Babysitter rates for holidays?

I've used a childminder before and all I can say is from experience it's normally bank holidays that are a higher rate. I know some charge extra for evening rates too. If you choose to work valentines day then it's your choice to decide your price regardless but for most it's a normal business day. This year it's a school holiday here.

If 15 isn't something she wants to pay, she can choose another provider. Your choice, your business, your value, your worth. That's life. It's how business works.

Hi, I'm not sure what the going rate for a babysitter is but £15 an hour seems a lot! That's more than minimum wage and a lot more than what some skilled workers earn.

I have skills that not many other babysitters can provide and actually my normal rate of £10 an hour is the cheapest in my area

In short, it’s your time, you charge what you want.

Why shouldn’t you charge more than the minimum hourly rate for out of hours work.

They either pay it or don’t.

Surely they want the best person to look after their most precious people.

Its that simple really.

Hi there, Valentines day isn't a national holiday. It's just another working day. You can obviously charge what you want as it's your business. And parents can choose whether or not they want to use you.

However, I would be careful not to come across as greedy. e.g. if I usually paid you £10 per hour for babysitting, I'd personally be put out if you suddenly wanted £15 per hour, just because it was Valentines day. It would probably put me off using you again or recommending you to friends. But it would depend on so many factors (other available options would be one) and that's just me. My regular babysitter actually charges me less than her going rate. When I found out and asked her why, she said it was because my kids were so polite and so easy to look after lol! She's a diamond and I do always tip her or round up whatever we owe.

Hi thank you for your response.

unfortunately the company who I babysit through is just one time babysits and each babysits rate is different depending on age how many hours whether it’s regular or again holidays. By working Valentine’s Day I don’t get to spend time with my partner (same concept as Christmas Day really) and I think it’s only fair that I charge slightly more to compensate for my plans not going ahead due to being given work. I just think that the way she spoke to me was infact quite rude and wasn’t necessary. She can either pay it or she can find someone else. I do have my qualifications, my first aid training and a dbs check which ensures I provide the best care possible for people’s children. I am not even charging national living wage (11.44 as of April) so I think if they want to spend the evening together and ensure the best care for their little ones paying slightly more is fair.

You can charge what you like and the parents/guardians can decide whether to go ahead or not.

Generally speaking rates for babysitters depends alot on area, experience, whether they have any additional training like first aid, childcare qualifications ect, number of children being looked after. At the end of the day if a family cannot afford/ don't want to pay your hourly rate then they are free to look else where.

Personally i would be surprised at that price for babysitting, it's a lot and more than a registered childminder or qualified nursery worker earns. I am also guessing the kids will be in bed for some of the time you are there so not not awful lot to do? However you are working privately and as others have said you can charge what you want, she may just be able to find someone cheaper. I suppose it comes down to who she will trust with her kids. I would only ever want to bring someone into my home that i felt i could 100% trust, so if that was you and I really wanted/needed to go out, I would pay it. I'd rather that than pay £10/hour for someone i didn't know or trust. Maybe it's how you have come across ok messages that has annoyed her more? As she has mentioned you being unfriendly, so maybe check how your tone in the message has sounded.

I got paid £5 an hour in 1991 and I was only 12. £10 is not a lot. Go figure. Gee.

I'm a qualified nursery nurse with 37 years experience and I wouldn't charge that much for babysitting when the child is in bed. Back in the late 1980's £5 a night would have been acceptable- not per hour.

Most of the time the care that I provide are for children ages 5+ and it’s during the day (10am-4pm sort of thing). I think I am being more than reasonable charging more, we are in a cost of living crisis and I like many others have bills to pay. I have the qualifications that justify charging the amount I am :)

I got £5 an hour car washing too so perhaps they are just tighter where you are lol. I would expect to pay around £15 an hour for a babysitter, especially qualified. I would be very uneasy getting a cheap baby sitter. The average dog walker charges £10/£12 an hour, don't you think kids should cost more?

Honestly just block her number and babysit for someone else who appreciates it. I don't know what going rate is and suppose it would depend on location and times etc u charge what you feel is acceptable £15 sounds reasonable to me tbh as its just over minimum and would cover your travel etc.

During the day I'd call childminding, evenings is babysitting (to me). Slightly different scenario then- I see why you would charge £10/hr.