Question About Tipping

Updated on October 27, 2006
C.C. asks from Lewis Center, OH
8 answers

Ok, I know this may be a stupid question but I don't know if I am suppose to tip a babysitter every time they come to our house or not! My neighbor says yes, but I thought it was only durring the holidays? If anyone knows, please let me know because I don't want to be stiffing my babysitters if I am suppose to be tipping them!

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much for all the feedback ladies. Based on what I've seen here, for someone to come to my home, to watch the two smaller ones durring the day for a few hours at 10.00 an hour is very reasonable so it isn't really necessary for me to tip. My neighbor acted like I had done a cardinal sin by not tipping! I feel so much better now! Maybe she just doesn't pay as much an hour so she feels its necessary to tip.

Becky: You got it - I only work part-time from home on my own projects just to make enough money to pay for school since my husbands income can support all of us. I actually am going through Ohio University Distance Ed which has been great so far.

More Answers

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M.S.

answers from Columbus on

I think if you are paying her well, then the only time I would think something extra would be nice is around holidays or her b-day. If she always sits at your home, then nothing extra should be required. If, though, she is doing extra traveling, or normally doesn't sit at your home, a few extra dollars for gas would be ok.

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A.M.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi! Tipping a babysitter? My regular sitter during the regular work week charges by the hour and I try to throw her a little extra or get her something nice for Christmas and/or around her birthday. Evening or weekend babysitters get what they charge hourly or whatever I can give them. (1 has a set rate and my neice is happy to get whatever I can give her!) As for day care providers, I used to just pay the facility and at holiday times send something for each of the care providers that work there - a plate of cookies or some bath/body kind of stuff, etc. Maybe I don't quite get what you mean by babysitting, but they provide a service, you pay them, period. To show extra appreciation to those regular ones - then treat them extra nice, but tipping????...I don't really think so.

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K.C.

answers from Columbus on

I agree with the other moms, As a former babysitter and Parent of two tipping is unecessary but I would hope you are paying the sitter well, especially if she is watching all four of the children. If you are paying ATLEAST $10 and hour or more, I would agree tipping isnt necessary.
K.

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E.T.

answers from Canton on

Hey there, I started baby sitting after school and on weekends when I was 12, and continued it untill I got married and got a full time job, so lets see thats 8 years of baby sitting. Now I have two of my own! I usually got tips around holidays and my birthday, or cards, or gift certificats. It depended on the family though, and how close I was to them. I also usually got tipped if it was a last minute job, or if I made special arrangements to be there when they needed me. So.....I wouldn't tip all the time, just on special occasions, if they have done an especially good job, or have gone out of their way for you. Showing appreciation for a job well done is never a bad thing, and if you take care of your sitter, they tend to do an extra good job :-)

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M.G.

answers from Columbus on

I have never heard of tipping a sitter.

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M.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

I've never heard of tipping the babysitter. I don't and I don't think any of my friends do either.

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S.H.

answers from Cleveland on

If by babysitter you mean a daycare provider that is in your home daily- like a nanny- then get her/hima gift certificate for their birthday and something for christmas. a babysitter as in every once in a while- NO. You are paying them for their services for the time you need them and that is what they are making. If they do ia little more like clean and some laundry, taking kids to dance, etc.. then yes for gas money. other than that then no.

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

C.,

Welcome to the area! I live not far away in Powell.

Tipping a babysitter? That doesn't apply here, because you are paying her. You only tip someone to supplement what they get paid from someone else. However, you do need to pay a good babysitter generously. They are hard to come by, and priorities should be that the care of your children should not be where you scrimp. I would think that holidays should be extra, too. If you need to cut back somewhere else to have a good babysitter, then do it. And four kids are a lot! You probably have to pay $10++ an hour!

What is semi-retired? You mean you work part time? I am working on my doctorate in education through Walden Univ and recommend it highly. (Got my master's through Univ of Phoenix online).

B.

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