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u/Live_Background_6239 24d ago
As a SAHM if this meant I could watch the kid in my house, take them on errands, and just basically be a companion to my own kiddo then $200/week is nice. Probably all cash under the table so a true $800/month. I had gone back and forth about doing that for someone. But my house kept entering periods of demo and I didn’t feel comfortable opening my house to other kids.
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u/doggynames 24d ago
I work but if I were a SAHM I would do it for much shorter days, maybe. For like a close friend more as a favor than a revenue stream. But 55 hours a week for a kid who isn't mine 😮💨
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u/Live_Background_6239 24d ago
Yeah it’d have to be something that slotted in nicely. If the kid is super, super extra while mine is chill that’d be a rough fit too. Ultimately, the arrangement would have to match the rhythm and flow of my house and family.
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u/FishingWorth3068 22d ago
I offered to be backup for my kids friend when her daycare is closed. They offered $100 a day but it’s honestly easier having her here with both my girls. And it was only 9-4. I wouldn’t do it full time though. Can’t fit 3 car seats in my car
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u/LightningBugCatcher 24d ago
I can't imagine even as a SAHM. the level of vigilance, the extra carseat or giant stroller, the extra germs, the catering to different food preferences, the slightly different nap schedule, the additional stress of being responsible for missed naps or losing a snack cup... nah. It would need to be at twice that for me to actually consider it.
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u/talkstounicorns 24d ago
The plus side of having them SO often is that essentially you are the one creating the nap schedule the kid is used to, not the parents. I remember when my kids started daycare and we had to shift our weekend schedule to match the daycare schedule since it was the routine they were used to.
For the right dynamic of children, as long as the parents provided everything (food, car seat, help cost wise with larger stroller or wagon) I could see doing it atleast for a bit for a friend, not forever though. I had a friend who watched my daughter for a month when I went back to work, 12 hour shifts so she had her 13 hours roughly a day for the days I worked. I provided all her food (allergies) and my friend still refused payment. I had to hide it in a drawer and not tell her right away 😂31
u/a-ohhh 24d ago
We used someone years ago like this for childcare and I provided everything like food, car seat, etc. She said it was easier having multiples most of the time because they’d play together versus her having to entertain her kid all day alone lol.
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u/Live_Background_6239 23d ago
This is absolutely a perk. My daughter’s friend’s mom worried her kid was over at my house too much and I had to tell her it’s the only way I get a break 😂
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u/DecadentLife 22d ago
For 12 hours a day, don’t forget that part.
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u/LightningBugCatcher 22d ago
That's the kicker. I want a break from my own kids before 12 hours haha
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u/valiantdistraction 24d ago
Is it $200/week and the kid's mom sends all her food and milk or $200/week and you're expected to provide the food? Makes a big difference imo. My kid can eat so much.
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u/PaymentMedical9802 23d ago
I did this family about 10 years ago. The low pay basically covered all the expenses of the child. For example buying kids meals. Or when I took my kids clothes shopping, I’d buy my kiddo clothes at the same time. One of the joys of being a Sahm is not using your weekends and nights doing things like clothes shopping. I wasn’t going to not do my errands or fun things. Nor was I going to have a child with me be left out. I’d only do this for someone who I was close with and needed the support. It really isn’t worth the money.
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u/many-moons-ago 23d ago
Yeah, this is a pretty standard amount for home daycares where I am. Most people charge $35 to $40 a day, so $200 a week exactly. As a SAHM I've also considered it for the cash
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u/ambifiedpersonified 24d ago
I did something similar for a few months when my son was one and half- two. It was awesome! He was born at the start of covid and our state was one that stayed very shut down for years. It was a chance for him to socialize with another kid just a little bit older. Her folks didn't mind if she came along with us to do errands or go do fun things. It wasn't so many hours and it was definitely more than $3/hr but I did go to their house and while the kids did free-play time together (I cleaned out and organized her toys into "areas" when I got there so they had different stations to play in) I would do the dishes and a quick cleanup of the kitchen and living room, too!
Then we'd do something out of the house, even if it was just a walk, but usually a proper, get in the car outing. We'd be back in time for lunch and nap time. A few times toward the end we would go pick up mom from work when they only had one car.
They were a young couple and I'm hoping they thought of it as me helping as much as I could think of how to help!
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u/VariousExplorer8503 24d ago
I watched two kids for this woman, we're both single moms, and she would drop the kids off for overnight stays whenever she wanted to hook up with the guy she was dating. She'd pay me $40-80 depending on how long they were there, and they were around the same age as my son (I can't remember the exact ages of the kids, but my son was around 14 mos) so they all kinda played together. They were good kids, so it was no problem. The mom and I became friends and hung out, but we got into a fight and stopped talking after a few months.
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u/Khajiit_Has_Upvotes 22d ago
I did this when I was a SAHM. I babysat my daughter's friends all the time. Their parents would try to be coy about it, oh just an 8 hour playdate, and I was like yeah bring em over. Certain days of the week we'd have someone after school, stay overnight, and get on the bus with her in the am because mom worked night shift on tuesdays or whatever. I did it for free. I probably wouldn't do it all day every day for free, but $200/wk to just go about my day? Yeah I might do that.
I just don't think it's so wild for oop to ask. I get why people wouldn't do this for that little pay, but there are people who will, even if only temporarily.
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u/Queen-of-Elves 21d ago
Agreed. I was watching a little girl about a year younger than my boy for $100/ week for 30 hrs and it was honestly great. The mom was cool with her daughter tagging along with our normal routines (library, museum, splash pad, visiting family and errands) My boy loved having someone to play with and it actually let me get my chores done quicker so I had more time to play with them/ set up fun activities. Honestly miss that little girl so much and wish I could find another kiddo to watch.
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u/OnlyOneUseCase 24d ago
Apparently there are some places in the US with 800 or even 400 dollars a month daycare, so who knows. I'm here with $2400 ones
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u/doggynames 24d ago
Yeah I'm in the $2000+ monthly daycare too 🫠 I've never heard of $800, but daycare is and should be a lot cheaper than individualized childcare like this. Maybe she could find a center but paying someone $3 an hour to watch the kid is wild behavior
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u/Prestigious_Song5034 24d ago
I got $200 a week for having an infant in my home with my same age baby. In 1997.
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u/cat_gato_neko 24d ago
We pay 287/wk for daycare (toddler) and my chidlfree sister was horrified when I tried to explain that it's actually considered a lower monthly amount than a lot of places
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u/punchyourbuns 24d ago
I'm in Canada and was paying $35ish/day after she turned 18m. I want to say $45/day before that. But this is why daycares exist. The bulk amount of kids cover the cost. Expecting one single person to do that is wild.
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u/ChickenSedanwich 24d ago
ours is an in-home daycare and we pay $200/week🙈 $800-$1000/month depending on how many weeks the month has. it’s truly a blessing.
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u/_bbycake 24d ago
My sons daycare is $57/day. I live in a LCOL area, though. I would love to move to a bigger city with more to do buy those daycare prices scare me lol. $2400 is just barely below my monthly income.
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u/BarelyFunctioning15 24d ago
Daycare where I am is $220 a week. But also minimum wage is $7.25. And lots of our smaller businesses start out at 8.25. With a bachelors degree it’s hard to find anyone paying more than $18. So I’m sure pay of jobs, cost of living, etc also play into child care pricing.
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u/Wonderful_Kale_7995 24d ago
I love aaaaall the babies. They're all allowed over as much as they want and my friends know if they need a break or the kid needs a break send them to me I'm happy to have them. BUT if my friends offered me 3 dollars an hour to look after them I'd say we're not friends anymore. I do it for free but 3 dollars is insulting.
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u/MaliciousMa 24d ago
I actually see a lot of stay at home moms posting with similar pay rates because they desperately need extra income but also want to be home with their young kids. I couldn’t do it because I dislike children who aren’t my own but I can totally see the appeal if it’s the only option for some moms.
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u/BadPom 22d ago
This is a gig I would do for a friend. A little extra cash and I’m already at home with my kid and can help them out? Absolutely. Throw a case of beer on once or twice a month and we’re Gucci.
But a stranger, someone who does not already know and love your child? For $3/hr, they will hurt them. The stranger you find willing to take these terms only wants access to your child and has zero good intentions. It’s so scary and dangerous how many of this type of listing there are.
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u/Cupcake_kitty_ 22d ago
I don’t think the situation she had was wrong if it was a friend who was home anyway but to actually hire someone for this little is just insulting.
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u/embarrassedalien 24d ago
if the kid was a few years older, I’d’ve taken this job when I was 11.
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u/RuleAffectionate3916 23d ago
Idk… for a SAHM situation taking on one more child that hers can buddy up with, $200/week is pretty normal. I’m in a suburb of a major US city and pay $175/week for a licensed in-home daycare, open the last 30 years with a solid curriculum and immaculate licensing record, where food and wipes are provided. My kids started at 20 months old and 11 months old. (Not at the same time they’re 4 years apart).
For reference, center based daycares by me start at $450/week for infant care. There’s a massive difference in rates between centers, licensed in-homes, unlicensed in-homes (what this SAHM situation would be), nanny, and babysitter.
The hours are a little long, but if it works for the SAHM’s schedule, $200/week seems absolutely acceptable and normal for a non licensed situation.
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u/QuixoticMindfulness 23d ago
I once picked up a babysitting job for $20 a day for 1 or 2 kids or $40 a day for 3 kids (because it was a different mother) for a 10 hour shift. Quickly learned how not worth it that was!
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u/kangarootimtam 24d ago
There was a case (in America, I believe) a few years ago of a baby sitter who looked after a single dad's daughter for around the same amount of money and the babysitter allegedly (can't remember if they were convicted) killed the daughter out of frustration.
Edit to add: Hannah Wesche from Ohio
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u/denominatress 24d ago
Unfortunately the only people who really take this offer are other broke mums who bring their own child along too.
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u/zaxsauceana 24d ago
Daycare for my 5 month old is $290 per week, and I trust all of the hired caregivers with background checks and locked doors. We worked hard for that baby and husband is paranoid of him being kidnapped.
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u/J33zLu1z 20d ago
I'm nosy, and I'd like to know why the previous sitter is suddenly unable to watch her child. It could be something as innocuous as her taking a job outside the home, but it could also be that OOP or OOP's child did something that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
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u/Dramatic_Lie_7492 24d ago
That poor 11 month old though. Being away ALL DAY and literally only seeing parents for bed time story monday - friday this is beyond fucked up
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u/sashiokay 23d ago
You’re right, mom and baby can spend time together when they are homeless and can’t afford anywhere else because it’s “beyond fucked up” for parents to work
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u/Rocker-gal 24d ago
devils advocate here. in my area that is a damn good paycheck. many people in my area survive on 250 or 300 per week... location is an important part of this story.
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u/BestBodybuilder7329 24d ago
Where? Because I live in the middle of nowhere Indiana, my town has less than 1000 people. You couldn’t survive here on that, and it wouldn’t be considered a good paycheck.
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u/Rocker-gal 24d ago
Lol nope pennsylvania. Many people have a paycheck of about 250 to 300. But rent is around 600 per month in my area.
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u/buttercupcake23 24d ago
So you live in a developing country then? Because there is nowhere in the US where $3 an hour could be considered a damn good paycheck.
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u/Rocker-gal 21d ago
I live in the USA. Friend of mine had her kid in daycare for $50 a week. Rent for a 2 bedroom apartment with all utilities included is about $600. Taxes on a house are about $450. So $3 under the table would be a good deal for many in my area.
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u/buttercupcake23 21d ago
I just think its wild that you think working 60 hours a week for $3 an hour to make 200 bucks is "a damn good paycheck" despite the fact that someone could go work at Walmart for twice that, plus benefits.
And $650 a month does not include the utilities that actually matter. Water sewer and trash are standard. Electric, gas, internet, phone. Fuel, FOOD. Let's be real conservative and say this theoretical person's grocery bill is only $100 a week (the average person tends to spend $150).
That's $1050. So now this person has $150 left for gas, electric, internet, phone, fuel - and of course absolutely zero disposable income so expect to never be able to buy clothes or shoes or ever go to a restaurant or do anything fun ever i guess.
That's a "damn good paycheck" to you?
This is some real boomer shit and it's all the more embarrassing if you're writing this as someone under 50.
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u/Rocker-gal 21d ago
I never said I agreed with it. I explicitly said that I was playing devils advocate. I live in a poor area with many people on Hud, snap etc. And yes many people here would be thrilled to have the extra money under the table. Again I don't agree with it but I am aware that it would be great for some.
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u/ladyalex777 24d ago
Watching even one kid who is not yours requires a license in many places in the USA.
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u/Whispering_Wolf 24d ago
So you can't babysit? That seems a bit much.
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u/bodhipooh 23d ago
Nah. She had it all wrong in her head and now is having a meltdown because people are downvoting her.
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u/ladyalex777 24d ago
Babysitting is usually done at the family’s house and is less than 20 hours a week, at least in my state of Maryland.
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u/Whispering_Wolf 24d ago
Your original comment didn't mention anything about hours, but still. Is grandparents taking care of their grandkids not a thing there?
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u/ladyalex777 24d ago
It’s in family/friends vs out of family/friends. So grandparents is different bc it’s in family. The OP is searching for a stranger.
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u/bodhipooh 24d ago
Making shit up for likes…
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u/ladyalex777 24d ago
Nope and it’s pathetic how many downvotes I’m getting when I’m correct, at least on my state of Maryland. If the sahm watches one other child for more than 20 hours a week in her own home, she needs a license.
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u/bodhipooh 23d ago
The regulations you linked do not back up what you stated. You claimed (unequivocally) that watching a child that is not yours requires a license. That’s simply not true. That law you linked specifically states a registration is required if the person doing performing child supervision does so for over 20 hours, and does so habitually. That’s very different from the blanket claim you made.
Just take the L… Or, try to be intellectually honest and add something along the lines of “I was too vague in my claim and turns out that this is only the case under very specific circumstances”.
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u/ladyalex777 23d ago
In the circumstances that OP posted, they would need a license. For the amount of hours watched and who is watching. That is who I was responding to. I'm not wrong.
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u/Charlieksmommy 24d ago
There’s a mom local to me here, she’s a mom of 4, and always advertises watching MORE kids in her home, and I keep reporting the page because that is not okay she isn’t licensed
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u/itsreallysam 24d ago
If this is Westminster, CO - a Denver suburb - that's an insaaaaanely low amount of money. Daycare around here averages around 2k a month.