Babysitting Costs Are Rising Fast For Parents Everywhere

Amy, from The Bobby Bones recently said that the price people charge for babysitting is going up very fast. She told parents, especially those with new babies, to be ready for higher prices.

Amy said she learned this after a friend told her that the friend's 19-year-old daughter, who is in college, charges $30 an hour to watch a child. That high number surprised everyone, including Bobby.  Bobby said he didn't know what babysitting usually costs, but $30 an hour seemed like a lot for just one child. Even so, he joked that he would pay anything to make sure his child was safe. He wondered if the $30 rate made sense and pointed out that teachers don't even earn that much per hour.

Amy looked into the price after hearing the $30 figure. She found that for one child, the average price for a babysitter is about $26 an hour. For two children, it's closer to $30 an hour. The price can also change depending on where you live. For example, it's higher in California and lower in places like San Antonio. Amy also noted that sitters with more experience, like those who know CPR (which helps if someone stops breathing) or who have worked with kids a lot, should be paid more. She added that when you break down teacher salaries, they make a little more than $27 an hour, which led to a discussion about how that compares to babysitters.

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Amy then explained the difference between babysitters, nannies, and live-in helpers. Nannies usually make between $19 and $26 an hour, and their schedule and time off are set by a contract. She also talked about "au pairs," who are young people from other countries who come to live with a family and help with childcare. Au pairs are hired legally through special groups. Amy said some families choose au pairs because they can be cheaper when you count in that the family gives them a place to live and food. Bobby said he had never heard the word "au pair" and asked how it works. Amy explained that au pairs are often more available to help because they have fewer friends or ties in the local area.

Eddie chimed in as a parent himself, added that he understands why parents of newborns are careful. They are often nervous about leaving very young babies or traveling with them because they worry about the baby's health.

The talk moved to traveling with babies. Eddie said that traveling by car is usually easier than flying, especially with a very young child. Amy agreed that many parents choose to stay home during the first few months because they are being cautious. Bobby joked that he wants to raise his child to be tough, maybe by making life hard for the baby on purpose. Eddie and Amy agreed that many parents find it hard to decide if they should raise their own kids the same way they were raised or a different way. Amy mentioned that Bobby’s wife, Caitlin, brings a calm and stable way of doing things from her own childhood, which will help Bobby and her find a good balance.

They ended the discussion by going back to the cost of babysitting. All three agreed that $30 an hour is a lot of money. Bobby joked that it might be cheaper to travel to a place with lower rates, like San Antonio, and have a vacation there instead of paying the high babysitting fee at home.

Listen to The Bobby Bones Show weekday mornings 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM on Sioux Falls' 99-1 and 100.5, Kickin' Country and world wide on your free Kickin' Country App!

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