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How Much Do You Pay A Teenager To Babysit Without Being Too Cheap

how much do you pay a teenager to babysit

Getting a few hours to yourself, your significant other, or your spouse is vital to mental health and happiness. 

Parenthood is wonderful, but we all need a break now and then. That’s when a teenage babysitter comes in handy.

Whether you have one child, younger kids, or more than one child of various ages, figuring out how much to pay teenage babysitters, also known as mother’s helpers, takes a bit of finesse and depends upon several factors.

In this article, we’ll talk about how much do you pay a teenager to babysit. We’ll discuss how to go about hiring a teen babysitter and what questions you need to ask to figure out the hourly rate to pay.

We’ll also cover whether or not it matters if you have young children or older kids in need of care.

How much do unlicensed babysitters get paid?

First of all, it’s crucial to get the terminology correct. There are babysitters, nannies, and then there are licensed babysitters.

Knowing the difference between these three types of caregivers will get you to a decent starting point regarding whether you’re looking at a starting rate around minimum wage or a much higher figure.

How much do you pay a teenager to babysit?

1. Nannies

A nanny is a person who works babysitting jobs, typically in a long-term capacity. 

They usually have a lot of experience babysitting children, several references, and have taken babysitting classes. They may even hold a degree in a field such as early childhood development or early childhood education.

They often work exclusively for one family and set their availability into a regular schedule. They are often expected to take kids to school, help with homework, take them to sports practices, feed them, play with them, and put them to bed

Some light cleaning is also usually a part of the job.

Due to their extensive babysitting experience, nannies are typically paid more than teen sitters or licensed babysitters. This is, after all, their chosen profession. 

These “professional babysitters” pride themselves on working for families and maintaining excellent relationships.

2. Babysitter

A babysitter, especially a teen babysitter, typically tries to make some extra cash while also attending school. They usually don’t have a job outside of babysitting.

Teenage sitters are often in a situation where they get experience in the real-world job market by babysitting.

They are usually paid an hourly rate just below minimum wage and right at minimum wage.

A younger babysitter may work for slightly less because they have little experience.

Younger babysitters are often older cousins or older siblings who are working for a little extra spending cash. You can expect to pay them a bit less than you would younger teens who are not related to you.

This is not due exclusively to their age but also because, much of the time, hiring a young teenager to babysit will require picking them up and then taking them home. They also may not know much about first aid training or how to cook.

As such, it is acceptable to pay them a lower average hourly pay than older teens and more experienced babysitters.

3. Licensed babysitters

When hiring a potential babysitter for your children, a licensed regular babysitter is the middle ground between younger babysitters with limited experience and a nanny.

Often older teens or college students, this is an experienced babysitter licensed in something that will prove beneficial to childcare.

Often, these professionals have completed first aid courses, CPR certifications, childhood education classes, or some other sort of course or training they have achieved. 

You can expect to pay a babysitter of this caliber more than an inexperienced sitter but less than a nanny.

How much do you pay a teenager to babysit?

When determining the pay rate of a babysitter for your kids, you need to consider a few different factors. 

You should consider the following factors when interviewing, hiring, and deciding the pay rate of a sitter for your kids.

  • The area you live in and how much friends pay on average for childcare. 

Larger cities and higher-income areas often pay a babysitter more than rural areas or lower and middle-class neighborhoods.

  • The number of children you’re asking them to watch, and the ages. 

You can expect to pay more for four kids to be supervised than you would for three children. Keep this in mind when determining how much to pay.

  • A specific occasion that you need care for 

For example, random date nights are often less expensive than a late-night New Year’s Eve party you’ll be attending.

  • A babysitter’s age bracket and experience

Did the teenage babysitter just start babysitting recently, or are they an experienced sitter? How many other families have they worked for? Do other parents have any feedback on their children’s level of care, or would they say they were good babysitters? 

Older sitters may expect to be paid more due to having a reputation as good sitters or having experience with different ages and references. On the other hand, younger teens may make less per hour due to their lack of experience and the need for transportation to get to your home and back at the end of the job.

  • What your needs are, and what you’re asking a mother’s helper to do in terms of work.

Is the sitter expected to simply supervise kids and keep them safe, or will there be cooking and household chores as well? Are they willing to take on an additional child periodically if one of your kids has a friend or neighbor over? If so, do they charge extra? If you have four children, but one kid is a preteen who doesn’t need supervision, is there a child’s special discount or such an arrangement?

  • Terms of payment

Many sitters ask for an hourly rate for a date night, while others prefer to charge a flat fee. Sitters can make their rates, but they can often be negotiated. Knowing how experienced sitters prefer to be paid will help you decide if the person is a good fit to become a regular sitter.

  • Changes in pay rate

For example, if you have two children who are both self-sufficient preteens, the general rule is to pay less than you would for smaller kids who require more care.

How much do you pay a teenager to babysit?

Overnight babysitting rates

Sometimes parents need or ask for an entire night away for a date, and when it happens, they need overnight care for their kids. 

Older children pose less issue for a sitter, as these kids typically don’t need much in terms of care. Babies and toddlers, however, are a different story.

The factors listed above are what you should consider when determining the rate of overnight care. This, plus finding someone you can trust and willingness to work for you long term, is probably your best bet and what is best for your kids.

Consistency is vital when it comes to a child thriving and developing normally. Parents who hire different sitters each time they go out make it harder for a child to adjust to any sort of routine, and these kids can then make it hard for parents to find someone willing to supervise upset kids who want structure.

The average wage for overnight care varies between $11 and $20 per hour for a child. Teenage kids in your area may cost a bit more or less, so talk to other moms and dads in the area to see what they typically pay before offering a rate.

Conclusion

Teenage babysitters or college student should be paid fairly, whether a young teen just trying to make some money to pay a phone bill or older people trying to raise children. 

Factors like experience, the area you live in, the number of kids you have, and how many babysitters are looking for work in your area should all be considered in determining how much you pay per hour (or per shift).

Take your time to look into all your options, and ensure that you get all your questions answered while also taking the time to answer any questions a potential sitter may have. 

After all, you are paying someone to keep your most precious ones safe. It’s a relationship that must be built on trust, understanding, and fair pay.

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