. Babysitters are truly great to have. When I first move to Atlanta, I did not have any friends or family here to watch my son while I went to work. I asked around and found a trustworthy babysitter that one of my co-workers recommended to me. She was 18, a senior in high school. She was a great sitter and my son loved her. I paid her what she deserved because she was helping me out a lot and sometimes stayed late, and I paid extra. I agree that babysitters come back to families that treat them well. This was five years ago, and she is still my babysitter.
ReplyDeleteHello Angel! I have worked as a private Nanny for almost 5 years now, as well as occasionally babysitting on the side. My first job as a Nanny was for a family friend - definitely the first mistake, it ended up being a love the kid and hate the parents kind of job. I got paid a flat monthly rate which sounded like a lot of money at the time but literally came out to LESS than minimum wage! My second time around as a very long term Nanny I negotiated a fair hourly wage with the family who has been very generous and made me absolutely love my job.
ReplyDeleteHi Angel, I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I can definitely relate. I used to babysit a few years back and I completely agree that the parents should "take care" of the person they leave in charge of their children. making sure they are fed and can get home safely shouldn't even be considered extra, it should be included in your compensation. especially if you're somebody who has to travel a bit to make it to the destination.
ReplyDeleteI think your blog is beautiful and direct. It's nothing extra to think of. I am able to focus on the information and opinion you've provided. I was a nanny as well and I agree it is a lot that goes into it. I don't know if someone is able to afford a great nanny. Like, a nanny pore themselves into the children they love and care for daily. It's kind of unmeasurable. I absolutely love this blog.
ReplyDeleteHey, Angel! First of all, I love how your blog is set up, its very pleasing to the eye. I really liked how you touched on minimum wage when it comes to babysitting. I don't think that this part is talked about enough when it comes to babysitting. But babysitting is a real job, and deserves real pay. I hope that if I ever need a babysitter, they will have the same thinking as you do. Great post, girl!
ReplyDeleteGood points about pay! Nothing is more important than your children, so parents should be willing to pay extra for a great babysitter like you. I love that you are CPR and first aid certified, which must increase your marketability. Sounds like anyone would be lucky to have you for a babysitter at any price!
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend also is a babysitter so I can understand some of the issues that go along with it. They have to be one of the most under appreciated workers in a lot of situations. It takes a lot of work and responsibility to have to look after someone else's child and can be a very stressful job to have. It was great reading about the experience you've had and the different challenges that come with looking after babies, toddlers or older children. It's eye opening and should be seen by parents who consider hiring a babysitter.
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