7 reasons babysitting is the perfect side hustle no matter what your career is
It may not be the most glamorous job around, but babysitting can be the perfect side gig no matter what your career is. The idea of having kids always seems kinda cute and appealing…until the moment you encounter two runny-nosed, screaming infants clinging to their mother as you sprint past them on cereal aisle. So while we couldn’t possibly deny how ridiculously stressful parenting is, the good news is that actually parenting a kid isn’t on the list of requirements to become a babysitter.
The benefits of babysitting are numerous, not the least of which is the presence of a certain care-free attitude from the kids you’re working with, which we’re guessing isn’t exactly how you’d describe the adults you work with at your main gig. For instance, if you show up to your babysitting gig dressed as a mermaid, chances are they’ll love it! The same cannot be promised of your office job.
Also a Financial Diet roundup of the most innovative side jobs referred to babysitting as “best side job in the history of side hustling,” so there must be something to it that warrants such a stellar review.
We did some digging, and there are quite a few incentives to living out your Adventures in Babysitting fantasy. Here are some of the highlights:
1 The pay is decent.
Believe it or not, there’s definitely money to be made in babysitting, even if you already have a full-time job. According to The Penny Hoarder, the average pay for babysitting is $12 an hour, with some jobs offering up to $18 an hour depending on the location.
That could easily go toward paying a cell phone or internet bill, buying groceries, or gassing up your car.
2There’s a ton of job security.
As long as humans continue bearing children, the need for babysitters will exist. Taking it on as a side hustle means you can count on having extra income on a consistent basis.
3Kids go to bed early.
This is generally the case, so we’re going to assume that you’re employed with parents who make their children hit the sack at a decent hour. Not only does a child’s early bedtime improve their mom’s mental health, it offers babysitters some down time to catch up on emails or mindlessly scroll through social media (and get paid for it!).
4 You get paid to work out.
Oh, we’re sorry, you thought we meant a fully paid gym membership from the parents of the kids you watch? Ha, no, but there is the matter of keeping up with these children, who likely have enough energy to fuel a rocket. No longer will you have to worry about how to squeeze regular workouts into you’ll get your cardio from playing tag for the 50 millionth time in a row.
5It keeps your problem-solving skills sharp.
As in razor sharp. If you’ve ever spent more than a millisecond around a child, you already know that sooner or later, a problem will arise. As someone who’s expected to keep the house running smoothly, you’ll be able (and expected) to put your mediation abilities to use. Additionally, honing your peace-keeping prowess can come in handy in other areas of your life, like taking charge at your main job or dealing with your own family.
6You’re helping kids build their self-esteem.
All those group activities and outings you attend with the children might just feel like another day on the job, but beneath the surface, you’re contributing to this child’s confidence and feelings of self-worth.
As Today’s Parent notes, it’s a good thing when toddlers are really attached to their caregivers.
"Its actually a sign of healthy normal development when a child, who has a close bond with a parent, is able to go on to develop close bonds with other significant adults in her life."
7It’ll keep you feeling youthful.
Those creaking sounds your bones make every time one of the kids wants a piggyback ride can’t be ignored. But spending a lot of time with children will keep you in touch with your youthful side, which quite possibly the best reason to become a babysitter. (LOL, kidding. It’s obviously the money.)
