Any dads out there...

[triggerjw]

Do you guys use babysitters?? Now after the 3rd AND FINAL daughter, the wife and I never have time to get out alone. Thinking about getting a babysitter to come to the house this weekend. What is the going rate, I have found a good one I think, but she just says to give her whatever. I am worried because we have never left them with anyone but family, but hate to ask family every time we get ready to do something. What do ya'll think..

[mille011]

I don't know where you are located, but I can tell you that you get robbed in Jackson. Going rate for the babysitters we've had is $8 - $10/hour. We have found a pretty good one, so for the few extra dollars it cost me, it is worth it.

[dukhunter]

It really depends on the age of the childeren they will be keeping, when mine were smaller and actually needed watching over I paid $20/hr but as they got a little older and all the sitter had to do was sit on the couch and watch them play games and call and order pizza and talk on my phone I only paid $10/hr.................

[weimhunter]

Over here the going rate is the same. We use sitters alot. I usually will pay them a little extra because if I call they will cancel with other folks and sit for us! LOL Plus my 2 boys are little angels

[ACEINTHEHOLE]

WOW!!!! We have used two diffrent girls. If they babysit for one hour it is 20 bucks or if it is five hours it is 20 bucks. One girl is a former youth now in college and will not take money. So last week we got her a hot stone massage at a spa. We could not go out if it were 20 an hour.

[Seymore]

We have our four girls staggered at 16, 10, 5, and 2. We have a built in baby sitter from here out. .

I'd get some referrences and ask them what they pay. I'm sure everything is fine and I'd really just use the referrences to check the rate. That being said, expect Mom to want to call about every 30 minutes to check.

[JDgator]

20 bucks an hour, that comes out to more than what public school teachers make!

[grnhed]

Well being that my wife is supporting me through law school she baby sits a decent bit for some extra cash, and I will occassionally get drug along if I dont have any good excuses.....10 dollars an hour is good and fair and seems to be about the going rate for one single family wether it is 1 child or 4, and we are in Jackson....I think less than 10 is cheap, and more is gracious....

p.s. if your close to Jackson let me know Im sure my wife would love to babysit

[sondance]

$10 is what we have been paying as well

[dukmisr2005]

i usually pay about 10-15 an hour. i have two girls 6 and 3. it depends on the sitters age and what she has to do.. if i am just gone an hour or two i have a 14 yo that watches them but her parents are just up the rode if anything comes up. longer i have a couple 20 yo college girls that come and watch them. they get 15-20 an hour since they will usually take them to get a pizza or burger. i leave her some money for the food and she gives me change and receipt back.

[tombstone]

We have our four girls staggered at 16, 10, 5, and 2. We have a built in baby sitter from here out. .

I'd get some referrences and ask them what they pay. I'm sure everything is fine and I'd really just use the referrences to check the rate. That being said, expect Mom to want to call about every 30 minutes to check.

dang seymore! 4!!!!!!!!!!

those last 2 will have it tough. You will have seen all the tricks by then. Maybe you will educate the rest of us.
I have 2 and I don't think I could stand a 3rd.

[rustypjr]

Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins = Free Babysitter. Family is to be used. My parents and my wifes parents would probably get pissed if I hired someone to watch my son.

[DUCKAHOLIC]

Family when we can....if not we pay 10 bucks an hour

[triggerjw]

Thanks guys, family was ok when there were only 1 or 2, now that there are 3 girls family usually finds an excuse, or we have to split em all up. We are in philly and the sitter is fresh out of college and has a full time job, but has always been a friend of the family and I wanted to treat her right, but didn't want to shaft myself Seeing as how the baby is only about 6 mos she will have to tend to her pretty well so does 15-20 sound about right an hour for all 3. The oldest is 7 and next one is 2 so she'll have a little help. Thanks alot fellas I appreciate the help.

[woodrow1]

$8 -$10 hour for 1 kid