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(20 posts)

Cost of babysitters in West Seattle

Started 3 years ago by jay
Latest reply from TDe

jay
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I am new to West Seattle and was wondering what is the average price per hour people were paying for an adult to babysit school aged children. Teenagers?

Posted 3 years ago #
add
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About a year or so ago we were paying $10/hour to our 20ish year-old sitters for evening babysitting. We would often "round up" the total so it would sometimes be closer to $12/hour.

Posted 3 years ago #
ellenater
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We pay $8/hour for evening care to our young teen sitter. We also round up.

Posted 3 years ago #
Irukandji
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$15/hr for a kid in grad school to watch our busy toddler.

Posted 3 years ago #
angelescrest
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My teenage daughters get between $8-$10. (I try to help with the transportation.) I pay $15 an hour for a college sitter who drives to watch the 8 yr. old.

Posted 3 years ago #
PDH
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We pay $7/hour for our teenage babysitter. We also round up.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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$8 for anyone pre-high school, $10-12 for high schoolers and $15ish for college students - that's just my personal opinion.

Posted 3 years ago #
UrbanFabulous
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Up until I stopped babysitting I charged $15/hour. My friend, who currently still babysits, charges $16/hour. She'll charge more if there is more than one child though. We're both in our mid-twenties though. In high school I would say $10-12 is more than reasonable.

Posted 3 years ago #
Liz
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I pay my 20 something babysitters $14/ hr for 2 kids.

Posted 3 years ago #
pbgirl423
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Forget the price, where the heck do you find these people to babysit during the day on a week day? I have an almost 2 year old and would love someone to come to my home for a few hours a day 2 or 3 times a week. High schoolers are out since they're in school so where do I find other good options? Any recommendations?

Posted 3 years ago #
Diane
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you are absolutely right; this is a huge dilemma; mid week, few hours, is the most challenging, and tons of demand; I’ve been doing child care in Seattle for years, been working in the child care field 20+ years, and get requests for 2 – 3 hrs on week days all the time; from the caregiver perspective, I don’t take day jobs of less than 8 hrs because anything less blocks out my day for other work opportunities, especially mid-day hours; after getting daily requests for mid-day mid-week “mommy break” few hours, I specify in my on-call child care ads on CL, 8 hr min days, 4 hr min nights; I also have many parents ask me if I know anyone who does these pt week day hours, but the thing about in home child care is I know tons of families/parents; I don’t know any other nannies/babysitters
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I cruise the CL child care section daily, so have a pretty good idea what is out there
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my best guess would be college students who may have morning classes, availability in afternoons; or vice versa; and if they’re studying psychology, education, social work, etc, they may be interested in gaining the one on one experience with young children in the home for their resume, and spending money; many community colleges have student job boards; SPU used to be an excellent resource open to the community, but after word got out few years ago, their website got overloaded, they made it exclusive to students and family requests
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or SAHMs (stay at home moms) who just need extra cash to supplement family income, and bring along their young child
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or someone who is retired, and loves kids, only needing supplemental income
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I see a TON of ads on CL and wsblog for Alki Kid's, but looks like the min age is 4
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most nanny agencies have a 4 hr min, and now there are a flood of nanny/babysitting services all competing (and spamming the child care section) for your business
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and btw, I’ve never seen an ad for “babysitting/child care/nanny offered” more qualified than myself, and I charge $15/hr
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when I started babysitting in my neighborhood at age 12, with already few years experience helping with my baby brothers, my rate was a whopping 75 cents/hr, so it’s pretty humorous to see some of the ads on CL with barely more experience than that asking $15 - $20 per hour
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I really appreciate this thread; it’s great to see the range of rates from the family perspective

Posted 3 years ago #
UrbanFabulous
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You should put flyers up at South Seattle Community College! The other place you could try would be coffee shops in the area. C&P has a bulletin board...

Posted 3 years ago #
add
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pbgirl - my niece is a junior at the UW and has all afternoon classes this semester. She's looking for some flexible work hours (specifically mornings), and your gig sounds like a potentially good match. She has lots of kidcare/nanny experience. You can reach her at shantd@u.washington.edu.

Posted 3 years ago #
anjali
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I'm available to babysit few hours a day.I'm experienced nanny.You can contact me at sehgal.anjali@yahoo.com

Posted 3 years ago #
angelescrest
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pbgirl--
After I pick-up my second-grader (and I teach part-time), she and I can help out from 3-5ish weekdays, if needed.
kimkrasne at yahoo dot com

Posted 3 years ago #
wsbabysitter
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I love children, have childcare experience, am a college graduate, and have been certified in CPR and First Aid. I am currently available for 4 hour shifts in the Alki Beach area. kkapsca@yahoo.com

Posted 3 years ago #
Diane
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I posted a lot of info about myself, above, in post 5 mos ago; have also worked with several families from westseattleblog
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I'm currently offering March Babysitting Special--1st hour Free!!!
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This is my birthday month, so my gift to westseattlebloggers
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Free first hour child care, if you mention West Seattle Blog
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4 hr min nights
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8 hr min days
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I've been serving Seattle families for 10 yrs, more than 20 yrs overall experience
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Specialize in infants/toddlers/prek; date nights, emergencies, daycare closures
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Contact for resume, reference letters, bookings:
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seattlebabies@aol.com
206-949-7377
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ps; would also love to receive contact info and resumes from child care providers who can do just few hours during the day, whether it’s regular pt or temp; if you can do pt day hours, please let me know so I can refer you to families who ask me all the time “do you know anyone?”; let’s do some sharing and networking to get us all working and providing great services for families who need our help

Posted 3 years ago #
jrwhite760
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I am new to the seattle area, and am without a job. I have a first grader so am available during the day. I am currently going to school and taking classes online so my day is very flexible. My major is early childhood education and would love the experience working with kids more. If anyone would like please email me or give me a call and I can tell you more about myself. thank you 206-390-5157 jrwhite760@yahoo.com

Posted 3 years ago #
mindi
Member Profile

I am a licensed daycare provider who, when not at capacity, will take drop ins. Drop in care means you have all necessary forms on file - then when you need care you call 24 hours in advance and if I have an opening you are more than welcome to stop in. I charge $60 per day or $10 per hour whichever is less. I also have a teen daughter who babysits for $7 an hour when available !
http://www.freewebs.com/munchkinjunctiondaycare/

chorsegirl@yahoo.com

Mindi

Posted 2 years ago #
TDe
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My two teen-age granddaughters are available to babysit up to two children each in the Gatewood school area, after school from 3:30pm - 6:30pm. They charge $8 an hour. They have many younger brothers and sisters, including a toddler and are great with kids. If you are interested contact fountnwrks@aol.com.

Posted 2 years ago #