Nanny payment

A complete guide for calculating babysitting services

Usually, in our country, when someone asks you: “How much do you earn?”, you answer the amount of your monthly salary. However, childcare is one of the industries that use payment by the hour. So, if you multiply the price for one working hour by the number of hours worked for a month, you will get the monthly salary of the babysitter.

We often get this question: “How much will a babysitter charge for an hour of service?”

It is very difficult for parents who have never used babysitting services to understand how babysitter fees go per hour. In these cases, we answer that our candidates define their taxes on their own. But there is a science to it, and many factors need to be considered.

For example, let us look at the engagement. The shorter it is – the higher the hourly price. And in reverse - the longer the engagement is – the lower the hourly price gets

Another criterion is the location. The living conditions are way more expensive in the capital city than those in the countryside. Continuing with the number of kids – more kids automatically means a heavier engagement with more obligations for the babysitter. In the following guide, we will describe most of the factors that matter while calculating the payment. At the end of this page, you will find a calculator, which gives you the chance to get as close to the correct answer as possible. And here are the factors:

Duration

• What kind of caretaker do you need? A full-time, a part-time, or only for certain occasions?
• If you need a part-time babysitter, will the engagement be for the same days every week?
• Are these days on the weekends or workdays?

Sometimes, the number of working hours and days may influence the salary. For example, a babysitter would ask for a higher price, if she has to work on weekends and holidays, or if she is called upon at the last minute.

In case you need a regular daycare where the babysitter will have a long-term engagement, you can agree on a lower price. Of course, you need to account for factors like working on holidays, busy hours, and all the additional obligations that the babysitter has to undertake.

Number of children

Taking care of only one kid is way more different than taking care of 2-3, or more kids. The amount of the salary has to be consistent with this fact. A babysitter needs to be able to control a bigger group. She needs to manage the kids and their relationships. She has to be aware of the group dynamic, which is very different than nursing a single child.

Twins/Triplets

Taking care of two or three kids at the same age has its specificities. Therefore, experience and individual approach are essential when choosing a babysitter for more than one child. In these cases, you may expect higher fees.

Additional responsibilities

In every engagement, the responsibilities of babysitters are directly proportional to their salary. The more obligations – the higher the price. Many babysitters are willing to help with household duties as long as it does not interfere with the childcare. On the other side, many families are willing to pay more to a babysitter who cooks, does the laundry, takes the kids to and from school, kinder garden, or any daily activities.

Very often, in the babysitting industry, a disagreement occurs between the babysitter and the families. The main reason is the additional responsibilities, and it starts right from the beginning. Both sides agree on certain conditions related to childcare, but eventually, parents add more duties like laundry, and cleaning, without a salary increase. Sometimes, a babysitter even becomes a housekeeper and is forced to seek another engagement with a better treatment.

Therefore, we would like to simply ask our clients: “Dear parents, if you need to add more duties for the babysitter after the initial agreement, please, consider an increase in the salary. After all, this is fair.”

Transportation

If you live in a remote area of the city, the babysitter needs to find a way to get to the appointment. Using a personal car, a cab, or public transport - this will mean additional transport money. Some families are covering a monthly bus pass as compensation.

In transportation, we have to include all cases, in which a babysitter has to drive the kids to and from school, kinder garden, sports activities, lessons, etc. If she is using her automobile, it is good to offer additional payment for gas. In case, she has to drive your car, make sure it is fueled up, or leave enough money.

Experience

We have come to the most important part of the equation – the babysitter`s experience. The more experienced she is - the higher salary she expects. But babysitters need to be honest about their background. Babysitting their younger brother or sister is not considered as “years of experience”. Experienced babysitters earn more compared to those with less experience. A higher salary due to many years of babysitting practice can motivate the candidates to be more diligent at their job. Thus, you will be ensured that your child will be raised by an engaged and dedicated person.

We offer training that can increase a babysitter`s professional qualification. They can gather new skills and easily meet parent`s requirements. They can improve their educational skills towards children; how to teach them on self- service (eating and using the restroom, as well as organizing their toys). We offer training courses with modern and out-of-the-box methods like Montessori (preferred by many parents nowadays); courses with logopedic exercises and speech improvement.

Weekends and holidays

If you need babysitting services on weekends or official holidays, you inevitable have to be ready to pay more. Everyone prefers to be with their families on holidays and off-days, so if you need a caretaker for these days, you have to offer an adequate pay.

Last-moment call

An important business meeting, unapproved leave application, medical problem - emergencies like these can happen to anyone. You can ask for a babysitting service, but keep in mind it is a last-minute call, and you are probably ruining a babysitter`s plans. This means you have to be willing to give her more money for reacting to this unforeseen situation.

Night Care

Working night shifts or just want to go to a party some evening? Parents sometimes need babysitting services for the night. Some babysitters are ready to take such a commitment. Please, do not forget that this is night-time working and has to be paid appropriately. Most of the time kids are indeed asleep at night. Still, a babysitter needs to be available. Nights can be hard for some kids, who wake up crying for no reason, often need to use the restroom, or even run a fever. In case of these scenarios, you need an adequate reaction, proper attitude, and approach from an experienced babysitter.

Special care

It is not uncommon to have a child that needs some kind of special care. Kids with health or emotional problem are in such need, too. Asthma, children`s cerebral palsy, Down`s syndrome, dyslexia, or phobia are only some of the conditions that would need more professionalism, experience, understanding, and patience. We add to this list also kids, who are overemotional, or hypersensitive, and those who are hyperactive or have problems concentrating. All these specific cases require a babysitter`s proficiency and skills. After all, the child`s safety and comfort are what matters the most for every parent. And for a parent to have peace of mind, he needs to know that his kid is in capable hands.

And now we are getting to the question every parent in need of a babysitter asks: “How much will it cost?”. As you already know, the answer depends on your requirements, preferences, working conditions, type of engagement, and the list of additional responsibilities. First, you need to ask yourself “What am I looking for?” and we will be able to tell “How much it costs?”. Be realistic and do not expect high demands for a low price. Everybody works for money and knows how to earn it. So when you hire a babysitter, it is obviously in your favor, and you need the service. Price the service deservedly.

Use our Calculator below to gain insight and navigate the price of the Babysitter service.