Someone please tell me why it is so expence to have a babysitter?

Question

I think that it is nuts to pay some 9 to 15 dollars per hour to watch one child. I just don't get it! I don't even make that much were I work to be able to pay someone else. This is crazy! No wander why there are some many people on welfare!

I have a 7year old son that can for the most part take care of himself, so why should I pay someone that much money to sit on my couch and eat my food, and use the elec. for just sitting on there butt for 4 hours 3 day a week? Someone please explain that to me.

Answer 1

it makes sense to pay someone less than you make per hour.  We pay our sitter $10 and hour for our 2 guys and it's a bargain!  She is amazing.

I don't think you're paying someone to sit on his or her butt and use your resources, you are paying them to be responsible for your child.  If your child is hurting, sad, hungry, happy, hot, cold, etc, they need an adult to care for them.  Why doesn't it make sense to pay someone decent money to take excellent care of your child?  

I stay at home with my 2 boys but have a sitter for certain things that we need help with (like when my one son is in the hospital and we both are with him).  Our sitter is invaluable and part of our family, for that matter.

If you are paying more than you're making, then, if at all possible, can you not work and care for your children?  I know after taxes, you make a lot less than what your hourly wage is, so it might make sense to consider that.

Good luck, this is definitely a struggle!

Answer 2

Because some sitters are selffish. I will take whatever the parents give for sitting no matter what. I am a babysitter.

Answer 3

your son is still young and needs to know  that their is someone their to protect him and keep him safe and to check for monsters under the bed and to call 911 if he gets hurt. kids need a security blanket its just that simple

Answer 4

cps explains it the best your child must be supervised at all times what if there was a fire what if your home was robbed with the child home alone pay someone 2-3 dollars to watch your kid and you get what you pay for its worth having peace of mind and to be able to get out of the house

Answer 5

first: watching a kid (somebody else's kid) is a huge responsibility.

second: watching a kid is hard work if you do it right--get a sitter who will do activities with the kid. or consider a real day care.

third: it's your kid vs. money. a kid is more important.

fourth: would you watch somebody else's kid for $5.15/hr? i wouldn't.

fifth: i don't think child care costs are the sole reasons people are on welfare.

Answer 6

Well u can't leave yur kid alone. If u don;t want to pay them that much then tell then yur cutting back on how much u pay them. Thats really all u can do.

Answer 7

First of all, no 7 year old can take care of himself, and you need to realize that it is a big responsability to take care of someone elses kids. Especially if the parents have an attitude and always think their kid is perfect. If you think babysitters are so overpaid, quit your job and babysit two or three kids. If you can stand it, maybe you will make some money.

Answer 8

because your kids are a pain to be with

Answer 9

When my husband & I go out for an evening it's $5.00 an hour for a kindergardener  in SoCal.  If the person is sitting for me while I work, they get salary.  Full time sitting in their home is about $120.00 a week.  It should be considerably less if the person is not helping with homework or feeding him out of her own kitchen. Is this person CPR certified?  NO? Just sitting on your couch eating your doritos and hanging out in the event of a fire so she can grab him and run out the front door?  Sure as heck shouldn't get top dollar!

Answer 10

Because I believe if you leave your small son alone, he could get into things that he might not if he was supervised. And he could just walk out of the home. And if something happens to him you are responsible, and could go to jail. Do you know anyone in the neighborhood, good friends, family that could watch him. Find alternatives if it's too much.

Answer 11

I don't know of any babysitters who charge that much.  Perhaps (a) you live in an area that is more well to do or (b) there is a reason why someone doesn't want to watch your child.  

Also, there is NO reason why you have to provide food for the babysitter.  Just tell her to bring her own because you only provide water and ice.

Answer 12

Don't do it! I'm a babysitter and only charge $7 an hour for up to 3 kids and about $8 or 9 for 4 or more. I pretty much let them set the price and only raise it if they have hard kids that aren't worth taking up my whole friday evening. You shouldn't let those manipulative teenagers take advantage. Just find a cheaper babysitter or talk to them about lowering the price. $15 is ridiculous and surely they even know that!!!!

Answer 13

People work for the best wages they can get.  If you can get a good babysitter for $9, that's one thing.  If you have to pay $15 in order to get them to do that work, you hire them or live without them. That's just basic applied economics.

Your 7 year old son may be able to take care of himself "for the most part", but what about the other part.  Does he have the maturity to deal with a power outage, a fire, a person who's threatening him? Can he feed himself and launder his own clothing? Who's practicing reading with him, and helping him with his homework?

If there is a large and chronic shortage of good, affordable child care, perhaps you should consider making that your work.

Answer 14

really its not but da babysitter wants 2 expect m0re money. example. teenagers ur taking away from there time s0 they wont more money 2 keep dem happy! :] good luck

Answer 15

Yeah I can see how it would be unreasonable to have to pay someone more than you are making by being at work, but the truth of the matter is that no matter how mature your 7 year old is he definately can't take care of himself and in order to get somebody responsible to babysit you're going to have to shell out the cash.  

You could probably get some 13 year old kid who just got their babysitting certification to do it for less, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Other ideas: summer camps can be a lot cheaper in the long run- especially those put on by town rec centers, getting together with another mom or 2 who need babysitting the same times and splitting the costs, getting together with another mom or 2 who need babysitting different times and "trading" so you'll watch their kids for fee and they'll watch yours for free

Answer 16

1) A good babysitter should NOT be "just sitting on there butt for 4 hours 3 day a week," they should be entertaining the children that they are watching. After you get home, you should ask your son about the things he did during the day. If he entertained himself, and the babysitter watched T.V, then you should find a new babysitter.

2) I have NEVER heard of paying $9 to $15 an hour for a babysitter, unless your child is going to a daycare. The most that any of my friends have ever payed is $7 an hour, and that was only for a few hours.

Answer 17

I have twins and yes! It is expensive, but the bottom line is, unless it's your family, no one is going to waste their time if the money is not worth their time when they could be mowing their lawn, shopping for food or what ever else.

Little ones take a lot of time and need to be entertained at all times.

daycare is worse!

Answer 18

back in the old days it was a $1.00 an hour. Oh, yea, minimum wage was $1.35.

Answer 19

Normally anyone who is getting paid that much an hour is not supposed to sit on their butt doing nothing. I am a full-time nanny who makes $18 and hour, and I can assure you I earn every penny of it. You should have a list of chores for this person to do and also activities to do with your child. I also do their shopping, house-hold chores, taking children to activities and act as home manager besides playing with the children. I also bring my meals though my employer will let me eat anything that is there. Communication is what you need to have with the person who is your child's caregiver.

Answer 20

That amount does sound high to me. But you do want someone to do a good job. You should be able to approach it from a win-win stance with your sitter. Something that works for you both.  I dont know where you are located, but I would think that a decent sitter could go for slightly more than minimum wage. I am thinking $7-7.50/hour since there is no cooking, etc. I would think that you might be able to find a retired woman, a responsible student ( perhaps someone very interested in studying about kids)  or someone who would be willing to negotiate a better price. That your son is well behaved would be a bargaining point, I think. You do want to make sure the sitter knows that this is a very important job.

What hours is it they are watching your son? That could make a difference. Do they have to enforce a bedtime? Do they help him with homework? Cook for him?

Try advertising for someone and interview them. Maybe you will find someone reasonable who understands. Keep in mind what are they sacrificing to be there ( gas money? family time?)  If you have a local YWCA check there for grads from babysitting certificate classes, check with local scout leaders for girls who want to complete badges, or check with a local technical school for someone studying childcare ( WITH excellent references, of course) We had luck with the daughter of one of our kids' teachers. Best sitter ever and only 14. Super kid  All the best!

Answer 21

It is very expensive cause some people are broke but i agree i babysit and i actually play and do puzzles and paint and make food and not sit on the couch and be lazy well that's all i haft to say>