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| Typical costs: | - According to BabySitters.com, rates paid by the hour depend on where you live and the ages and temperaments of your children. Hourly rates generally run $5-$15.
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| Additional costs: | - Multiple children, long hours and baby-sitters hired to work on holidays will increase the cost. It's not recommended to ask baby-sitters to perform additional duties, such as cleaning the house.
- BabySitters.com recommend adding a tip to the regular hourly pay to encourage the sitter to make your family a priority.
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| Discounts: | - According to BabyCenter.com, some parents organize a baby-sitting co-op -- a trade instead of paid service -- in which they take turns watching each other's children.
- Sometimes families will pool together to hire a baby-sitter for the night.
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| Shopping for a babysitter: | - Because costs vary by region, parents should ask other parents in their area what they normally pay their sitters, and what they pay for extras such as multiple children, long hours, late nights, and holidays.
- The non-profit organization Safe Sitter says parents should pay according to experience. They recommend finding a sitter who likes children, is trustworthy and competent. Sitters should know basic first aid, how to care for a choking infant or child, and how to call for help in an emergency. Parents should always check references.
- According to BabyCenter.com, word of mouth is a good way to gather names of teens and adults in your area who like to baby-sit. They also recommend checking your local Yellow Pages for a local baby-sitting agency. You may also search 411.com for child care services in your area.
- Sites that charge a fee, such as BabySitters.com (which offers a three-month subscription for $30), SitterCity.com (with an annual plan of $8 per month and free registration or a monthly plan of $10 per month and $40 registration) and 4Sitters.com (with a one-time setup fee of $35 plus $7 per month) offer a search by zip code feature to help connect parents with desirable baby-sitters.
- Church, senior center and school bulletin boards, and online resources like Craigslist are additional ways to search for baby-sitters in your area, but be sure to do a thorough reference check.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical decisions, always consult your physician for the right course for your infant or child.
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Article updated November 2006 |
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