to leave a 14 y.o babysitting my 2 dd's?

[kerryk]

going out friday night in town with the girls, dh has been invited to a friends for a few drink. kids are invited to go as well but it puts dd2 out her routine.

my friend stays 8 doors down the street from us and her (very sensible) 14 yo has offered to come and sit in the house.

dd2 (4) will be sleeping but if she wakes up she knows this girl.

dd1 will stay up late and play games/ watch a film with the girl.

dh would be home around 11.00pm then he could stand on the door step and watch the babysitter going into her own house.

does this all sound ok?

the girls mum is only down the street and dh is only round the corner so both could be at the house in under a minute if needed.

dh says he is not really that fussy about going to friends for a drink and would pass on the invite but i have never left the girls with anyone other than my mum before and really think i need to stop being so obsessive.

the only thing that really bothers me is babysitters age.

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

i started babysitting when i was 12. sounds like it should be fine.

[TrinityRhino]

I think that all sounds fine

it is legal re.her age
do you find her to be a sensible 14 yr old

How old its your older child?

The fact that the babysitters mum is only 8 dorrs doiwn makes it ever so good I think
also the fact that dh is also only a miute away

[QuintessentialShadows]

I wouldnt worry too much about her age if she is a sensible girl and you know her and her family. And like you say her mum is just down the road. Ensure she knows how to phone her mum, and has your dhs number.

Only thing is, as it is a first time using this girl as a baby sitter, and due to her age, I would go lightly on alcohol, and ensure your dh, who is the nearest parent on call to do the same. Just in case.

FWIW, I was only 12 when I was babysitting a six and a 4 year old boy while mum was out getting pissed till around 2 am (on a school night). What worried ME as a young babysitter most, was having to deal with a very drunk grown up at the end of the eveninig.

[kerryk]

thanks everyone.

dd1 is 6 and really looks up to this girl so would love to have her round for the night.

[kerryk]

dh would not be having a lot to drink, only a couple of beers.

[TrinityRhino]

sounds absolutely great and fine then

[3andnomore]

I would say that sounds fine.

But I would think that
We have started recently to leave es (12) to baysit his younger bros (5 1/2 and 4).
First time we were only right next door anyway, and ds had a friend with him!
WE have left him alone with the little ones since...but both times made next door neighbours aware and they agreed to be ds's back up, should any problems arise.
Always made sure little ones would be asleep before we went

[kslatts]

Sounds fine, I babysat when I was 14 for one of my neighbours and never had any problems.

[Kammy]

A neighbours 14yo boy sits for my ds (age6). He has 3 younger siblings and is great with small kids - plus, his mum is literally a few doors away if there should be any emergency (not counting Chlesae loosing...)
If she is sensible, and mum is nearby anyway, I think it sounds fine too.

[mamalovesmojitos]

YANBU they will be fine.

[Turniphead1]

I have a 14 year old babysitter who lives across the road from us. Frankly, she is more mature than a lot of 20 year olds I know...
I always make sure her mum is going to be in. But basically my 2 Dc although only 2 and 4 require very little. They hop off to bed and then just sleep.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I babysat for neighbours at 14, similar circs as my mum was just over the road. I would finish putting the toddler to bed (get him into his pjs) and their older child would be about the place until they put themselves to bed.

I think it is absolutely fine - your DDs are happy with the babysitter and know her, and it's not going to be a late night.

Hope you have a good night out