With the economy in the toilet, nearly every other service has become "discounted" (painters, landscapers, household contractors, health & beauty services). Yet, why am I still paying my teenage babysitter the same rate? Moms... can we agree and bring that hourly rate back under control.

I wish I could contribute more this week, but am one of the few blessed with never needing to hire a babysitter. Grandparents, godparents and aunts have made our life much easier. But if I had the need I would first look at current teens I know, at our local church, through the high school or park district certification programs.

When I used to need babysitters, I turned to the kids at our church, which always maintains a babysitting list. I never required that anyone pass a certification course. Mostly, I wanted kids who were fun, easy-going and unflappable. In the later days, he or she needed to watch four kids! I paid $8 an hour way back then because we were considered "a big job"! My own kids are now babysitting for between $8-$10 (and sometimes more -- for "a big job" like they used to be!)

My boys get asked to babysit by neighbors who know them and by families at the pool where they lifeguard and coach. I think it is always great to ask a kid who your children may know through some other activity. Sometimes, the best babysitters are the kids who you meet through activities and who may have never even considered babysitting until you ask them!

To the comment above about bringing the rates down, I doubt that will happen anytime soon (though I agree that it is hard to afford a night out these days!). Kids are working hard and saving money more than ever because of this economy. They're all trying to help fund their college expenses, which are becoming harder for parents to shoulder. I think some of the younger (junior high) kids are a bit more flexible with their hourly rates. My 12 year old daughter has never even quoted a rate - she just takes whatever she is given!

Babysitter, nah, I just left my kids home to fend for themselves. KIDDING. Since we moved a lot it was important for me to get to know the families in the neighborhood for babysitting. There were times we were lucky enough to live by grandparents too. When my boys were toddler age, we only used the girls from the daycare they were at, but as they got older we turned to teens and young adults from the neighborhood or children of people we worked with. We always drove or walked our sitters home.
THe best babysitting story I have occurred when someone was babysitting me. I was around 8 years old and our cat went into labor. The babysitter freaked out and locked herself in the bathroom. When my parents came home I was still up sitting with our momma cat as she delivered her 6 kittens. The one time I didn't get in trouble for staying up past my bedtime!
I am grateful we don't have to hire babysitters anymore, with the going rate around $8 to $10! WOW. I remember in my babysitting days I was thrilled when I made a buck an hour! Boy have times changed.

Matthew, I do agree with you that the job requires a lot of responsibility, but in this economy salaries have taken a hit in most professions. Most babysitters are taking cash under the table and not claiming it so the take home pay is 100%, unlike preschool employees, fast food workers, and employees at chain stores, just to name a few. These employees are on a payrol and pay taxes. I have to agree with the local reader that even a slight cut in the rate can help out. It might be the difference between going out once a month or twice a month. In this stressful society, getting away from the kids occassionally is a must (sorry kids). For those that hire trusted teens that they know, a dollar less an hour might mean one less Starbucks or bottle of nail polish. I know I'm simplifying things here, but I guess my point is most teens aren't helping support a family. I used the word MOST because there is always an exception to the rule. Now that I've upset all the teens, bring on the comments and blast me!

We have found our sitters through church. We don't go out a lot. I prefer college or older - our kids have food allergies. If you pay $8 an hour consider yourself lucky. We're willing to pick-up/drop-off if need be.

OK Laurie,on behalf of teens, I will bite: first of all, paying taxes is not a concern for most adolescent workers with part-time or summer jobs. They pay in, but they get it all back in a refund.

As for the wage, babysitting is worth more, in my opinion, than working at a retail store, where many kids end up making at least minimum wage. I think caring for kids is worth at least a dollar or two more an hour.

Maybe this would be a good place for a few babysitting 'stories' like the blow out diaper that requires a whole box of wipes and a bath while the other three kids yell "the pizza man is here!". Or the kids who try to cut off their babysitter's bra just to see if she is really wearing one. Or the child who wakes up in the night and throws up and throws up and throws up. Or the colic-y baby who cries for 5 hours. Or the baby with croup who the babysitter sits in the shower with. And finally, the sleep-walking child who runs through the house screaming at midnight and cannot be woken. I think 10 an hour is fair.

Sadly, my son scoffed when I asked him for a babysitter story. "You never went out!" he declared and that is mostly true (and quite tragic.) When we did have to go somewhere, like Sheila, we had a ton of relatives to count on. Eventually, because our kids are far enough apart, the bigger one watched the little one and we'd throw a twenty his way. Twenty bucks to eat, watch TV and basically ignore your little brother? I'll take it! I do remember him calling us three times when we made a rare dinner outing with friends, wondering when the heck we were going to be home. Three times! He loves hearing that story now, six years later. Ann is correct. I hear a lot of kids just take what they are given because they are too shy to set a rate. I babysat a lot and while it's not the best job in the world, barring any complications, it's not that difficult. If I had to do it over again I would seek out the teens on my block first and, of course any older siblings of my kids' friends. That way you know the families a bit and can gauge their success with your kids.

I was lucky with babysitting when my kids were little: right after my daughter was born, a neighbor girl whom I had known for years and was friends with her folks asked if she could 'shadow' me as she wanted to learn the ropes. She was in 6th grade at the time and was a huge help to me: my son was 4 when my daughter was born and it was great having her at the house. It got so that i would leave her with the baby when I took my son to LT swim lessons and she sat for us till she was in college!

My other favorite sitter was a young girl (Jennifer) I met when standing on the corner talking to other moms, my daughter at my side. She bent down and talked to my little girl and I got her number right then. She too sat for us for many years. Both in the neighborhood - one just a half block away and the other was 3 blocks away. One of nicest things that Jennifer's mom did was drop her off for the job and pick her up, even at midnight. That was such a great thing for me, a single mom, that I did that for other moms when my daughter began to babysit.

Wages? I think $8 - $10 is about right. I used to make 50 CENTS an hour to sit for kids in situations like Ann described....and all moms and dads need time away - $10 an hour is worth it - even if you just go for a walk by yourself!

Real-life stories, Matt, from my experiences babysitting and my kids' experiences-- and there are more! I just shared the funny ones.

Finding a babysitter can be a little overwhelming. But figuring out where to look and what to look for when finding a babysitter doesn’t have to be difficult. Having a checklist of what to do and what not to do will help you in your search. Finding a babysitter online is actually very safe and reliable. Here are some tips about how to successfully find a babysitter.
1. When finding a babysitter, give yourself ample time to conduct your search. Settling for someone you’re not sure about can leave you uneasy about your child’s care in your absence.
2. Do your homework. When it comes to finding a babysitter, this means asking for references, doing an interview, checking their background and seeing how the babysitter interacts with your child or children.
3. Know the questions to ask.
a. Ask what experience your babysitter has had and whether she has any experience with a child in the same age group as yours.
b. Ask for references that include past babysitting jobs that an applicant has had.
c. Find out your babysitter’s schedule and availability, making sure it coincides with your needs.
d. Find out if your babysitter has had any CPR training and is familiar with what to do in case of an emergency involving your child.
e. Ask what type of philosophy your babysitter has in taking care of children.
http://www.care4hire.com

4. The current babysitting pay rate can encompass a wide range. How much you pay your babysitter can vary widely depending on where you live, how much experience the babysitter has, how many children she’ll be watching, and what her duties will be. Babysitting rates can be anywhere from $5 to $20. Here are some considerations that affect the babysitting pay rate.
http://www.care4hire.com
a. In general, mother’s helpers who aren’t fully responsible for the care of your children, but are there to assist you, get paid less.
b. Younger aged babysitters tend to have a lower pay rate as well.
c. Major metropolitan areas tend to command the highest pay rate.
d. The pay rate may be higher in cases where a babysitter has more years of experience, is caring for more than one of your children, and has specialized training such as CPR certification or early childhood education.
e. Babysitters who have a greater degree of responsibility, such as driving your children or teaching them a specific skill can command higher rates as well.
f. If you’re wondering what the going rate is for babysitting, check with friends and neighbors, other parents, and parenting boards for the current going babysitting pay rate.