What’s the going rate for a babysitter these days?
When it comes to finding someone to care for your little ones, it’s not as simple as it used to be. Whether you’re looking into nanny services (Hello, Mary Poppins!) or considering an au pair (fancy!), it’s hard to know what type of caregiver is the best option for your kids—and which babysitting rates are affordable for your family.
Gone are the days of calling up that trusted neighbourhood kid—you know, the one who practically walked right out of The BabySitters Club—and grabbing a few fivers out of your wallet to pay them at the end of the night. (Although you could argue that using an app like Datenight to pay your sitter is a whole new level of easy. Forget running out to the bank last minute to grab some cash—now all you have to do is tap a button!)
So how much should I pay a babysitter in Toronto?
Most babysitters in the big city charge anywhere from $14 to $22 an hour. Anything lower than that, and it should give you pause. Seeing that your babysitter is caring for your most prized possessions, cheaper isn’t necessarily better. So how much do babysitters actually charge these days? And how do you know if you’re getting a fair deal?
Here’s a good way to look at it:
$14 ~ $16
You might expect to pay your babysitter a lower fee if she’s just starting out, or if she’s still in school and this is her part-time job—not her future career.
$17 ~ $22
A higher rate is fair for a babysitter with a lot of experience, or one who is completing a post-secondary degree in Early Childhood Education. Remember, that previous experience can be more than simply babysitting. If your babysitter has worn any of the following hats, you’ve hit the jackpot: camp counsellor, swimming instructor, dance teacher, Big Brother or Big Sister.
While babysitting fees today may seem pricey, here’s a good way to put it into perspective: You’d pay a much higher hourly rate for a housecleaner—and they aren’t taking care of the most important little people in the whole wide world.
Ready to find your next great babysitter? Register to browse Datenight’s selection of top rated caregivers in your area.
