Age of babysitter

[lovesdisney]

Just wondering at what age you would trust someone to look after your kids?
My daughter is 13 and very sensible for her age... I trust her to look after her 9yr old sister.. I’ve been asked by a friend when is she old enough to babysit their children who are 5 and 6?
Im not sure if I want my daughter having that responsibility yet... I know she’s be ok but what’s is everyone’s thoughts .. I think I was 14/15 before I started doing babysitting

[Emmie2016]

I'd probably say that 13 is too young. If there was an emergency, then that's alot of responsible for a child. Plus the needs of a 9 year old are alot different to children under the age of 6.

But you know your child

[Guest]

I was a responsible and sensible child and babysat from the age of 13. I would have been able to handle an emergency as easily as an 18 year old could.

[Wee_Red]

Hmmmm lots of factors - where is she babysitting, what time of day, who is next door etc.

If it's a Friday night and not within walking distance of a responsible adult, I wouldn't advise. If she's babysitting two doors down and you'd be at home to help in case of an emergency then fair enough.

[Leggibone]

My brother looked after me from about 13/14 on a couple hours during the day occasionally type business (like parents going to the shops taking the 3 year old sister!) BuT We were very close to our neighbours one side and on good terms with them the other side, so if anything happened there was someone to grab. I took my 11 year old sister to London when I was 16, but we had phones and our mum was at home and getting constant updates.

I think it would depend on the circumstances, if say it’s after bed time, and they are at a pub at the end of the road or dinner a few mins away, then all she’s gotta do is be there to phone in case of them waking and freaking, but leaving a 13 year old to feed said children and put to bed is a little out there? Unless she knew them really well keeping them entertained may also be a little out of the question (and my friends nephews are that age and they are always egging each other on and windin teach other up!)

[littlelish0544]

I think as others have said, depends on the circumstances, but I would still say no as it is for two children. As an adult, on my own at times, with my own kids I've had to deal with emergency situations and its much harder to do when there is more than one child to deal with.

[taylaboo]

No. To me 13 is too young to take on that responsibility. What if a child was choking? Would your daughter know what to do? There is so much that could happen. I personally wouldn't take the chance.

[Cherrypie]

I think the legal age is 16 to be in charge of a younger child (As in legally responsible) but as people have said it depends on what they are like and the situation. If it was a child asleep in bed then it’d be fine but maybe not if they were still up? X

[Alices Aunt]

I suppose it depends on the child. At 13 I was babysitting for my 3 & 1 year old cousins and putting the 3 year old to bed.

I also had a traumatic afternoon looking after my 3 month old cousin in an emergency which was too much and I didn’t know how to stop her crying. She has her own child now so I didn’t go far wrong but I didn’t enjoy it.

16 is the age the child is responsible before that is it the parents of the child who is being looked after.

[Disney Ash]

We moved house into an area with lots of kids, My then 13 year old wanted to start earning a few $$$... we put her through a YMCA babysitting course, it covered a lot of stuff including CPR. Then my neighbour found herself in a bind, newly divorced and the after school child care was full as was the local nurseries, the neighbour asked my daughter to babysit after school until she got home at 5. I told my neighbour that I was ok with it as I would be home to assist with any emergencies and my daughter would have a mobile phone with her. The ex husband of the neighbour did not agree with this (he was being super awkward on this and just about everything to do with the divorce) anyhow it ended up being put before a judge and he ruled that it was perfectly fine esp as she had taken a course with a very reputable organisation.