You deserve a New Year’s Eve babysitter (yes, you!) — here’s how much it will cost

If you’re wondering why you feel so tired: We started out this year deeply immersed in the second year of an ongoing pandemic. On top of that, we paid more for child care — while at the same time many of our employers opted to cut our paid parental leave. Then, when we tried to set boundaries between work and family, they claimed we were “quiet quitting.” And now, we’re ending the year with a 1-2-3 punch of a tripledemic. 

If we learned anything this year, it’s that no one is going to give us a break. We have to step up and take that break. In fact, according to experts, mental health breaks for parents are nonnegotiable. So until our country figures out out how to invest in working parents and child care, it’s time to invest in ourselves. One small way to get started? Hire a babysitter for a New Year’s Eve out without your kids. There’s still plenty of time. 

When should I book a New Year’s Eve sitter?

According to 2021 Care data, the most popular day nationally to post a job for a New Year’s Eve sitter on Care was just three days before the big night on December 28. We anticipate similar trends for ringing in 2023. And of course, that’s fantastic news since most of us haven’t even remotely thought about booking a New Year’s Eve sitter just yet.  

Average hourly rates for New Year’s Eve babysitter

For those of you who ultimately decide to treat yourselves with a date night, a New Year’s Eve party or an evening out with your besties, here’s an idea of what it costs across the country.