How much should I pay my babysitter?

This is a question that comes up often when parents are addressing the issue of rates for a babysitter. What's included in the rate of a babysitter? Are there any additional costs involved? What financial aid can I get from the government? All the questions you may have about how and how much to pay your babysitter are in this chapter. And for lovers of good news, there's a small chapter dedicated to additional aid that we do not always think of.

What are the rates of a babysitter?

Yes, a long time ago, certain people wondered if babysitting even deserved payment, today, it's changed! All work deserves a salary and that's convenient: babysitting is one. 

There is not a single price per hour. You'll have to fix it by agreement with your employee. The final price also depends on several other factors discussed below.

Calculating a fair price.

Calculating a fair hourly rate for your babysitter isn't simple, you should take into consideration the following:

• As with everything, it is the market of supply and demand that makes the law: the price will not be the same in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, or in a small remote village. Similarly you can not pay your babysitter at the same rate an ordinary Saturday or the evening of 31 December. It is therefore necessary at first to learn about what goes on in your city. Ask other parents out of school or your neighbours!
• Unlike a daycare, the hourly price is never established by the number of children being watched. Some babysitters are completely wrong in saying:
  

  3 children? So that will be 3 x $10.20 (average national rate in Canada) = $30.80 per hour.

  The difficulty of care (number and age of children) and the schedule must be taken into account, but in no case should you multiply the rate by the number of children cared for!
  
• Inactive hours, called "responsible presence" can be paid less than regular hours. These are the hours when children are sleeping.
  Babysitting in the evening, parents do not necessarily take this into account. Although the hours are less active concerning the children and the babysitter can enjoy to watch a movie or study, they can be nonetheless tiresome as it's often late hours during which the babysitter must stay awake.
• Transportation costs may be covered by the employer.
• Meals and other "benefits in kind" can be counted against the rate of the sitter. However for occasional babysitting in the evening the parents usually do not need to adjust the rate. This advantage is often taken into account against the babysitter when working a week of vacation for the entire family, for example.

Rates by region.

Babysitter's rate can vary greatly by region. Rates vary according to supply and demand, other criteria also come into play. Not only do rates vary between provinces but the rates for babysitters are often considerably higher in the city than in the countryside.

Other costs to include: taxi, meals, etc.

When you use a babysitter, you pay her for her time, but that's not all. Compensation is usually provided for meals and transportation costs too.

Financial aid.

You did a quick calculation of what a babysitter would cost you per month month and gasp! It's a pretty penny, if not downright insurmountable out every month. No fear, here's a little rundown of financial aid you can receive for hiring a babysitter.