I babysat lots of neighborhood kids when I was younger, middle school 12 plus.... my brother and I were both latch key kids at a young age though.
I couldn't possibly imagine hiring a baby sitter of middle school age now though...
-
Oh yeah! I started when I was about 12 and stopped, well.. I still babysit sometimes! I love babysitting. I agree though, that I could never leave my kid with someone so young!
-
Yes, mostly from ages 13 - 16.
-
I was probably 13ish. When I was 9 and my cousin was 2 my aunt would pick me up to come "babysit" while my aunt was home and just getting some chores done.
-
Yup around the same age. I think it's totally crazy now but I had no problem with the kids. I think if I had a 12 yr old of my own I'd let them watch their younger siblings. Maybe age 2 and up
-
Yep! I started when I was 12
-
I was around 11/12 when I started babysitting with my mom's help. I think I was 12/13 when I started doing it by myself.
No way would I hire a kid that young to watch the kids all alone, but I would hire in that range to come over and be a "mother's helper." Basically entertain that kids at my house while I'm doing other stuff, or at their own house with their parent(s) supervision.
-
Nope. And I'm an only child. So I basically have absolutely zero childcare experience. Hope my kid is ready for my awesomeness! Ha.
-
Yes! Started watching the children of family friends around age 12. I'm sorry but i would never trust a 12 year old with my DD.
-
Yes! At a crazy young age. When I was 9, I used to watch our neighbor's kids (only during the day, and only for an hour or so while she ran to the post office or wherever). I thought I was SO cool when I was 10 and watched them twice a week in the mornings. When I was 11/12, I watched two other kids after school twice a week until their mom came home. And I watched lots of neighborhood kids from that point on, all through high school and college.
I don't have kids yet but I would NOT trust them with someone that young! As a "mother's helper", sure, but not as a sitter with no one else home.
And I would not let my own children babysit in the evenings at that age either - I remember a few times when I was babysitting and not yet old enough to drive, the parents came home late/wasted and still had to drive me home! It didn't seem like a huge deal at the time, but looking back on it, it's kind of terrifying to think what could have happened. Once my parents were at the same party and ended up offering to come and get me because they didn't want me to end up in a drunk driver's car.
-
@highwire: I am sure you will be a fantastic mom -- babysitting is not a prerequisite! ha
My sister had never changed a diaper in her life when her son was born (pretty sure the nurses judged her for this). He's almost three now and they've all survived just fine.
-
I took a course through the YMCA when I was 12 and became a certified babysitter. Then I put an add in the local paper that I was available for babysitting. I hated doing it, but it was money.
-
I babysat my brothers when I was like 8 or 9 years old. I also babysat lots of church kids and neighborhood kids when I was like 11 or 12. I would never trust a kid that young with my own LO, though!!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
12 comments