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As a parent, I have been lucky up to this point in my child’s life to have a plethora of friends and family to keep an eye on the kid when my husband and I need to venture out for an adults-only occasion. Granted these occasions do not come up often and part of the reason is most-likely because we do not have a paid babysitter on standby and essentially do not want to wear out our welcome with friends and family.

However, for many families, our situation is not a shared one and they need to rely on outside, paid help to care for the kids. Typically, through research, I have discovered the rate of pay for babysitters has skyrocketed since my quarter-a-kid-per-hour days, a mere 20 years ago…

For a couple wanting to go out for a movie, the overall cost can be astronomical. Figure in the $20 for movie tickets and another $15 for snacks plus the $20 babysitting fee, parents might be more apt to stay at home and miss out on a break rather than spend $55 on a movie night. Here is a list of popular options for babysitters and the going rates for each, as well as some alternatives for free, quality child care outside of the daycare realm.

PAID CARE

Teenage Babysitters – The teenager next door or from you community or church may be willing to watch your kids for around $7-$10 an hour. Depending on the amount of children you have and their ages, a teenager is more likely to work for pocket money but may not possess special qualifications such as CPR certifications or drivers licenses.

Adult Babysitters – Many stay-at-home mom’s or those looking for a second source of income may be willing to watch your children for rates between $10-$15 a hour. May not posses special training but may have a driver’s license and the ability to prepare quality meals for the children.

Professional Babysitters - People with another interest in childcare practices, such as a pre-school teacher or a full-time child care individual like a nanny might command a salary starting out around $15-$20 an hour. There may be additional fees per children per hour. Professional sitters typically will have special qualifications, such as CPR, drivers license, and perhaps child psychology training.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES

Mom Swaps – For moms in the community who lack appropriate child care after school hours, it may be worth it to host a meet-and-greet in your home to introduce yourself and the idea to help other parents with child care. Parents can work out a fair way to watch each other’s children during the month to give each other some alone time free of charge.

Be Social - Many schools offer plenty of opportunities for parents to get to know the parents of other students. Meeting up with other parents who have kids in class with your children can be an opportunity to participate in play dates with children your children already know. This is an important step for parents new in town or those without family close by.

Older Sibling Swaps – If you are the parent of a responsible teenager, make the a deal. Your kids have friends who may be willing to get together to babysit for a night, giving your circle of friends an opportunity to get together for adult time a few hours a month. In exchange for the free babysitting, allow your teenager to host a sleepover or movie night at home. Provide snacks and some freedom to your kid and their friends and don’t forget to thank them for a job well done.

Host a Family Night of Your Own - Many parents choose to not go out to functions that are not family friendly for many reasons. If there are parents in your community who could use a break, talk to them about working together on a family fun night to get everyone out of the house. Perhaps a local civic group will allow you to use a room at their facility. Everyone can bring one dish to share and both adults and kids get a night out for free.

Please share any other great ideas you have come up with to ensure kids are safe if parents need to go out, especially those ideas that help out families on a budget.



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