Mum slammed for 'insane' advert for babysitter that offers £2.40 hourly salary

21 February 2023 , 16:41

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She also wants the babysitter to mind her children at their own house (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF)

A mum has been slammed for ordering a babysitter to care for her three children for as little as $2.91 (£2.40) an hour so she can go out and earn a living. She explained how she is searching for a "trustworthy babysitter" to watch over her three-year-old daughter, one-year-old son, and one-month-old daughter as she is planning to return to work.

With hours ranging from 7am to 6pm, she is willing to pay $160 ($132) per week to start with. In her advert, she wrote: "I'm planning on going back to work hopefully by April 6 if I can secure a trustworthy babysitter. I have three kids. I would be paying weekly. To start off with, pay would be $160 a week for all children then I could up the price.

She's looking for a babysitter so she can return to work (stock photo) (Getty Images)

"I'd prefer my children to be cared for at the babysitter's home. I will need them to be picked up and dropped off before and after work".

She explained how she is searching for someone who "generally loves children" and is happy to meet up in person beforehand so she can approve them.

Shocked by her demands, one person commented: "Do you realise that you are paying about about $3.50 per hour? For three children? And dropped off and picked up?

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"I would be very careful hiring anyone for this little they might put your kids in danger..."

After her advert was shared on Reddit, another user added: "This woman is trying to find child care at less than a dollar per child per hour.

"I assume the babysitter, in addition to picking up and dropping off the children and spending her own gas money and vehicle wear and tear, would also be responsible for feeding three kids for free as well.

"At the end of it, the babysitter would essentially be paying the [Children's Bureau] to watch her kids."

A third user said: "You can also add another 1.5 hours to that total.

"Want kids to be picked up by 7am so you'd have to be up by 6am to get dressed and drive over and then drop them off by 6pm and drive back home.

"How on earth can someone actually do this job basically for free?"

One more user added: "I bet she expects the babysitter to provide food with that 'generous' wage.

"I had a friend do that to me, she asked me to watch her kids for a week for very little money and I was expected to provide food."

Paige Freshwater