https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 17:34:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654546 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:48:34 +0000 LilSprinkles 2654546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Either our 13 year old neighbor or a mom friend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654486 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 15:25:34 +0000 hellobeeboston 2654486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our youngest sitter is 14, she lived across the street! Other sitters are 17/18 and our nanny/main sitter is 27. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654484 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 15:22:47 +0000 brownepiano 2654484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left DS 1 with two 12-13 year olds when he was 8 months or so. I was nervous about it but they had tons of experience and he's a really easy baby. </p> <p>Since having DS 2 we've usually left them with other moms or college students. There is one highschooler who occasionally sits at our house after they are in bed so can go to church meetings. I think once DS 2 is older (1.5-2) I'll be more comfortable with younger sitters again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654366 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:17:12 +0000 Boogs 2654366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: We are in a similar situation, we've only ever used our parents, an aunt, my grandma or my sister. I'm seriously so paranoid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654295 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 10:50:01 +0000 delight 2654295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were desperate last month and used a babysitter for the first time. She was 12. I was really hesitant but she was great. She just watched our 3 year old from 7-10pm and our DD goes to bed around 730/8. Now that we have a newborn I wouldn't let her babysit him but I'd continue to use her for a mother's helper with DD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654267 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 10:16:17 +0000 bubblegum 2654267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The youngest sitter we've had was 21 (my sister in law). I started babysitting at 14 :shocked: but it was family </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654237 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 09:55:47 +0000 Mamaof2 2654237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When they were younger I wanted older babysitters (20 +)</p> <p>Now at 5 and 8 we have a neighbor watch them - she is 13 and took the Red Cross Babysitting class, and she gave us a resume which I thought was kinda awesome!</p> <p>The kids love her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654184 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 08:53:31 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2654184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the youngest I've had was 13-14. She's a family friend and now 16 and we love her. Most of our babysitters are teenagers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654148 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 07:38:39 +0000 Foodnerd81 2654148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've only used one, who was a 29 nurse. We have a neighbor girl coming to babysit in a few weeks, she's 16 and comes highly recommended. But I'll probably pt the baby down before we leave anyway. I would trust her while they were awake too but bedtime is hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654147 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 07:30:09 +0000 erinbaderin 2654147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine are in their late 60s - I've only ever left them with my parents. :happy: But yes, I definitely babysat toddlers when I was 12 and I would never leave my kids with a 12 year old now. It makes me think of that John Mulaney bit about getting a horse to look after your dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654104 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:53:16 +0000 ALV91711 2654104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started babysitting at like 12 and babysat all through high school. </p> <p>I know our main babysitter for myself and my sisters was in high school. And there were 3 of us to watch. </p> <p>We don't have a babysitter. I'd be fine with someone younger for shorter time periods, not having to do meals or bedtime. But I think it more has to do with maturity than age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654103 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:41:48 +0000 anonysquire 2654103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should add, I started babysitting at 11. And loved it!!! But still wonder how parents were able to trust an 11 year old haha. I know my oldest would be fine with a younger babysitter but my baby is so dang hard even for my husband and I so I found a mom to babysit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654101 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:37:09 +0000 lamariniere 2654101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The two we use most frequently (which is hardly ever!) are early 40s. I would be comfortable with college age, but I just don't know any! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2654099 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:34:06 +0000 anonysquire 2654099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are going to their first babysitter tomorrow. I think she's 50? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653919 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:25:12 +0000 KayKay 2653919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of ours are in their mid-20s. I have used one that was 14 in a pinch (and we weren't going to be gone long or too far), but having to drive to pick-up/drop-off was a pain! I'd consider using 14+ again in certain scenarios, but would prefer one who lives on/around our block so that we wouldn't have to provide transportation.</p> <p>Also, since we will soon have 3, using someone younger would definitely be dependent on whether the youngest 1-2 kids would be in bed before they arrived, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653904 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:14:43 +0000 bushelandapeck 2653904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours are in their 20's and even early 30's. I've tried a few HS age sitters and haven't had great experiences so we plan to wait a few years to try again. I would be fine leaving the kids for an hour or two during the day with a high schooler but not for bedtime/date nights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653893 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:03:43 +0000 PinkElephant 2653893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My regular date-night sitters are in their mid 20's to early 30's. They're primarily actors who do nannying/babysitting around whatever shows they're currently in, preschool teachers, and med students. My experience with high school and college-age sitters was that they required a lot more direction/prep work on my end, and weren't great about things like cleaning up after themselves/the kids. And older sitters tended to be career nannies who (rightfully) expected to be paid more and wanted the bonuses that often came with their full time jobs (an allowance to order takeout, an Uber home no mater what time it is, etc.).</p> <p>Like others, I babysat CRAZY young. Like 11 years old. It was totally a different time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653857 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 17:15:39 +0000 gilmoregirl 2653857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sitter is 15. I used her the first time when she was 14, but I know her well and her parents live very close by. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653845 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 17:01:40 +0000 SweetiePie 2653845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sitters for date night are all in the 23-26 range.<br /> I also just met a young waitress at a cafe I frequent and after chatting agreed it might be good for her to do occasional daytime sitting for me as needed. She's probably 23 as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653839 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 17:00:11 +0000 youboots 2653839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine is a very responsible and mature 15 year old. I paid to have her CPR, choking and first aid trained. I still don't leave the house when she's here- since I need her to get stuff done around the house when DH is out of town or I'm working. I would leave for closeby errands.</p> <p>I babysat really young- we had family friends that started taking me on family trips the help with their only child in elementary school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653832 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:55:51 +0000 snowjewelz 2653832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boogs: I totally agree with you. I babysat in middle school so like 12/13! And young babies too! Granted they just slept; but I would never trust someone that young myself in case of an emergency lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-are-babysitters#post-2653826 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:46:54 +0000 Boogs 2653826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In general, how old are your babysitters? What's the youngest age you would allow someone to be who watched your kids? And does the responsibility you give vary based on their age?</p> <p>I did a lot of babysitting when I was younger. Now as a parent, I can't believe sometimes I was left alone with kids at the age I was! </p>