Spinoff from Winniebee's post on leaving your kid in the car. At least a few of us were babysitters at age 11. Now that I'm an adult? I don't think I would hire an 11 year old to babysit. I think I want a teenager vs a tween. Then again, it may be different if we had close friends with kids that age that wanted to babysit? If it was a stranger, no way.
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I don't know, but I was babysitting at that age! I started off as a mother's helper for a mom who worked from home but I was watching a 4 year old and a 6 year old by myself by 12. In retrospect I was a good kid and took good care of the kids but it seems so young now!
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I know I was babysitting when I was 11...which is kind of crazy! I know it would just be a few hours at a time when the mom would run out for errands.
I think i would if it were for a short span of time and knew the 11 year old really well AND My kids were a little older and less maintenance. If there were a crisis, I'm not comfortable an 11 would know what to do...or that I would want that kind of responsibility on them.
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Nope. I was also a babysitter at that age but I wouldn't honestly feel comfortable leaving both kids completely alone with anyone under the age of 18 at this point. Our neighbors have a daughter who is 13 and wants to be a mothers helper and I have had her come over to entertain my 3 year old while I was home, but I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the house completely.
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I can't say I would! I have a 12 yr old sister who i trust dearly..but in an emergency situation I just can't see her knowing what to do or thinking straight! I know I wouldnt be 100% in an emergency, but I could see her calling me first and not 911....
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Absolutely not! Far too young!
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No. I wasn't allowed to babysit until I was older and they were kind of strict about how many kids and the age of the kids. My parents were more concerned about the liability if something were to happen.
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Only under special circumstances. For example I remember having a babysitter while my mom hosted dinner parties growing up. So adults were there, but the babysitter had to keep us occupied in our bedroom. I could see using an 11-year-old for something like that.
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Only if their names are Mallory Pike or Jessi Ramsey, because they were, like, super mature.
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No. Although I babysat a neighbor kid after school when I was that age. I was in 6th grade and he was in 1st. My mom was right next door the whole time though since she was a sahm.
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@MoonMoon: Awesome.
I would use a 9 year-old I know for my 3 year old (for a short time), but she's definitely the exception. And no way I'd leave my 6 mo with anyone who can't drive.
I babysat starting around 10/11. Mostly in the neighborhood and only when my mom was home, though, so I could get her help quickly if needed (I only asked once or twice. Once for an inconsolable babe and once because I burned plastic in the microwave...oops).
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I think I babysat at age 12 for two kids like age 6 and 4 that lived down the street. My parents would always be home whenever I was babysitting so if something came up it wasn't a big deal.
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No, I think that is too young.
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@MoonMoon: I was thinking the same thing! Although as 11-year-olds they couldn't babysit past a certain time, right?
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@Miss Ariel: yes! Why do I remember this, haha! They could only babysit for their own siblings at night.
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I babysat at that age! Infants and for a long period of time, up to 3 kids at once but as a parent I think that is too young. Our babysitter is 15 and I do trust her! But I know some thing even that is too young. However, we had a 20 year old babysit before who lied and had a guy over...soooo I think it's all about your instinct.
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No way! BUT, I would absolutely hire an 11 year old for a bit of "mother's helper" time. Sometimes I just need some extra time (without LO under my feet) to do house stuff, and an 11 year old is wonderful for that!!
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@mediagirl: depends on the maturity of the sitter. I have two neighbors girls that babysitt fur me. One is 12 and the other 11 and the 11 year old is by far more mature. They also have to had taken the babysitter course!
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@MoonMoon: This:
!
I baby-sat at age 11. The kids were basically ready for bed and I sat and watched TV while they slept.
For my baby, though, our youngest sitter is a 15-year-old neighbor. I only use her during school breaks and over the summer, mostly so I can run local errands or exercise. I'm never more than 10 minutes away, and she's wonderful with him. Although I was a little nervous initially, I waited until my son was on a reliable schedule before I started using her so I can plan for her to come based on that. Before she baby-sat for me I knew her personally as a student for two years, and she's a quiet, responsible kid. Also, her parents offered to be on hand in case anything goes astray, which makes me feel like we're double-covered! In my opinion it totally depends on the kid/teenager. I know a lot of 15-year-olds that I wouldn't trust even a little bit, but this one is great!
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I might, if I knew the person well and knew her parents well, especially if we weren't far away. I was babysitting in my neighborhood at that age and I always knew I could call my mom if there was an emergency I couldn't handle.
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I babysat at 9! I can't even believe that now. No way would I hire an 11 year old.
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Depends on the kid. I've had a 12 year old babysit for us. She's amazing! I trust her, and I know her mom really well. Her mom is also only a few miles away should anything happen.
When I was 11, I babysat while the parents were there. When I was 12 I started babysitting for up to 3 hours at a time while the parents were out. I felt I was pretty responsible for a 12 year old. I knew infant/child heimlich and CPR, and even had to do infant heimlich when I was 12. I also had three younger siblings and had previously worked in the church nursery. All this to say an 11-12year old can be experienced and prepared for emergencies. I don't think the same is true of most tweens, but there are some out there who would be better than most 16 year olds. -
not a chance. i don't even hire teenagers yet, but i feel like i should maybe start looking into it. LO is 3 now.
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No way. Maybe a teenager for my 3 year old, but not for my 1 year old... he's way more challenging. Also, the majority of tweens and teens I know are waaaaay too into their phones to pay enough attention to toddlers/preschoolers.
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I would consider it for 2 or 3 hours for my 2 year old. Definitely not my infant yet, she still takes 2 to 3 naps so reading cues is important. DH would squash those ideas instantly though lol
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No way....even though I did it. My stepdaughter just turned 12 and I feel comfortable with her entertaining/watching the LO's (3 and 18 mos) while I am home, showering or trying to get something done, but not while I am out. We've just started leaving her by herself while we run a quick errand so I think she and we need to be more comfortable with that first.
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N.O. No. My 12 year old niece is quite mature for her age, really great with her little brother who's the same age as my oldest. I still would not trust her home alone with my children. Just because other parents hired you when you were 11 as a sitter doesn't mean that it was a good idea!
When I'm home just to keep an eye on them? Yes, for a bit.
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My first gut response was, heck no! I teach 11 year olds, and most are not responsible enough. But, I think there are extraordinarily mature girls that would become an exception. Maybe I'd hire them for a couple of hours while I ran a quick errand.
I did have a regular babysitting job for a couple of hours once a week for an 8 month old when I was in 6th grade. I kind of can't believe it.
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@sungirl: exactly the same... My step daughter is 12 and we're not quite ready yet to leave her home alone with lo, although she does stay home by herself.
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If I were, say, across the street the entire time, then yes. Otherwise, no.
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I babysat at 12 but the kids were school age and it was generally for only a few short hours. My mom always made sure she was home those nights in case I needed help. It was a small town and all the houses I babysat in were less than 2 miles away, most within a short walk.
I think I would prefer to hire a babysitter old enough to drive though! So 16 here.
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No. So far I have only had family members watch my kids. My sister started watching my oldest when she was in high school, and I trust her only because she knew the ins and outs of my LO's routine. I have food allergies to worry about, and it's hard for me to trust people. One small mistake can send my kids to the hospital.
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I would not, but same as others, I was babysitting already by then too!
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I wouldn't. I babysat pretty young but its scary to think about now. I am a worrier by nature and a nurse so my mind always goes to the "what if's" and what would determine if someone was old enough/mature enough to babysit would be if they were capable of handling an emergency situation.. like a baby choking on something, a fire, ect.
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Nope!! I wouldn't hire a stranger under 18, honestly.
I watched my cousins when they were babies and I was 11 years old. I think family may be different?? When DS is 11, my second will be 8 and I could maybe, SORT of imagine leaving them for a quick trip to the grocery store? I don't know...I'll have to see when the time comes. My third will be 6 and my fourth will be 4, so I definitely wouldn't leave them. I know how my 3 sisters and I acted when my parents would leave us home all day...so I probably will never leave all of them home lol.
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For a few hours during the day with one toddler or preschooler I would if I knew them well.
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I would - with the right babysitter. I would have to know them well and know they'd do a good job. I babysat at that age and was a good sitter.
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Haha nope. No way.
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@HLK208: OMG, did I just read 4th?!
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@Littlebit: yes!!! Baby #4! Eeek
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48 comments