Would you leave 11-yr-old to babysit? - Page 6

[bjorker]

Originally Posted by sarahbay

I think that a lot of people who are answering NO WAY right off the bat, haven't really been around any mature 11 yr olds, or haven't actually babysat lil ones themselves.

[snip]

Personally I think 12-14 is the perfect babysitting age, provided the child is mature and can think on their feet, is very in tune with babies, and has experience with this baby and other babies.

16-18 year olds rifle through all your stuff, sit on the phone the whole time they are there and let the kids space out in front of the tv instead of playing with them, and invite their boyfriend over.

Maybe you haven't been around any mature 16-18 year-olds?
Actually, I would be extremely wary about anyone that age, as well. Quite honestly, my comfort level is other mothers watching dd. There's a few child-less female friends of mine that I'd probably feel okay leaving dd with for a little while, but that's it.

The bottom line here for me is, unless it's your own kid doing the babysitting, you don't know the child well enough to know what they're going to do. I mean, it's impossible to know everything that they might have been through, and what issues they might have. I call that a big risk in so many ways. I'm not assuming anything about any pre-teen or teenager, but this is the safety of my dd we'd be talking about. And that's just it-- I can't assume anything. It's just not worth it. There's a reason why some of us feel so strongly about this-- because we know first-hand that it can be a bad, bad idea.


I should probably stay away from this thread now.

[orangebird]

Oh wow. I was in 7th grade when I was 11. (I started a year young) and I was way over and done with babysitting by then, so I must have been 9 and 10? when I babysat. I just babysat kids down the street, the youngest a toddler. But I am just trying to think if in 7th grade if someone would have left me 4 hours with an almost year old, I totally think it would have been within the normal range.

I think it just depends on the kid. And the children being babysat.

[orangebird]

Oh, just adding, I would have been a MUCH better babysitter at 12 than 16. Oh my hell. I know better than to have a 16 year old babysitter Well, I'm sure some are fine, but I remember being that age. And I have a son that is 15 and well. 12 is much safer IMO.

[MorganRiley]

my dd took a babysitting course at age 11

but legally she cannot be incharge/alone babysitting until she is 12 according to what I have heard

so regardless of if one is "comfortable" with it...is it legal???

[karina5]

Originally Posted by sarahbay

Personally I think 12-14 is the perfect babysitting age, provided the child is mature and can think on their feet, is very in tune with babies, and has experience with this baby and other babies.

16-18 year olds rifle through all your stuff, sit on the phone the whole time they are there and let the kids space out in front of the tv instead of playing with them, and invite their boyfriend over.

Adolescents actually play with kids/babies.

Oh, that is funny. My cousin who has 2 kids said the same thing, LOL. I don't know if I agree with it (I don't agree OR disagree) but it was interesting that she felt pretty strongly about this. She had to convince her skeptical husband, and now he agrees as well.

[AstridS]

I might let a mature 11 years old look after a sleeping baby for a few minutes. But 4 hours? No way.

[Verity]

Originally Posted by AstridS

I might let a mature 11 years old look after a sleeping baby for a few minutes. But 4 hours? No way.

:

In our state, the minimum babysitting age (from child protective services) is 13.

[veganf]

I was babysitting for pay by age 10.5. I think a responsible girl could definitely handle it. But every situation is different.

[elizaveta]

I started babysitting for pay at around 11 or so. Of course my Mom was usually next door in case of an emergency. But I was so proud of myself. I made mac and cheese and cleaned all of the dishes and gave the baby a bath. I think I was a good babysitter at that age, but I was very responsible. I know many 11 year olds who are not capable of it and I know some who are. Most of the times I babysat were for neighbour children and my Mom was in a reasonable distance if I were to get in trouble or have difficulties. And to be honest I was a better babysitter at that young age than I was when I was older, I think. I remember babysitting at 17 and talking to my boyfriend on their computer almost the entire time (now my husband ) and I was snooping through their computer and then found their porn collection and when they came home I was so embarrassed - they watch porn! I was a really innocent teenager. I didn't think people actually watched porn unless they were perverts. And I remember the youngest boy had an awful rash and I didn't know what to do about it, so I called my best friend for advice and I remember she came over to help me and I felt like such a newb and wondered how I would ever be a mother myself!