14 yo Babysitter?

[Syrupent]

DH and I are desparate for the occasional eve out but lack a babysitter. DS1 is 14.5 and quite sensible, would it be reasonable for him to 'look after' has 12 yo brother for a couple of hours in the evening every now & then? Say approx 8-10pm. Or should we employ an adult sitter, can't see the point of employing a 16 yo, DS1 would be appalled & embarrased if it was a girl!!

[BetteNoir]

I think that would be fine.
Although perhaps don't tell DS2 that he's being "babysat" by his big brother!

[izzybiz]

I think thats fine, do they get on well normally?

My Ds babysits for my Dd she is 3 he is 15.
Works perfectly

[LilRedWG]

If they get on well and DS1 is mature enough to know when to call police/ambulance/Mum, then I'd go for it.

[Psychomum5]

I would say yes.......my DD1 is 14 tomorrow and has already been left with her 12yo and 9yo sisters for the odd hour, wihout incident.

I have not yet done an evening one, but then that would mean (for me) also leaving her with her 7yo and 5yo brothers and I am not that stuupid brave yet......nor she!!!

if they get on well, and you could trust them together for an hour during the day, then for 2hrs in an evening while you go for a meal......then go for it.

give them ground rules tho, and maybe build up slowly from a meal at a restaurant walking distance to further afield and they and you will grow in confidence and will soon be happily jaunting off for a meal, pictures, walk, pub etc

[windygalestoday]

Our ds1 is 14 (15 in august)we also have ds2 12 ds3 whos 7.....ds1 is very competent and able to 'babysit' for a few hours here and there.

several neighbours have commented on his easy approach with babies and children and hes been offered several babysitting jobs- however we think hes a bit young,and i know it sounds odd the fact that many of the children he would be looking after are little girls so usually i end up doing it .

[wordgirl]

My DS1 is 14 and his brothers are 12 and 9 and I have just arranged a babysitter for tomorrow evening! I don't think I would have bothered if I could have been sure that DS3 was asleep before we left but if he was still up he wouldn't go to bed when DS1 told him to, DS1 would get cross with him and chaos would ensue.
If DS3 could be trusted to do as he was told then I would have no hesitation in leaving him in the care of DS1.

[Syrupent]

Thanks all, think we will go for it. They get on pretty well (usually), but BetteNoir you have a point! I did tentativley ask DS1 of he would mind babysitting DS2: he immediately sat on DS2 saying 'I'm sitting on the baby!' hmmmmm..........

[fryalot]

dd1 (14) babysits her brother and sister occasionally.

My mum stopped getting a babysitter for me and my brother when the person who turned up was younger than my brother!

[mumeeee]

That sounds fine to me.

[AbbeyA]

I used my eldest when he was that age-as long as you are easy to contact and can return quickly it is fine.It gets to the stage where it is too embarrassing for them to have a sitter-especially if only a couple of years older!

[sunnydelight]

I would think that it really depends on the relationship between them. If you can trust the younger one not to play up and to do what he's told and the older one not to abuse his authority it will be fine.

My 14 1/2 year old has been babysitting his siblings (now 9 and 5) since he was 13. We used to ask the younger ones who they wanted to babysit as we had a really nice 18 year old we used to use, but they always chose their brother. It started off just an hour or two when we were 5 minutes away, now he will happily make tea/get them to bed/read stories etc. We do tend to always be home by midnight though.