Kids & Family
This Is What A Good Babysitter Costs In Los Angeles
Get the breakdown on what childcare will cost you, plus an exclusive discount for Patch readers who are ready to book a sitter.
In the old days, finding a babysitter wasn't easy. You had to ask other parents for suggestions (without stealing their sitter) or find someone yourself and then check through all their references.
These days, though, finding quality, trustworthy help is easier than ever thanks to UrbanSitter, which puts the best sitters in town — and suggestions from parents in your personal network — right at your fingertips.
So how much will that stellar babysitter cost you? We're glad you asked. UrbanSitter has broken down the costs of almost every scenario you might encounter as a parent, from a night on the town to a summer wedding weekend and even that last-minute work emergency you never saw coming.
Here's how much you can expect to pay based on the average hourly babysitting rate of $15.87 for one child in the Los Angeles area.
Sunday Morning Fitness Class
Average Cost: $40
Whether you’re trying out Tabata at Equinox, spinning at SoulCycle or getting some fresh air by hiking Runyon Canyon, you’ll want to have someone trustworthy looking after your kids! If you book a sitter for two-and-a-half hours (figuring in transportation time, your actual fitness session and maybe a smoothie after), it'll probably cost around $40.
A Day At The Spa
Average Cost: $48 - $63
If anyone needs some R&R, it's you. Get a personalized treatment from the Custom Blend Alchemy bar at one of Burke Williams' locations, or hit up The Raven Spa for a traditional Thai massage. Then again, you may just want a manicure and a shoulder massage at your neighborhood salon.
However you choose to pamper yourself, book the sitter for three to four hours so you don't have to rush. Based on an average of babysitters' hourly rates in the L.A. area, childcare for your afternoon of self-care will likely cost somewhere between $48 and $63.
Dinner And A Movie
Average Cost: $79
Take your spouse for some delicious Mediterranean fare at Kismet on Hollywood Boulevard, or nosh on Chef Ray Garcia's modern Mexican at Broken Spanish downtown. Afterwards, have a laugh at Amy Schumer's latest not-kid-friendly flick, "I Feel Pretty." Traffic is always a variable, but go ahead and plan on booking a sitter for five hours, which should cost around $79.
Last-Minute Work Emergency
Average Cost: $63
Stuck at the office with no end in sight? Not to worry — UrbanSitter's got you covered – most last-minute jobs receive a reply in 3-minutes or less. If you book a babysitter last-minute for four hours, you can expect to pay around $63.
After-School Coverage
Average Cost: $238 per week
Looking for someone to meet the kids at the bus stop and help get them started with their homework while you run errands, head PTA meetings or finish up at the office? If you hire a sitter for three hours a day, five days a week, it will likely cost you around $238 per week — which is about $952 monthly.
A Night Away
Average Cost: $370
Summer's almost here which means your weekends are about to be filled with weddings and other getaways. Whether you’re headed up to Sonoma or farther afield, you'll want to spend the night there. Hiring a babysitter for an overnight for 24 hours should cost somewhere around $370.
Heading Back To Work
Average Cost: $635 per week
If maternity leave is coming to an end, you're going to need a dependable part- or full-time nanny to keep things happy on the home front.
Fortunately UrbanSitter can connect you with topnotch nannies with rave reviews from fellow parents. If you hire a nanny for 40 hours a week, you can expect to pay around $635 in childcare expenses weekly and $2,539 monthly.
Ready to hit the town? Here's exactly how UrbanSitter works:
Once you sign up on UrbanSitter, you’ll be able to post a job or search by location and date to find sitters highly-reviewed by parents in your network for free. Yes, for free!
When you’ve found potential matches, pick the membership plan that works best for you in order to request an interview or booking. Your membership will be your all-access pass to booking any trusted babysitter or nanny in your community.
Once you’re all booked up, let the fun begin. After your sitter has completed his or her duties you can pay your sitter cash or easily pay with your credit card through UrbanSitter.
Here are a few other major perks of UrbanSitter:
- It’s trusted. UrbanSitter unlocks your personal network to find sitters and nannies rated by moms and dads you know through your school, neighborhood, church or parenting groups.
- It’s easy. Search for sitters with a background check, CPR training, infant experience, or even by hourly rates, most reviews and level of experience.
- It’s affordable. A monthly membership is $19.95 per month and annual membership is just $99.95 per year. A no-commitment 1-month access pass is $34.95.
Ready to access this network of great sitters? Join now and post a job for free!
Check out more from The UrbanSitter Childcare Resource Center:
- When You Need Last-Minute Childcare
- 2017 Babysitting Rates: How Much Should You Pay Your Babysitter?
- Babysitter Checklist
First Photo Credit: UrbanSitter
