How did you decide your kid was old enough to. Babysit?

[gretchenindisguise]

Jan 18, 2023 10:27:49 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

She is super responsible- people have been asking me to let her babysit their kids since she was 10. She leads the girl scout meetings for her little sibling and is beloved by the kids. She has already made meals for the child when she's over hanging out with the big sister and helped with her bedtime. This is the first time I've considered it outside the family mother's helper role.

I think she's ready.

Has she taken any first aid or cpr classes? I'd look into those if she starts doing it full time - L did a summer camp with girl scouts to learn.

[notreal]

Would you, yourself, leave kids with someone their age? If not then they are too young to babysit.

[dochas]

Have you left her home alone at night before?

[erbear]

My almost 12 year old, while mature and responsible, is afraid to be alone in the house at night, so she would be a no. But I would say, in general, 12 year old is a reasonable babysitter assuming an adult is nearby and on call just in case.

[goldengirlz]

Jan 18, 2023 10:35:57 GMT -5 mpm said:

I’d be hesitant to let a kid’s first babysitting experience be an evening gig like you’ve described. 5-8pm feels like it would be throwing a young babysitter right into the deep end.

ETA: if you’re considering allowing this, could you talk to the parents about doing a trial run first, where your kid watches the younger kid for only an hour during an afternoon when there aren’t added babysitter expectations of dinner, cleanup, getting ready for bed, possibly tired kid, etc - just to see how it goes?

I think I’ve told this story before but we had a 14 year old babysitter once who freaked out being alone in our house at night. We came home and EVERY light was on and she was on the phone with her dad.

My responsible but highly anxious kid (same age as OP’s) is similarly not ready for babysitting. In fact, I still get them a babysitter when we go out at night.

[heygrey]

Would you be willing to spend the evening there with her, or even go over for the last hour?

Twice I’ve hired young babysitters. In one case, her mom (my coworker) came too and just read a book. It gave the 11 year old great practice with the safety of an adult nearby. Another time the babysitter was older (13?), but her mom came over around bedtime because DS was notoriously awful about sleeping.

I cannot picture my son wanting to babysit, but if he does I would be willing to give up a few evenings to help him figure out the ropes. Good babysitters are hard to find and it can be a lucrative job for teenagers if they want to do it!

[sonrisa]

Jan 19, 2023 1:12:53 GMT -5 heygrey said:

Would you be willing to spend the evening there with her, or even go over for the last hour?

Twice I’ve hired young babysitters. In one case, her mom (my coworker) came too and just read a book. It gave the 11 year old great practice with the safety of an adult nearby. Another time the babysitter was older (13?), but her mom came over around bedtime because DS was notoriously awful about sleeping.

I cannot picture my son wanting to babysit, but if he does I would be willing to give up a few evenings to help him figure out the ropes. Good babysitters are hard to find and it can be a lucrative job for teenagers if they want to do it!

This is what I think I'll suggest when she's ready - I'll come after bedtime. Learning curve for her and a little mother / daughter bonding time.

[dochas]

That sounds like a great idea. I rhink the day time would be fine, or 5 to 8 in the summer. I've been leaving my 12 year old home during the day, but didn't think he was ready for night. He was sure he'd be fine. When the clocks changed and it started getting dark really early I could see he wasn't. He called me when I was grocery shopping at abround 4:30 to ask me to hurry. Our young dog was pacing and crying because it was dark and we weren't home yet. LOL I think it was going to feel creepy for him too.